axle questions

[Flamin' Fast]

not too long ago i bought a 87 jimmy. i bought it as a project, but damn it never ends. anyway. as it sits it has a 12 bolt rear and dana 44 front both with 3.73 gearing. the 12 bolt has an auburn limited slip and the 44 is open. im going to be rebuilding both the axles with new seals and 4.10 gears. but where is the best place to get parts and what is needed? i also want to add a locker in the front, what are your oppinions on the lockrites?

 

[stallion85]

Lockrites are great as long as you keep your tire size reasonable.

For seals, bearings, etc. Auto Zone carries Timken products which are in my book great quality. Auto Zone will probably have the best price.

You could just order a master install kit along with your gears and you should get everything you need.

 

[Flamin' Fast]

i will have to check into the local autozone then, im not going any bigger than 35's so will the lockrite be ok right? we just tore into the rear diff and it seems like limited slip is all messed up so looks like i need to do something back there too. and all my shims had move and the splines on the axle shaft destroyed them

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

For seals, bearings, etc. Auto Zone carries Timken products which are in my book great quality.

Timken bearings are top quality, I don't know of any other better quality bearings (for light duty trucks anyway).

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

i will have to check into the local autozone then, im not going any bigger than 35's so will the lockrite be ok right? we just tore into the rear diff and it seems like limited slip is all messed up so looks like i need to do something back there too. and all my shims had move and the splines on the axle shaft destroyed them

You may have trouble breaking stuff locked in the front with 35's and you may not. I would go ahead and do it, but bring spares and make sure you know how to change them out.

As for the best price on lockers, gears, etc., call all of these places:

http://reiderracing.com/

http://performanceoffroadcenter.com/

http://www.ringpinion.com/Default.aspx

 

[Flamin' Fast]

im not too scared to break things, thats all part of owning one of these beasts. but what parts would most likely break?

 

[stallion85]

If you run stock axle shafts in a 1/2 ton front end with a locker and 35's you run the chance of breaking them.

If you run Chromoly shafts you can do this with a 1/2 ton locked front

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6792519976296167851&hl=en

 

[thatK30guy]

Since you mention having a 44 and 12 under your '87 rig, just so you get the right parts when the time comes, make sure you tell your parts guy you need the parts to fit whatever year the axles are. Don't go by the year of the truck. '87 had 10 bolt front and rear axles. You will get the wrong stuff if you go by '87.
If you don't know what year your axles are, pop off the diff covers and look for a stamping on the ring gear. The year should be on there.

 

[Flamin' Fast]

yeah it was tricky the first time i needed parts and didnt know what axles i had. should be alot easier now. thanks for all the help and i hope to get some pics of my build on here soon