Topic: Time for a locker and shafts...

[TahoeYJ]

I've had a tremendous leak in the passenger side of my rear axle for some time now... Drivers side too, but not nearly as bad. Plus I've been hearing a rear end howl... Soooo today I decided to tear in to it and see what all is going on underneath my Jeep.

Passenger side shaft is bent give or take 16th of an inch, and the splines on the drivers side are twisted ever so slightly (Didn't think my 4 Banger would do that! Then again, it's only 27 spline...) 3rd member checks out a-ok, the gears have no unusual wear and the wear pattern looks great. I read online after buying the gears (Accel ring and pinion, a cheaper brand made by Richmond) tend to be a bit noisy in some applications, so I guess mine are just a wee bit noisy. I replaced the passenger side seal and bearing once before, and it took a good 3-4 weeks for the leak to come back... I talked to an employee at Currie and he said either the shaft or housing was bent ever so slightly, making the shaft rub on the seal ever so lightly and causing the leak, so I'm happy to know I just need new shafts. The passenger side has leaked since day one so the shaft must of been bent before I got it.

I'm about to go replace the drivers side bearing and both seals for now and slap it back together and call it a day. In the mean time I'll save for new shafts and a locker. I can get a set of 31 spline Moser shafts from the same guy I got my brakes/gears from for about $350 shipped, I'll keep my eye out for a used Detroit off Ebay or something and go from there...

I'm off to put my junk back together now 

[FourbangerYJ]

Just make sure when you look for a locker you get one with the proper sized bearing, there are a couple of sizes. I saw one close to me for $350. Not sure if it's still avail. or what size bearing it was.
Are you gonna do the Currie shafts?

[Bounty Hunter]

You can install a Ford 8.8 for less than the repair/shafts cost, and it can be found with a factory limited slip and many common jeep gear ratios.

[TahoeYJ]

I'm going to get Moser shafts, when I have the funds anyway. They're $330 for a set from the same guy I got the gears/brakes from.

As for swapping in an 8.8, that crossed my mind but I'd still have to regear it, which would run the same price or more as shafts (Guy who did my gears charges $180 for install) so why go through all the work of swapping axles again? I don't know what my local Pick N Pull would charge for a complete rear end but their prices on other stuff isn't anything to do cartwheels over... Swapping shafts and the third member would only be a couple hours work too 

[Bounty Hunter]

Sorry, missed that you had a 9" rear, nevermind.

I'd install a spool over a Detroit in the rear, the constant banging and sudden unexpected lane changes of a Detroit when on and off the throttle is downright unnerving, some jeeps worse than others.  Spools are KISS simple and very smooth and predictable on the road, easier on axleshafts when offroad as there's no sudden shear force due to sudden lockup as with an auto locker.

[aw12345]

Skip the detroit and buy an ARB or an ausie if it's available either one will make you so much happier. Detroits work well off road, but suck on the street, why try to learn to love with something that has bad manners when there are products available that let you everything a detroit does, just so much better without any compromise on the street or the trail.

[FourbangerYJ]

Skip the detroit and buy an ARB or an ausie if it's available either one will make you so much happier. Detroits work well off road, but suck on the street, why try to learn to love with something that has bad manners when there are products available that let you everything a detroit does, just so much better without any compromise on the street or the trail.

I found the lunchbox type locker (lockright) much more noisey and quirkey than the Detroit. Once I had the Detroit it was almost invisible.
The 9 inch Detroits are cheap on Ebay from all the NASCAR guy's. But I will say that I knew a guy that ran one in the back of his XJ and it was real noisy. The roundy round guy's must add stiffer springs or something. He didn't seem to mind but it would have drove me crazy. Mine is super quiet.

Tahoe, I think I would choose another brand of shaft. Moser does not have the heat treating right on their stuff IMO. I would do the Currie shafts, or Superior or Ten Factory before Moser.

[neale_rs]

A local 4x4 shop told me they no longer to business with Moser due to inconsistent quality.  They told about one set of shafts that broke with just street use 

[Jeffy]

I found the lunchbox type locker (lockright) much more noisey and quirkey than the Detroit. Once I had the Detroit it was almost invisible.
The 9 inch Detroits are cheap on Ebay from all the NASCAR guy's. But I will say that I knew a guy that ran one in the back of his XJ and it was real noisy. The roundy round guy's must add stiffer springs or something. He didn't seem to mind but it would have drove me crazy. Mine is super quiet.

Tahoe, I think I would choose another brand of shaft. Moser does not have the heat treating right on their stuff IMO. I would do the Currie shafts, or Superior or Ten Factory before Moser.

There are or were two different 'Detroits'.  One newer one is the Softlocker which is pretty quiet.

I wouldn't run a Lunchbox locker ever again.  Very noisy and harsh to say the least.  They also tend to wear out a lot faster in the rear.

Tahoe, your specs say you have a 9" rear?

[aw12345]

Ausies are invisible on the street in a CJ7 which is terribly squirely when lifted to begin with. Detroit soft lockers are only available for the more popular axles like Dana 44, Dana 30 etc. Pretty sure that does not include a Ford 9", to me and quite a few others that have driven Jeeps with and without Detroit lockers it's a matter of why bother to put up with funny on the road behavior when there are better options either cheaper or a couple of hundred dollars more.

[TahoeYJ]

Sorry, missed that you had a 9" rear, nevermind.

I'd install a spool over a Detroit in the rear, the constant banging and sudden unexpected lane changes of a Detroit when on and off the throttle is downright unnerving, some jeeps worse than others.  Spools are KISS simple and very smooth and predictable on the road, easier on axleshafts when offroad as there's no sudden shear force due to sudden lockup as with an auto locker.

I remember I started a thread on spools and you said more or less what you've just stated. We have a family friend who has a Currie built 9" under his YJ w/ a Detroit and he said if he ever has to change, he'll go with a spool for basically the same reasons. The fact that they're incredibly simple and cheap makes them very appealing, but idk... I'm still wondering if I want to run one

Skip the detroit and buy an ARB or an ausie if it's available either one will make you so much happier. Detroits work well off road, but suck on the street, why try to learn to love with something that has bad manners when there are products available that let you everything a detroit does, just so much better without any compromise on the street or the trail.

I've found ARB's for about $760 online, which is about $300 more than what I've seen Detroits for, unles I come up with gobs of extra cash I doubt I'll end up with an ARB. Believe me when I say I'd LOVE to have one and being able to select open or locked is awesome, but the cost is just a bit much...

I found the lunchbox type locker (lockright) much more noisey and quirkey than the Detroit. Once I had the Detroit it was almost invisible.
The 9 inch Detroits are cheap on Ebay from all the NASCAR guy's. But I will say that I knew a guy that ran one in the back of his XJ and it was real noisy. The roundy round guy's must add stiffer springs or something. He didn't seem to mind but it would have drove me crazy. Mine is super quiet.

Tahoe, I think I would choose another brand of shaft. Moser does not have the heat treating right on their stuff IMO. I would do the Currie shafts, or Superior or Ten Factory before Moser.

This is actually the first negative feedback I've heard about Moser shafts, but thanks for the input. I've talked back and forth with a couple members on JF who run 31 spline Mosers and they're tickled to death with them, hence why I have been considering them.  I just checked Currie out though, and a complete set of shafts is only like $25 more than the Mosers would run. So I guess Currie would be another option...

There are or were two different 'Detroits'.  One newer one is the Softlocker which is pretty quiet.

I wouldn't run a Lunchbox locker ever again.  Very noisy and harsh to say the least.  They also tend to wear out a lot faster in the rear.

Tahoe, your specs say you have a 9" rear?

Yep, put it in last summer. I won't run a lunchbox style locker, plus I'd have to get a new carrier to run one anyway since I've got the Trac-Loc in mine

[Jeffy]

Well if you have a 9" then I wouldn't even bother with an 8.8".  I thought we were talking about a D35 as there is mentioning of a 27 spline and someone else mentioned swapping in a 8.8".  9" should be a 28 spline or 31 spline.  31 spline would be a no brainer.  You could even consider 35 spline if you want to go fancy.  On the cheap, I'd consider a Detroit Soft Locker.  I have no real complaints with mine.  Although if I had to do it over again, would consider an ARB.  But that's just me.  I do a lot of street driving so not having 1WD is nice when doing tight turns.

[TahoeYJ]

Well if you have a 9" then I wouldn't even bother with an 8.8".  I thought we were talking about a D35 as there is mentioning of a 27 spline and someone else mentioned swapping in a 8.8".  9" should be a 28 spline or 31 spline.  31 spline would be a no brainer.  You could even consider 35 spline if you want to go fancy.  On the cheap, I'd consider a Detroit Soft Locker.  I have no real complaints with mine.  Although if I had to do it over again, would consider an ARB.  But that's just me.  I do a lot of street driving so not having 1WD is nice when doing tight turns.

I meant to say 28 spline, my bad. The Soft Locker seems to be more or less the same price as a normal Detroit, I didn't look hard enough to see if there's a 9" application but I imagine there is. An ARB would be awesome, as I do a lot of street driving myself (lately 50+ miles daily) but the cost is just a bit much... If I can come across a used one, that'd be awesome

[Jeffy]

I'm not sure if you can get the original Detroit anymore.  I thought the Softlocker took over.