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Those wanting a D44a locker, step inside

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anestech

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Okay, I took lbrty9s lead and ran with it. Here is a thread of emails (starts at bottom and works to the top). I am doing my part here, and I ask you you help out as well. Please contact Bill Cole at bill@offroadlockers.com and tell him that you really want to see this, and would be willing to buy it for their very reasonable price of $199. This is a lunchbox locker similar to a Lock-Right (in fact Bill started the company that makes the Lock-Right). The Aussie Locker is simply an improved upon (read: quieter, more reliable) Lock-Right.

We will be getting the carrier to them soon. Does anyone know if the WJ and ZJ carriers are identical? They should be as the R & P are, but they may not be. If anyone knows for sure, this will save us leg work.

Hopefully this will come along very soon, it sounds as if they are eager to do it.

Flame away (a polished turd, yada yada) but this is the only viable option for many people here.

I need to see if we can do the measurements here or if the carrier needs to
go to Australian engineering. Yes, we will certainly pay all shipping costs
both ways. But if it has to go to Australia then we would need to find a
way to own the carrier as the cost of getting it there via air freight will
be very expensive, so we tend to ship things one way.

I will advise as soon as we sort it out. Does he have an axle that went
with the carrier?

Thanks again.

Bill
----- Original Message -----
From: <ryanwo@comcast.net>
To: "Bill Cole" <bill@offroadlockers.com>
Sent: Thursday, August 21, 2003 4:45 PM
Subject: Re: Locker of aluminum Dana 44


> No cost, they have a complete scrap axle at the shop (minus shafts). He
would
> like the carrier back when you are finished with it though. I assume that
you
> would pay shipping charges to and from though, correct? Just let me know
who
> and where to send it.
> Thanks,
> Ryan
> > Excellent news Ryan. What are the costs for this unit? We certainly
appreciate
> > your proactive assistance here.
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > Bill
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: Ryan O'Mara
> > To: Bill Cole
> > Sent: Thursday, August 21, 2003 9:38 AM
> > Subject: Re: Locker of aluminum Dana 44
> >
> >
> > I have obtained a carrier from a 44a off of a ZJ, and my friend is
double
> > checking to make sure that the carriers are identical between ZJs and
WJs. If
> > you tech team is in need of the carrier, I will have it by this weekend.
> > Thank,
> > Ryan
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: Bill Cole
> > To: Ryan O'Mara
> > Sent: Wednesday, August 20, 2003 5:24 AM
> > Subject: Re: Locker of aluminum Dana 44
> >
> >
> > Yes, we have assigned our technical guru in the USA to locate and
provide
> > Australian engineering with the new Dana 44 diffs used in Jeeps. We
have moved
> > the development of this locker model up on our engineering priority due
to the
> > demand by people such as yourself. When available we will be posting on
the
> > various BBS and with press releases.
> >
> > We may take you up on your offer of locating a carrier for us. Is
there a
> > phone number our USA technical people could call to discuss this offer
with you?
> >
> > Thank you for your interest in the Aussie Locker.....Traction to go
anywhere
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: Ryan O'Mara
> > To: aussielocker@offroadlockers.com
> > Sent: Tuesday, August 19, 2003 11:37 PM
> > Subject: Locker of aluminum Dana 44
> >
> >
> > Hi there,
> > I was just checking up on the supposed creation of a locker for
the
> > aluminum Dana 44 by you guys. Several folks on the boards at
Jeepsunlimited.com
> > have mentioned it, and it would be a very quick seller if it did come
out. I
> > know that you were attempting to get a carrier/housing in house to start
> > develoment, and I was currious to see how that was coming along. If you
have
> > not located one, I may be able to help out with at least the carrier.
> >
> > Please realize that there is currently not locker available for
this diff,
> > and many people are spending lots of money to go with a Ford 8.8 or
other
> > option, soley for a locker. The sales potential for a 44a locker is
huge. One
> > thing would be required though, that it works in both 96-98 ZJs and
99-present
> > WJs. I know that the ring and pinion in these vehicles are identical,
but I
> > don't know about the carrier dimensions, etc.
> >
> > I, and many others, would purchase this the second it became
available.
> >
> > Thank you,
> > Ryan O'Mara
Click to expand...
 
#2 ·
In that first email you say that the only reason that people swap axles is for a locker... not exactly true. I went from a D35 to the 8.8 just for strength issues.

I wonder how a locker in the AL44 will hold up? You'd think that the big names (ARB, Detroit, etc) would have made something by now? I guess we'll all find out.
 
Discussion starter · #3 ·
Actually I said the many people swap just for a locker, implying that others do it for other reasons. ;)

Aussie locker makes a locker for the aluminum diff'd Toyotas, so he said they are comfortable with an aluminum application. And I don't mind being a guinea pig...
 
#6 ·
Good going Anestech. One thing I'd recommend is trussing the D44a if you do put a locker in it. The D44a is a good strong axle, generally speaking. The weakness of the center section, at the tube inserts, is about the only downside (apart from aftermarket options, which you're on the road to resolving). I've seen a handful of fragged D44a's, failure was at the tube inserts, or stress cracks running away from the tubes. If you truss the housing appropriately, you can relieve much of the stress from the center section.

The Lockright is a nice lunchbox locker, for D44s and bigger axles, and ALOT cheaper than just about every other option short of spooling/lincoln locking the diff.
 
#9 ·
Discussion starter · #10 ·
cbassett said:
Good going Anestech. One thing I'd recommend is trussing the D44a if you do put a locker in it. The D44a is a good strong axle, generally speaking. The weakness of the center section, at the tube inserts, is about the only downside (apart from aftermarket options, which you're on the road to resolving). I've seen a handful of fragged D44a's, failure was at the tube inserts, or stress cracks running away from the tubes. If you truss the housing appropriately, you can relieve much of the stress from the center section.

The Lockright is a nice lunchbox locker, for D44s and bigger axles, and ALOT cheaper than just about every other option short of spooling/lincoln locking the diff.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I'm still in debate about that. I am still considering clayton's 4 link, and if I can lock the 44a, then I might just do that (with his truss). For the kind of wheeling I do, I don't think that it would be "needed." But wouldn't a locker help to spread the torque to both sides, reducing the chance of such fracture? Or would the sudden loading or unloading of the locker contribute to that? And hell, if I did frag an axle, I'll just sell gears and locker (assuming they don't go) and get myself an 8.8...
 
#11 ·
A locker is going to provide equal torque to both sides of the axle yes. However, when you lift a tire [and potentially have most of the weight of the rig on the grounded tire, picture off-camber uphill climb] you're putting a tremendous amount of torque on only one side of the axle. Clayton's 4-link truss is a good start. I'd also fab-up bracketry to tie his truss into some of the diff cover bolts, to essentially make the tubes and center section "one".
 
#12 ·
i ordered a Poison Spyder Customs rear diff skid for my 8.8 since I decided it was just going to be to hard to fab something as beautiful and well made myself. Besides the flush bolts and beauty of the thing, it ties into the truss from my Claytons 4-link, just like cbasset recommends. From the picture (dont have it yet) it definitely looks like having the diff skid attach to the truss will really strengthen things up so you definitely might want to consider that anestech.
 
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Raacerx
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