What's new
CK5
Register an account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members.

Gov Bomb in my front diff. Will it work?

clandr1

clandr1

1/2 ton status
Joined
Oct 30, 2009
Posts
512
Reaction score
1
Location
Texas
So I just ordered a Gov-Lock G80 Eaton that I'm planning on putting in my front diff ('89 with stock 10 bolt 30 spline front axle) for added traction when offroad.

Picked it up for $145 delivered which is much cheaper than the other ones I was looking at in the $400-$600 range.

Can I just open the diff and install it, or will I need anything special to make it work besides just the stock diff and Gov Locker? Or will it not even work n the first place?

I did a little research before buying and it seems the locker will work in the front, so long as it's a 10 bolt with 30 spline axles.

I won't be hardcore offroading this, it's only to get me up some hills and through some muddy spots when I'm hunting.

Thanks!
 
you just wasted $145 and didnt search !:doah:

sorry but a huge waste of time and money. thay blow up real easy.

and it will require a full gear reset to swap the unit in if you even wanted to try it. not worth the time.
 
sweetk30 said:
you just wasted $145 and didnt search !:doah:

sorry but a huge waste of time and money. thay blow up real easy.

and it will require a full gear reset to swap the unit in if you even wanted to try it. not worth the time.
Click to expand...


I've seen a lot of negative reviews of the factory locker, but I don't put mine through much abuse and I've had 4 different GM 1/2 ton trucks with the G80 locker in them and I've never managed to blow one up.

What do you mean a full gear reset? The gears are the same front and rear right?
 
carrier back lash and gear pattern will be diffrent. its a new carrier to the setup thats in there.

you should just get a lunch box locker. like a lockright. that will drop in the open carrer you have now and with out gear setup.
 
clandr1 said:
What do you mean a full gear reset? The gears are the same front and rear right?
Click to expand...

The way that the gears mesh is VERY precise, several shims and bearing preloads need to be set to make sure everything works right, it's easy to destroy everything in the diff if things are done wrong.

That being said, you wouldn't be messing with any of the pinion settings (which are the more important/sensitive ones). Since you're putting it in the front, I wouldn't worry about it.

Remove the hubs/shafts/carrier from your front end (make sure to mark the carrier bearing caps both side to side and mark their orientation, they have to go back in exactly as they came out). Then pull the carrier out, be VERY careful not to damage or lose track of the shims on each side of the carrier bearings, they also must go in exactly as they came out. Then remove the ring gear bolts and use a skinny punch in the bottom of each hole in the ring gear to gradually tap it off of the carrier. Make sure that the mating surface on your gov-lok and ring gear are PERFECTLY clean (even a tiny spec of dirt can cause everything to be off) and make sure to file any burrs flat. Clean out the threads and bolts and use red loctite on all of them, reassemble everything just as it came out and you will be good to go :D
 
that wont happen probly.

one member here just got a dana 60 and swaped the open carrier for a power lock spicer unit . he had to reshim the setup. at first he tryed to just swap exactly and it wasnt even close at all.
 
I don't think it will work in a front application. When installed in the rear it would not lockup while in reverse. The counter weight has to spin the correct direction for it to lock. When you put the front the carrier will spin the wrong way and never lock.

I could be wrong but I think this was brought up before.
 
sweetk30 said:
that wont happen probly.

one member here just got a dana 60 and swaped the open carrier for a power lock spicer unit . he had to reshim the setup. at first he tryed to just swap exactly and it wasnt even close at all.
Click to expand...

CORRECT!
I just did this for my 14 bolt. marked everything, kept all perfect. Changed out the carrier, Govbomb to an open carrier, to use a minispool.
When I re-assembled it, I turned both adjusters back in 3 complete rotations, as I turned them out exactly 3 complete turns.
.
The focking thing was light years off. I said fock it!
Broke out the Military TM, for the m1008/9's, and preceded to set the thing up per the instructions.
Marked it with the yellow marking grease. Came out perfect first time. Took about 45 minutes to get the hang of whats happening in there.:crazy:

When I install the spool in the 60F, I may pay someone to do that, as I don't have a case spreader, and I only want to pay for bearings once...don't ask!:rolleyes:
 
cegusman said:
I don't think it will work in a front application. When installed in the rear it would not lockup while in reverse. The counter weight has to spin the correct direction for it to lock. When you put the front the carrier will spin the wrong way and never lock.

I could be wrong but I think this was brought up before.
Click to expand...

That's not true, unless there are different versions of it out there.
The one in my 2500 can engage in any direction.
If you examine the mechanism it's pretty obvious.
 
My quick chime in... I read earlier LockRight... I had one in my '89 S-10 Blazer and I seriously... tried everything I could to damage it. I wont go into detail, but I never did do any damage. I was getting rid of the Blazer so I pulled the LockRight to sell, and it looked the same as when I put it in... no evidence of wear.

Now, this was with a 4.3L and 30X9.5, from what I understand these lockers are good up to 350 CI and 33s, or "there abouts", YMMV.

HTH & GL,
Andrew
 
cegusman said:
I don't think it will work in a front application. When installed in the rear it would not lockup while in reverse. The counter weight has to spin the correct direction for it to lock. When you put the front the carrier will spin the wrong way and never lock.

I could be wrong but I think this was brought up before.
Click to expand...

I was about to post the same thing. The carrier will be spinning the opposite way and it should not lock.
 
I'm 100% sure it will engage in both directions.
 
Last edited:
They lock based on one side spinning more than the other side. In order for it to work on both left and right sides, the design also ends up working forward or backwards.
 
I won't be hardcore offroading this, it's only to get me up some hills and through some muddy spots when I'm hunting
Click to expand...




Geez.....it's a 10 bolt....if it has locking hubs on it....weld it and forget it...


just my .02
 
So here's what I'm taking away from this thread -- it can be done, but I have to do a complete reshim and reset of the gears.

What will I need to buy to do this right, other than the locker itself? A new carrier and a set of shims?
 
You'll need a tow truck and an appointment at your local 4wd shop...Last time I thought I could do this, I had no clue what I was getting myself into before hand and found it easier to pay a shop to set it up. Try it yourself and read great book for gear/axles many times before hand
 
FullNelson said:
You'll need a tow truck and an appointment at your local 4wd shop...Last time I thought I could do this, I had no clue what I was getting myself into before hand and found it easier to pay a shop to set it up. Try it yourself and read great book for gear/axles many times before hand
Click to expand...


Sorry, guess I should've specified... I have no intention of doing this myself, but I would like to have all the parts I need ready to go when I take it to my shop guy.

If I attempted this I would end up greasy, bloody, and probably have wailed on my diff with a hammer in a blind rage by the time it was all said and done
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest Posts

Top Bottom