Truetrac install advice please

Dutchy · **Posted:** Fri Apr 27, 2007 6:50 am

I'm hoping to install a Detroit Truetrac on my 2003 KJ as the standard LSD is eating up my tyres.

How difficult is this job and what parts/tools will I need to do this?

Is there anybody out there who can give me step by step instructions how to do this?

Thanks!

Alak · **Posted:** Fri Apr 27, 2007 11:49 am

I would also like to request some information, as I am putting a TrueTrac in the front this summer. I guess the biggest question is, how do I tell what the gear ratio is? I have an 06' 3.7L Sport with command trac.

Sorry to thread jack.

Jeger · **Posted:** Fri Apr 27, 2007 12:11 pm

http://www.lostjeeps.com/forum/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?t=179

Thats a write-up for a front TT install, I dont know how much different the rear would be, but it is certainly easier to get too.

saki669 · **Joined:** Sat Jan 20, 2007 2:44 am **Posts:** 3

That writeup mentions nothing about setting up the gears properly (backlash, pinion depth, etc). Looks like he just slapped in the TT and away he goes! For something as important as gears you really should have a professional set them up. Even without the ratio changing, swapping out the carrier will change tolerances. To save some $$ pull the diff out yourself and have a shop set the gears up. They will love you for doing the hard work for them (and not taking up valuable service bay space).
The rear axle requires special tools to set up the carrier. On my XJ I took the axles out and had the work done before putting them back in myself. The peace of mind I got from knowing a professional set up the gears was well worth it. Any monkey can swap an axle in and out.

KJ04 · **Posted:** Fri Apr 27, 2007 4:33 pm

You can slap a Power Trax no-Slip in an hour and do it in your drive way with no special tools or set up.

saki669 · **Joined:** Sat Jan 20, 2007 2:44 am **Posts:** 3

KJ04 wrote:

You can slap a Power Trax no-Slip in an hour and do it in your drive way with no special tools or set up.

And it will lock up better than a Tru-Trac also!

myjeepwalks · **Posted:** Fri Apr 27, 2007 6:36 pm

saki669 wrote:

That writeup mentions nothing about setting up the gears properly (backlash, pinion depth, etc). Looks like he just slapped in the TT and away he goes! For something as important as gears you really should have a professional set them up. Even without the ratio changing, swapping out the carrier will change tolerances. To save some $$ pull the diff out yourself and have a shop set the gears up. They will love you for doing the hard work for them (and not taking up valuable service bay space).
The rear axle requires special tools to set up the carrier. On my XJ I took the axles out and had the work done before putting them back in myself. The peace of mind I got from knowing a professional set up the gears was well worth it. Any monkey can swap an axle in and out.

Very well said :wink:

You dont need to mess with pinion depth unless you're changing the ring and pinion. If you're just installing a true-trac you have to swap the excitor ring and ring gear from your old carrier and install it on the T/T. All you really need to set up is the back lash and carrier bearing preload. I installed my trac-lok withouth the $45 dollar tool because i didn't feel like buying it. It was a p.i.t.a. without it! If i had to do it again id buy the tool. If you are not familiar with setting up gears i'd recommend leaving this to the professionals.

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Fri Apr 27, 2007 6:54 pm

My powertrax has been acting weird lately. It doesnt lock up as much and Ive been doing one wheel burn outs. I dont really mean to, gotta go when traffic is coming. Not sure if its finally broken in or what. Its not been making noises and doesnt pop like it did.

arswimmer · **Posted:** Fri Apr 27, 2007 7:22 pm

Where can I buy a detroit locker, and how much do they run?

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Fri Apr 27, 2007 8:34 pm

Jeepjeepster wrote:

My powertrax has been acting weird lately. It doesnt lock up as much and Ive been doing one wheel burn outs. I dont really mean to, gotta go when traffic is coming. Not sure if its finally broken in or what. Its not been making noises and doesnt pop like it did.

I'd say your powertrax is about at the end of it's life.

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Fri Apr 27, 2007 8:38 pm

arswimmer wrote:

Where can I buy a detroit locker, and how much do they run?

Here you go----http://www.4wheelparts.com/PPT5458T5589.aspx-----16th down(you need the 8.25 29-spline,not the 27-spline).

myjeepwalks · **Posted:** Fri Apr 27, 2007 8:52 pm

Jeepjeepster wrote:

My powertrax has been acting weird lately. It doesnt lock up as much and Ive been doing one wheel burn outs. I dont really mean to, gotta go when traffic is coming. Not sure if its finally broken in or what. Its not been making noises and doesnt pop like it did.

how many miles are on it?

I had a regular lock-rite locker in one of my old toyotas. I put about 30k on and now my buddy has it and put about another 20k on it. It still pops, clanks, and bangs like it was first installed. I thought i read somewhere where the little springs can break or wear out on the older units. Don't really know about the no-slip though.

Alak · **Posted:** Fri Apr 27, 2007 9:32 pm

Lots and Lots of information here.

But one question from myself remains, how do I tell what my front gear ratio is?

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Fri Apr 27, 2007 9:36 pm

Alak wrote:

Lots and Lots of information here.

But one question from myself remains, how do I tell what my front gear ratio is?

Same as your rear gear ratio,most auto's are 3.73,4-clinders(gas) are 4.10's.I think manual(gas) are 3.55's.There should be a metal tag on the rear and front diffs(mounted under 1 cover bolt) that tells you your gear ratio,it may be gone on the rear diff if it has been serviced before though.

Dutchy · **Posted:** Sat Apr 28, 2007 10:25 am

Anybody with instructions how to install a Truetrac in the rear?

I live remote, no specialist within 4 Hours drive and a clueless dealer in the nearest city.

spoonplugger1 · **Posted:** Sat Apr 28, 2007 10:45 am

Jim Allen & Randy Lyman of Randy's Ring & Pinion just wrote a book on "Differentials, Identification, Restoration, & Repair". It's supposed to be a good one.
The info I have is that they can be purchased at www.ring-pinion.com or PH# (866) 631-0139.

ATXKJ · **Posted:** Sat Apr 28, 2007 9:26 pm

Dutchy
I used the Aurburn writeup as a guide http://www.lostjeeps.com/forum/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?t=182
However - you don't have to grind the case for the Truetrac
you do need the bearing preload wrench
http://www.sjdiscounttools.com/otc6602.html

Also - you need new Ring gear bolts - manual says do not reuse the old. (rear diff bolts are left hand thread)
and a torgue wrench that can read on a left hand thread

Dutchy · **Posted:** Mon Apr 30, 2007 10:13 am

Great, thanks for the info!

unixxx · **Posted:** Tue May 01, 2007 12:19 pm

arswimmer, I sell the Chrysler 8.25" 29 Spline Detroit Locker (187C-179A) for $614.95 on my online store: http://c-comp.com/product_info.php?products_id=240 I also sell "Differentials - Identification, Restoration & Repair": http://c-comp.com/product_info.php?products_id=200 and can get the replacement ring gear bolts.

You'll need to purchase a dial indicator and Chrysler 8.25" preload tool to check and set backlash, respectively.

Pirate4x4's Gear Setup guide is the best I've found and the one I used to install my ARB:

http://pirate4x4.com/tech/billavista/Gear_Setup/

arswimmer wrote:

Where can I buy a detroit locker, and how much do they run?

Alak, the most up to date information on gear ratios can be found in the Jeep Liberty Wikibook:

http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Jeep_Liberty/Gearing

Alak wrote:

But one question from myself remains, how do I tell what my front gear ratio is?

More information about the TrueTrac and Detroit Locker can be found here:

http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Jeep_Liber ... t_TrueTrac

http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Jeep_Liber ... oit_Locker

Truetrac install advice please

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