Well figured it was time for a update.
Went to Uwharrie last weekend with the group Explorer Forum and it was doing great. Did everything I tried. Never failed. Then it broke. Broke pretty good at that. Broke the bearing cap in the front diff, broke the axle off in the front diff, and a u-joint. So that ended the day. Pulled the front diff and this is what I found.
Here are some vids LBarr got when it broke. It broke in the first video when it come down on the left front and the front wheels stop spinning. It bound up and didnt want to move. Then it broke free at the start of the second video. Turn the volume up and you can here it at the very start of the video. Sounds pretty rough. Still made it up it in 3wheel drive though.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjvTBRVZuz0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLNiYtdgBmQ
Anywho did about $125 in damage to the ARB so I called them up and they dont have them in stock and will be like a month until they can get them. I cant wait that long and he said the bearing cap failure was a common thing with that locker and big tires. They have updated it since with a new design thats supposed to be better. I was looking on a local 4x4 forum and found a Powertrax lock right that will work in the front for $100 that looks pretty much new. Now wear on the teeth or anything Score. Picked it up and it will work for now.
Here are some pics from last weekend courtesy of Burns, Lbarr, and Josh Adams
Got the old d35 housing I had laying around and cleaned it up and got the seals changed today. Got to get a new crush sleeve and take it to my buddys shop and setup the gears again.
Powertrax locker
Going to run it like this for a while and get parts for the ARB and fix it and sell it. And start collecting parts for a d44 solid axle.