Is it possible to run an E locker with a super 35? Any advice on E locker vs air locker in this situation? I’ve seen you suggest both. It’s my daily driver (Phoenix AZ) and want good road quality which is why I probably won’t go Detroit.
Awesome thank you I may look into the Detroit locker instead then especially since it is more affordable. Thanks guys!
You just have to shim the new carrier left/right to get the correct backlash between the ring & pinion gears. It requires a dial indicator and a set of shims. Which means you don't have to set the gears up, so long as you're not changing the ratio, but you do have to insure the backlash is correct. Easy enough but not a simple bolt-in either. The rest of it is pretty much bolt-in.
If I went with a no slip lunchbox in the front and a Detroit in the rear, would I not be able to drive on ice at all? Or is it one of those things where you just don’t want to do it all the time. Because I may occasionally drive a few hours north where it can snow. But probably like once a year.
That's a tough question to answer. People with Detroits in the rear live where it snows/gets icy and they just learn to slow down and be extra-careful. In 2wd the front No-Slip should be ok but it could give problems on ice if you are in 4Hi or 4Lo on an icy surface.
So I found an alloy USA super 35 kit with a Detroit locker on Craigslist for $400. Pretty good deal. I’m hearing I may also need an install kit with bearings and seals? Is this something I need or would that involve pulling apart the ring and pinion and gears and stuff? If I need an install kit do you have an recommendations?
You won't need a master install kit but just a carrier install kit. It's not a bad idea to replace the carrier bearings, if you're not intending to change gear ratios (leave the pinion installed) then you shouldn't have to replace the pinion seal or bearings. You'll also need carrier shims for setting the backlash.
Ok definitely not planning on changing gear ratio as I already have 4.56. So what I’m hearing is no install kit but I do need carrier bearings and a shim kit?
Yep, that's correct! Just be sure the bearings will fit the Detroit carrier. When I installed a 30-spline e-locker into my Dana 35 the required carrier bearings were a larger I.D. than standard ones.
Awesome thanks for the input! It’s my daily driver but I’m in Arizona so no ice or snow for me. Probably going to do a lunchbox in the front. Definitely going to install everything myself I hate paying for labor. It’s definitely strange that the previous owner installed 4.56 gears and kept an open carrier but who knows. Does anyone have experience with alloy USA axle shafts?X2 The Detroit soft locker is awesome if you don’t drive it on ice and snow. You set it and forget it.
I ran Detroit’s front and rear in my CJ for ten years with no issues and loved them, but I also had locking hubs. Let off the gas in turns and it will unlock. When on the gas you are fully locked.
I never had bangs quirks or changing lanes which was the word when I got them. I installed the gears and lockers with a buddy having never done them before. It wasn’t that bad but again it wasn’t my daily so it could be down until it was right. Make a set of setup bearings. The shims ride inside the bearing races for backlash and this lets you fine tune install when you are young and dumb as I was
I had the ARB lockers installed by a shop in my TJ so my wife could still drive it and it was still a daily at the time of install. Warning! Shops can fuck up installs! They screwed up both front and rear installs that I had to have addressed later on. Let the shop decide parts if you are paying to have it down. That way warranty’s are covered.
If I was building my tj now that’s it’s not a daily I would go Detroit locker in the rear and selectable up front or do a hub conversion and run a Detroit up front as well, but that’s just me.
It’s easy to spend your money so check and see if what you got first. You have 4.56 gears so previous owner had to address the carrier and most people do not install open carriers because that is dumb.
