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Suggestions for repairing a Detroit Locker?

Got Smoke?

Got Smoke?

1/2 ton status
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Nov 23, 2005
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Ok I had a Detroit locker in my 97 Cummins for several years. When I got into sled pulling regularly my spiders in my OEM limited slip checked out soon there after. Had a buddy of mine @ a 4WD shop install a Detroit locker for me.

Over the course of the years I sled pulled I actually spun the bearing on the Detroit once and he staked the bearing surface and it held up fine. We regeared the truck a couple years ago to 4.88's when I was still pulling and when we pulled the Detroit out the pass side bearing fell off the carrier.

Well the truck is going back on the street and I want to fix and reinstall the Detroit locker because I've built a pretty hot motor for the truck. I emailed detroit to see if they would sell me a case half and they basically told me I was SOL and recommended "having the bearing surface chromed and precision ground" back to size.

Does anybody have any other suggestions?
 
mabye a local machine shop machine down the halfs a few tho and then make a sleve to press fit on and then cut them to new specs .

basicly same idea as chroming them.

but if me and its been used that hard and has had that many problems and now your building bigger motor and street use mabye time for a new one . hate to spend the cash and blow up and eat some gears or whole axle case.
 
The Loctite offers a product specifically for fixing damaged bearing surfaces on industrial stuff. Try finding a Motion Industries in your area as they carry the full line of Loctite products.
 
sweetk30 said:
mabye a local machine shop machine down the halfs a few tho and then make a sleve to press fit on and then cut them to new specs .

basicly same idea as chroming them.

but if me and its been used that hard and has had that many problems and now your building bigger motor and street use mabye time for a new one . hate to spend the cash and blow up and eat some gears or whole axle case.
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Stronger motor yes, but not near the stress anymore. Truck is going back to a semi-daily driver, tow rig, street toy.

The drivers side of the case is fine, never damaged or had problems.

Really don't want to drop $600 on a new Detroit(plus have to drill out the ring grar bolt holes for my 3.55s), I'll put a OEM limited slip back in first. Just figured I'd pick everybodies brains on alternatives.

Thanks for your reply.
 
Got Smoke? said:
Stronger motor yes, but not near the stress anymore. Truck is going back to a semi-daily driver, tow rig, street toy.

The drivers side of the case is fine, never damaged or had problems.

Really don't want to drop $600 on a new Detroit(plus have to drill out the ring grar bolt holes for my 3.55s), I'll put a OEM limited slip back in first. Just figured I'd pick everybodies brains on alternatives.

Thanks for your reply.
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if it has those kind of problems already,the unit may be getting worn out altogether.machining it with a sleeve may be a bandaid and brake something else when you fix that part.the whole thing has a ton of stress put on it already.depending on how much it would cost to fix that side it may be worth just replacing it.i stripped the side gears on my detroit and it was almost as much to get the parts to fix it as it was to get a new one.
 
chulisohombre said:
if it has those kind of problems already,the unit may be getting worn out altogether.machining it with a sleeve may be a bandaid and brake something else when you fix that part.the whole thing has a ton of stress put on it already.depending on how much it would cost to fix that side it may be worth just replacing it.i stripped the side gears on my detroit and it was almost as much to get the parts to fix it as it was to get a new one.
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The locker still functioned perfectly when it was pulled out...we had no clue anything was wrong until my buddy doing the gears set it up on the tailgate and the bearing literally fell off. I was just hoping to find a decent fix so I don't have a $600 paper weight.
 
What about an axle swap? I don't know what dodge used in those trucks... AAM? or a Dana?

I know the newer ones use an AAM 11.5" rear, may be worth finding a good used one to swap in.

Or maybe you have a D60 now, upgrade to a D70 or something?

Again, not a dodge guy, just throwing ideas out there.
 
496truck said:
What about an axle swap? I don't know what dodge used in those trucks... AAM? or a Dana?

I know the newer ones use an AAM 11.5" rear, may be worth finding a good used one to swap in.

Or maybe you have a D60 now, upgrade to a D70 or something?

Again, not a dodge guy, just throwing ideas out there.
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:haha: Dana 60 Front Dana 80 rear No need for anymore beef back there. Besides I need all the $$ I can spare to finish the engine and get it running.. Guess I'll be calling Advanced Plating and my buddy with a lathe. :dunno:
 
Only thing I'd really be worried about his how thrashed it is or isn't. Could be functioning correctly but have hairline cracks or something. I'm remembering when a guy on ORC/Chevy blew up a Detroit in his half ton...basically just from it being overstressed.

Since the Detroit folks were willing to tell you to get it chromed/machined/repaired then I'd say they at least think that is an option.
 
search pirate there is some place to buy Detroit locker parts. They are expensive but they are available.
 
Got Smoke? said:
The locker still functioned perfectly when it was pulled out...we had no clue anything was wrong until my buddy doing the gears set it up on the tailgate and the bearing literally fell off. I was just hoping to find a decent fix so I don't have a $600 paper weight.
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yeah i broke mine after 2 months,so i was a lil pissed as well.i had started getting parts together and didnt put my 14 bolt in til after the warrantee was up on the detroit.so 400 bucks and 2 months of fun,i have a 400 dollar paperweight.like i said it was gona cost more to get the parts to fix it than it was worth.new for 400 or 325 in parts to fix it.i just put the spider gears back in and left it like that til i get more money to buy a new one.
 
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