bigsky
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Victorville, Ca.
Ok so today Installed an Aussie Locker in my front vacuum disconnect Dana 30. I had a couple issue with it and wanted leet people know what they were and to also find out if other people had the same problems.
1. The passenger
side inner axle shaft was a C-clip axle, because of this I had to install the locker with the carrier installed into the case. With the carrier installed into the case is was impossible for me to install the pinion shaft because the ring gear was in the way.
2. Because of the whole c-clip issue I "clearanced" the ring gear with a very nice Bosch angle grinder. Has anyone ever had this issue or am I just a problem child, or is there possibly a better way to do this. Either way it is done and everything worked out alright.
3. One of my ring gear bolts stripped out, woops. I am now running minus one ring gear bolt, however I ran a ford 9inch this way for years without any problems so I trust this should be okay.
Ok now to the good stuff, the review, the test drive, the characteristics.
1.First thing first, the steering wheel recenters itself very easily and I would say that it is comparable to how fast a vehicle with manual steering would recenter and with about the same amount of force.
2. The vacuum disconecct motor did not have any problems engaging, however disengaging 4WD is a different story, you have to make sure that the wheels are straight and under little to no load to disengage. Not really a big deal and I kind of figure that it was going to act that way.
3. The offroad characteristics are awesomeness, my XJ is at stock height with 215/75/R15's and it likes to drag belly and get hung up on everything. Now the front end just pulls me over everything no problem. My turning radius in the mud and dirt isn't a whole hell of alot different. even with one of the front tires off the ground this thing just powers me right over hills. I test drove on wet pavement with 4WD engaged just to see how it felt and it was a bit of a handfull. I am unsure of how this will handle in the snow and ice but I am going to the ski resort in the morning so I will update.
4. Alot of people complain of a loud ratcheting sound from their locker, in my particular case there was very little noise coming from the locker. After installing the differential cover and filling with gear oil the sound was almost inaudible, however I am deaf after spending a year next to the business end one of the US Army's biggest pieces of artillery.
Please let me know if I have not been clear enough.
Eric
1. The passenger
side inner axle shaft was a C-clip axle, because of this I had to install the locker with the carrier installed into the case. With the carrier installed into the case is was impossible for me to install the pinion shaft because the ring gear was in the way.
2. Because of the whole c-clip issue I "clearanced" the ring gear with a very nice Bosch angle grinder. Has anyone ever had this issue or am I just a problem child, or is there possibly a better way to do this. Either way it is done and everything worked out alright.
3. One of my ring gear bolts stripped out, woops. I am now running minus one ring gear bolt, however I ran a ford 9inch this way for years without any problems so I trust this should be okay.
Ok now to the good stuff, the review, the test drive, the characteristics.
1.First thing first, the steering wheel recenters itself very easily and I would say that it is comparable to how fast a vehicle with manual steering would recenter and with about the same amount of force.
2. The vacuum disconecct motor did not have any problems engaging, however disengaging 4WD is a different story, you have to make sure that the wheels are straight and under little to no load to disengage. Not really a big deal and I kind of figure that it was going to act that way.
3. The offroad characteristics are awesomeness, my XJ is at stock height with 215/75/R15's and it likes to drag belly and get hung up on everything. Now the front end just pulls me over everything no problem. My turning radius in the mud and dirt isn't a whole hell of alot different. even with one of the front tires off the ground this thing just powers me right over hills. I test drove on wet pavement with 4WD engaged just to see how it felt and it was a bit of a handfull. I am unsure of how this will handle in the snow and ice but I am going to the ski resort in the morning so I will update.
4. Alot of people complain of a loud ratcheting sound from their locker, in my particular case there was very little noise coming from the locker. After installing the differential cover and filling with gear oil the sound was almost inaudible, however I am deaf after spending a year next to the business end one of the US Army's biggest pieces of artillery.
Please let me know if I have not been clear enough.
Eric
