It'll save me $200, and i have all the parts, just may need a few tools, the gears will remain the same, just swap carriers to the locker.
i think i can but it's my first locker/gear install, and i'm not sure if i should pay to get it done and learn rather then attempt it myself.
if i do it myself, what are some specific tools i'll need.
thanks,
:beer:

you don't know anyone who installs gears that could show you? you need to go out wheelin or get some new friends.............:flipoff2:

well i know pretty much how to do the install, i just need to know
if there is a more exact way to measure bearing preload other then just judging it by the ease or difficulty with wich the carrier goes in or comes out.

also i have a bud thats done it on stock cars but they aren't too worried about the life of the gears, but i am! :beer:

ahhh just do it! i dont think that it has to be "Perfect" just close i have done all of mine and i have not had one blow up yet!

Chris G.

just get the preload on the pinion til you feel a little drag on it without the pinion seal installed. then just adjust shims on the carrier to get just a hair of backlash, not exact science but it should be close.:beer:

Hes not changing gears, hes installing the locker, No need to adjust the preload on the pinon.

Get some gear marking compound, Mark the pattern, take a picture of it.

Pull the carrier out, install the locekr, Put it back in, Recheck your pattern, IT should not have changed.

Steve

If you want to get all scientific with it, go buy or borrow a magnetic based dial indicator and measure the backlash before you remove the old carrier. Then when you get the new one in there, set the backlash to match the old measurement exactly. It should be pretty durn close, but may take a thousandth either way to get it perfect. You can run patterns before and after too, or ya could just throw the thing in there and call it good.

well i have the magnetic base dial indicator, and i'm gonna mark and take pics of it, so to be sure, but it seems easy although you guys have done it a couple of times so you prolly over simplify it:p

thanks
and yeah like stated, i'm just installing the locker no new gears.:beer:

Relax, you got an easy one ahead of you. This is nothing like setting up gears, all you will be resetting is the carrier bearing preload and R&P backlash. You will need shims, a dial indicator, a bearing press and puller and to make life easier since its a Dana, a set of dummy bearings. One thing I have learned with a Detroit, set the backlash to the tight side of the tolerance, the Detroit has quite a bit of built in backlash and for some reason excess backlash in the R&P seem to really amplify it. Personally, I would go with something in the area of 4-6 thou. As for bearing preload, you will need to tap the carrier/Detroit pretty good to seat it in the diff, especially if you are using new bearings, which I strongly recommend. If you are using new bearings, check the preload and backlash after about 250 miles.

haha I guess I have been lucky the last 15 or so times I have installed a locker, I just mark the pattern, Switch shims, install new bearings, switch ring gear, install Remark patten and every time its exactly the same

do you work in a shop or are you just UNLUCKY with lockers breaking(15 times)?:flipoff2:

u said that u will save $200, try to shove it in, wheel it, and if it breaks then u have saved $200 to pay someone to do it right, right, it will be a learning experience

Hahaahah Neither, Went from a Limited slip to a lockright to a Detroit in the back of my YJ, and a Detroit in my YJ. Thats 4 times right there, Did my brothers twice, Lockright, then a Detroit. On the CJ I installed the detroit, Broke the axle housing, installed another one in a different axle, Installed the one in the front, I have done a couple of firends installs as well.

ITs really not that hard todo. Setting up gears is harder and technically your not really changing anything other then the carrier

Anyone know of an online write up on the D30 Detroit install?

Get your dummy bearings and get the backlash to where it is the same as the old was with the carrier an easy slip fit, but with no slop. One handed light push to seat it fully. Then add .002-.003 per side, keep it even and the backlash won't change; presto you have preload.

One thing to watch out for, it's bit me before and I've seen it happen to other folks. OX lockers seem to be the worst for this but some Detroits do it too. The carrier shims sometimes won't sit on a flat surface. So when you're using your practice bearings the bearing isn't actually fully seated- you think it's dialed in and slam the service bearings on, but now the shims have taken a set to the contoured, not flat, area behind and your carrier FALLS into place. Crap. It's real easy to check and make sure the shims sit properly before you start setting it up and see if you'll have that problem.