For the people that run/ran 12 bolt with detroit - what part breaks?

[bajaviking]

For the people that have been running 12 bolts with a detroit Locker what did you break? The detroit, the axle shafts, ring/pinion, your neck? Other?
Please save the 14 bolt FF comments for somebody else, I can get a detroit installed for cheap and I am not interested in the 14 bolt at this point.

 

[blueblaze]

The only thing was 2 axle shafts..."knock on wood"... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[bajaviking]

I actually have a complete extra 12 bolt differential so spares is not a problem. I am thinking that the Detroit is pretty strong so carrier breakage should not be a problem and I can deal with changing a shaft now and then /forums/images/graemlins/thinking.gif

 

[Hossbaby50]

I have a couple friends with detroits and 35" tires. They wheel hard and what I have heard and seen are axleshafts and ring & pinions.

I witnessed TheRobZilla pop a 12 bolt shaft in his K5. Pretty awesome sound when you hear it and all you see is sky as you are climbing a waterfall. /forums/images/graemlins/peace.gif

A buddy of mine Robert has had a couple ring and pinions go in a K10 longbed that he rockcrawled pretty hard.

Robs axleshafts had been in the axle for a long time taking a pretty heavy beating before they let go. He is light on the go pedal and has a controlled wheeling style too though. Get crazy with the skinny pedal and the breakage will be a toss up.

Harley

 

[84_Chevy_K10]

When my 12 bolt failed it was open, but the pinion bearing exploded, destroying the ring and pinion, the housing, and the carrier.

Just something to keep in mind.

 

[big83chevy4x4]

ive seen the pinion bearings fall apart, lucky we cought it soon enough that the ring and pinion were still good.

 

[84_Chevy_K10]

I had a 14 bolt SF in the garage already so I didn't bother fixing it, I just waited for it to pop and came home and put it in.

That was about 3 years ago.