Probably been asked / changing the carrier

[scrappyk5]

I have a 14bolt ff with an open carrier. I want to put a govlok I have in place of the open carrier. Am I correct to say, all I need to do is mark the ringgear and pinion gear, remove the open carrier, take the ring gear off the open carrier and install on the govlok , then install the govlok carrier with the markings lining up and tork back down ?

Oh of course slide the axles out first. then slide back in when finished.

 

[76zimmer]

Are the carriers both the same break....i.e. 4.10 and down, or 4.56 and up?
I think you need to get the adjuster counts from the gov lock carrier before removal from the housing, along with the pinion shims from the gov lock pinion housing.
If you get those two things duplicated in the new housing to where they were from the original gov lock housing, you should be close to having a good pattern when in the open housing.
But you should at least check backlash, and do another tooth pattern check.
You may need to establish zero backlash before doing anything when you get them switched over.

 

[BGKYK5]

With a new carrier you will have to recheck backlash and pattern. It should be close, but maybe not close enough. If you were putting a detroit in your existing carrier, your backlash and pattern should be unchanged.

 

[4X4HIGH]

Actually, anytime a new/different carrier is installed there is a good chance that the gears will need to be re set-up again. Since he is only changing a carrier and not the gears he will not even be pulling the pinion assembly from the carrier so there are NO SHIMS that are involved (unless of course he needs to readjust pinion depth).

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

I think you need to get the adjuster counts from the gov lock carrier before removal from the housing, along with the pinion shims from the gov lock pinion housing.
If you get those two things duplicated in the new housing to where they were from the original gov lock housing, you should be close to having a good pattern when in the open housing.
But you should at least check backlash, and do another tooth pattern check.
You may need to establish zero backlash before doing anything when you get them switched over.

Not really true, every housing is different which is the reason that each housing has its own shims. Using the shims from one housing in another will almost certainly not work correctly.

 

[76zimmer]

I just thought it would be close, to get started with. But I did note that another tooth pattern and back lash should be done too.

 

[scrappyk5]

So in a nutshell I cannot just do I said. I will have to reset the gears. which means loosening and shim adjustment to pinion/gear. That means more work that its worth to install the govlok ?

your opinions ?

 

[BGKYK5]

That means more work that its worth to install the govlok ?

IMHO, yes unless you plan on regearing anyway. Get a detroit or lock rite. Obviously they cost more, but you won't have to worry about backlash etc, because the carrier is the same. To save $$$ you could go with a lincoln locker, or mini spool (but not a full spool) and not have to worry about setup.

 

[6.2Blazer]

Not really true, every housing is different which is the reason that each housing has its own shims. Using the shims from one housing in another will almost certainly not work correctly.

True, but he's not changing housings......in fact there is no reason he will even need to touch the pinion. I would definitely double-check everything but there should be no pinion shim adjustments needed in this situation.

 

[sweetk30]

i did just this years ago.

every thing went fine. still going strong.

open diff out and gov lock in its place. i love my gov locks for dd use and light offroad.

just check the pattern after the swap should be just fine.

 

[BGKYK5]

True, but he's not changing housings

Gov Lock and open diff are different carriers so he has to change carriers.

I think the confusion is over the term "housing", I think Chris means carrier. Diff housing, not axle housing. I would recheck the gear setup if changing carriers.

 

[fmstruck]

Do not worry about the pinion. You aren't changing anything that is going to affect pinion depth.

You don't need to mark anything except for the bearing caps so that they get replaced where they were. Back the spanner nuts off, remove the carrier, move the ring gear over to your Gov-lock carrier, reinstall, putting the proper cap on the proper side. Just snug the caps and then adjust backlash and preload on the carrier. You're looking for about .008"-.010" backlash and then adjust preload by tightening the spanners against each other till you can just rock the ring gear back and forth with one finger. Finish tightening the cap bolts and install the spanner locks.

If you have any questions beyond, this, please don't be afraid to shoot me a PM. I hate to see people suffer needlessly.

 

[scrappyk5]

Do not worry about the pinion. You aren't changing anything that is going to affect pinion depth.

You don't need to mark anything except for the bearing caps so that they get replaced where they were. Back the spanner nuts off, remove the carrier, move the ring gear over to your Gov-lock carrier, reinstall, putting the proper cap on the proper side. Just snug the caps and then adjust backlash and preload on the carrier. You're looking for about .008"-.010" backlash and then adjust preload by tightening the spanners against each other till you can just rock the ring gear back and forth with one finger. Finish tightening the cap bolts and install the spanner locks.

If you have any questions beyond, this, please don't be afraid to shoot me a PM. I hate to see people suffer needlessly.

I sent you a pm. I will give you a call , was hoping I could do this without messing with the pinion.