Installing a locker

[2010_Ranger]

How difficult is it to install my own locker? I have it and I'm thinking about tackling it this weekend. The locker came with a general installation guide so I feel somewhat confident.

 

[sgtsandman]

With Ford axles, it's going to be a lot of work setting the pinion depth, backlash, and tooth engagement. I suggest looking up either Eric the Car Guy or ETCG1 and his videos on setting up a Ford 8.8. It will give you an idea what you would be in for.

 

[Curious Hound]

What kind of locker? And what axle? Different types have different difficulty levels.

My Aussie lunchbox locker in my rear 8.8" is easy. I took it out and reinstalled it in a campground with just the tools I normally carry.

 

[Uncle Gump]

I moved your post to the axle forum.

Is it a lunchbox type locker... or a locking carrier.

The lunchbox lockers are pretty simple.

 

[Uncle Gump]

As usual... I was a little slow.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Yeah, if it’s the “lunchbox” style (Aussie, LockRight, etc), it’s pretty simple. You aren’t messing with gears. Jack it up and support the axle tubes, pull the wheels, pull the diff cover, pull the cross pin bolt and cross pin, roll the spider gears out, pull the C-clips, pull the side gears, put the locker in and put it back together.

If it’s a whole carrier… you’re gonna have a bit more work…

When I can get my hands on a new diff cover I intend to put a LockRight in my Choptop and film it. I have the locker, just no diff cover yet and I’m not putting the cover I have back on

 

[2010_Ranger]

So it's a Detroit truetrac. Not many local mechanics are able to do it and one quoted me $2000 which sounds too pricey. I think the hardest part would be getting the specs right. Thanks for the video recommendations. I watched Eric the car guy. He did a complete gut and swap which made my job look a bit easier.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

So it's a Detroit truetrac. Not many local mechanics are able to do it and one quoted me $2000 which sounds too pricey. I think the hardest part would be getting the specs right. Thanks for the video recommendations. I watched Eric the car guy. He did a complete gut and swap which made my job look a bit easier.

I believe @Lefty got one of those installed not long ago, forget what it cost him though but it wasn’t cheap.

I’ve never done it yet, but I’ve watched a bunch of videos and it looks like it’s more time consuming than anything playing with the shims to get it right

 

[pjtoledo]

@2010_Ranger
is this for your 2010?

check the specs, your 2010 axle should be only 28 splines for the axle shafts.
Detroit Truetrac can be either 28 or 31 splines.

 

[2010_Ranger]

All is well. I found a drive line shop to do it. They quoted me $800 and I can live with that. Also my splines are 28 and so is the truetrac. So I'm definitely excited!

 

[mr_manny]

When I was in the states, I was in a local wheelin club.
We would get together once a week and wrench, drink and hang out (and occasionally wheel).
One of the guys was "the gear guy", so cost was his beverage of choice.
Super awesome bunch...I've learned so much from these guys.

Do some research, and find your local club (I use the term club loosely).
You will thank me later

 

[broncc]

A truetrack is not an easy install. You will need precision measurement tools including a dial indicator and micrometers (good quality calipers work), a torque wrench, a press, and a bearing kinfe.

Read through the ford instructions below to see if you feel comfortable.

https://performanceparts.ford.com/download/instructionsheets/FordInstShtM-4209-8.pdf

!!! IMPORTANT NOTE !!!
STEP 3 ON PAGE 25 & 26 INSTRUCTS YOU TO MOVE THE PINION THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION OF WHAT IS CORRECT.
Step 3.b needs a thinner shim. Step 3.c needs a thicker shim.

Other notes:

Ford special tool #205-S127 (T79P-4020-A) can be substituted using the pinion gear with a 1" section of 1" of pipe as the driveshaft yoke and a plain 3/4-20 nut as the pinion locknut. You most likely do NOT need to change the pinion depth at all. Change the ring gear over to the truetrack and drop it in. The pattern should look good and only backlash will need correction.

Save your old bearings and grind down their inner and outer diameters with an abrasive rotary tool until they are a slip fit instead of a press fit. Use this to make setting your pinion depth easy.

 

[2010_Ranger]

I did some research and it looks more complex than I could do. So for now, I got it scheduled for a qualified shop. It's a drive line shop and he sounded very confident so I'll be having a shop do it.

 

[SenorNoob]

I probably wouldn't try to setup gear myself either. I've done some conveyor gear alignments and honestly it was a pain.