I've had this aussie locker for a few months now, waiting for install. Finally yesterday was the day.

Things I found out that might help someone else:

the thick ring gear of the 5.13 ratio doesn't allow the cross pin to be removed or installed while it's in place. While Aussie says if you can do brakes, you can do the locker with ease... plan on an extra set of hands, and know up front that you will be dropping the carrier completely out and removing the ring gear. You'll also need a very long pin punch (2"+) to remove the roll pin retaining the cross pin.

the blue shims included with the kit are supposedly for use in the JK D30 front end. It says to disregard the others. Apparently Aussie is pretty proud of them, because that's the only difference in the JK kit, and it commands a $50 premium.

I had to switch to a 3.73 and numerically higher carrier because I was coming from 3.21 gears. I installed the side cam plates and shims per the instructions. Then one of the center pieces. Then the other...no! it won't fit. no matter what. After a lot of dinking around, I figured out I was going to have to grind the opening a bit. Out came the die grinder and burr bit. After three tries, I had enough clearance to get everything in there for a test fit. Finally solved problem number one.

Somehow, whether it was Northridge (where I bought the carrier) or some other issue with changes in OEM parts, the blue shims wouldn't allow assembly. not even close. This was on a Sunday, so I couldn't call tech lines or anything. I measure everything and found the new carrier to be .040 narrower than the stock one. Luckily I had some leftover pinion shims that fit. I measured the blue shims to be .047". So I took .020 off those numbers and installed .027" shims on each side. This solved that problem.

After that, things went pretty smooth. All tolerances measured within spec, and so far it's nearly transparent while in 2wd.

Got home and did some research... found out (from another forum) the TJ, and the 07 JK front carrier is .040 narrower on the inside than the stocker from 2008 and up. My guess is they sent me one of these carriers.

So, my tip to anything thinking about an Aussie Locker in the front of your JK? Buy a TJ kit and the TJ front carrier. Save yourself $50.

PS, if anyone wants a set of the special blue shims... they're yours.... for $50

 

Same when I put my Aussie in. It was a Nov 06 build. There was a running change after that acording to thier techs. I installed mine without the JK special shims and everything worked right, proper tolerances locked up good. Hell of a differance offroad. Its sitting in a D30 in the shed as I have a PR44 now and the shims are in a toolbox in the garage unused. You'll like that Aussie for the price.

 

I just kinda wished I had read something here about it or that northridge might have mentioned the differences when I ordered the parts.

If nothing else, at least anybody else doing a similar swap can save some $$

 

What is your name I would like to look up your order.

David

Edit- Nevermind I just found your order. When you ordered it initially in January you did not order a new carrier so the aussie you ordered was the correct one. Then you called back in late February and ordered a open carrier.

Also you did not pay $50 extra for the aussie .

 

There were two orders. One for the gears and locker during your holiday special, the other when I was ready to do the install and found out I had to change carriers too (kinda wished I had known that for the first order).

 

I didn't mean to imply I was charged $50 additional. My point was the aussie locker was more $ for the JK version than the TJ when they are identical other than the shims. At least that was the case at the time.

Also, you edited your post while I was responding, but you are correct, I did place two orders. When I called for the carrier in february, I told the salesman why I was ordering it and what my original order entailed.

I'm not trying to point fingers... just to be informative. Had someone let me know or had I found a thread here detailing the difference in the carriers, there would have been a lot of time saved.

Regardless, I haven't seen anything anywhere about having to clearance the carrier to be able to install the locker. I should have taken pictures of the process, but I really didn't want my camera smelling of gear lube :lol:

 

There are numerous threads on Aussie Lockers on the forums. Having to clearance the housing is odd.