A few weeks ago I had an ARB locker and gears installed into my jeep. I bought the gears and locker from Northridge (great prices thanks Dave) and had a local shop (Forum sponsor) that I will keep nameless until I give them a chance to explain why I am having these problems install them. The shop only installed the gears and locker through the axle housing, I told them I could run the airlines from my compressor to the axle fitting. I enjoy working on my own stuff but was intimidated at attempting my own gears.

Ever since I have had issues trying to find an air leak to my rear locker though it was in my air line work or possibly the o-ring at the housing. Today I pulled the diff cover after the 500 break in miles and found that when installed the copper air line had been rubbing on the gear and had snapped off at the seal housing. I found a seal housing locally so I pulled my rear end apart to replace the housing then I found other issues:

1: The new seal housing per ARB is RD 117-081803. However the new part I bought with this part number has a 45mm ID and the broken part I removed has a 50mm ID?

2: when I went to remove the locker and gears I expected that I would need to pry it out(as per a few write ups I have read), but it slid out on its own. Is this wrong? There appears to be no wear issues on the gear teeth yet I had to apply zero force to pull the locker out of the housing?

3: The seal housing has a clearance groove machined on one side, but it was installed backward with the clearance grove facing out and was galling on the tapered roller bearing cage (roller separator).

4: If I find the correct seal housing tomorrow and I mic it’s thickness how much deviation in thickness can I be safe with without re seating my gears? I marked the location of each shim so that I can return to its location during re-installation.

I am attempting to fix this as I want to go PLAY!!!!

Thanks fellow JKers

 

Normally on a Jeep rearend you have to use a spreader and then pry the carrier out of the housing. Sounds like to me they did not set your preload correctly. When it is installed how much can you roll the ring gear up and down without moving the pinion? It should move slightly, if you had a gauge it would be no more than .012 in. and you should not be able to pry the carrier side to side at all.

 

I spent a few hours trying to locate a spreader at the local auto parts with no luck. That is why I was surprised when the carrier just slid out.

I am not sure how much play there is when rolling the gears. assuming I can find the correct seal housing I will measure this once it is re installed.

 

Give them a call and I am sure they will get you handled if not give me a call please

David

 

Thanks David,

Do you know what the deal is with the 45mm seal housing vs the 50mm?

 

No sorry I do not my only guess would be maybe new design vs old design they just recently updated the seal housings I will find out Monday for sute

 

No worries.

I can easily fix the old one by brazing the tube out of the new housing into the old but I am very concerned about how easy the carrier came out of my axle. So I should probably wait until monday to talk to the shop. I guess I will just have to cancle my camping trip.

 

Yeah I would don't modify anything and give them a call first thing

 

call them man, i have delt with them for o-rings and they have been great to me. if you ask them to explain they will but u may have to be transferred to a tech and not a customer service rep. unless someone specifically knows arb lockers,, heed the advice and call arb.

 

when it comes to the copper line, you have to measure the line itself before you can order from arb. i cant remeber if its the old or new design but one is a steel line wth copper coating and the other line is a true copper line. the steel line and copper line are different sizes. so measure what u have then call arb