For those considering a Detroit Locker: Consider this

JL Rockies · **Posted:** Thu Jul 31, 2008 12:52 pm

I know many of you have been following the drama unfold with getting a locker installed into my 2006 CRD. The transmission guy in our local club had been running into problems which lead him to believe that the product is wrong.

He finally got on the blower with Eaton to get this hammered out with them. They acknowledged that the problem he's running into is real and the solution for it was what my friend didn't want to do: grind away at the C clips until they fit.

Here's the thread in which he informed everyone of his findings: http://jeeptalk.net/index.php?showtopic=12540

He's "Tranny Doctor"

I have decided that I am not going to get it installed if grinding is in the methodology.

Fulltimer · **Posted:** Thu Jul 31, 2008 2:48 pm

Wrong link. It takes us to a legal discussion.

Terry

JL Rockies · **Posted:** Thu Jul 31, 2008 4:18 pm

Fixed

Inc · **Posted:** Thu Jul 31, 2008 5:31 pm

From what I hear, grinding is a usual thing for many people and almost all lockers for the Chrysler 8.25 have to deal with this. Not all KJs have this issue but I am pretty sure I've heard from people using almost every locker out there say they had to grind to fit. Some do some don't. PITA. :evil:

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Thu Jul 31, 2008 5:35 pm

Grinding the c-clips down some is normal for the lunchbox style lockers if you ever want to get the c-clips back out.Some ARB apps require major grinding,sometimes you even need to grind the bearing caps.

JL Rockies · **Posted:** Thu Jul 31, 2008 6:55 pm

Maybe I am off base, but I don't find it acceptable to spend good money ($600 DL or $800 ARB or $300 for fill in the blank lunch box) on something designed for an application that requires you to grind the factory parts down. Basically, they make something that does not fit.

When my guy asked Eaton if they would be responsible if I lost my axle their response: "we are not the ones who are grinding the c clips"

My guy: "but you just told me that I have to grind the c clips"

Them: "we never told you to grind anything"

Thats some total shim shadeyness right there. This is a huge company with lots of money not some guy building lockers in his garage.

The reality is, if I went to anyone else, they would've grinded away and I wouldn't known the difference. Luckily, I went to a like-minded guy. Now the truth is out there, it's up to you to decide if it's acceptable for your Jeep if you're considering it.

Troy, if there's a bunch of stuff grinded down in my front diff to make the DTT fit, I don't want to know. :wink:

ARBSeth · **Posted:** Thu Jul 31, 2008 7:01 pm

At the risk of defending my breathen over at Detroit....

Grinding C Clips is a common practice. Grinding Diff housings is a common practice...ask anyone who runs a 9" how hard it is to get around a pilot bearing and they'll tell you...

The deal is, if you want aftermarket parts in a diff that is designed to run nothing but spider gears, you need to make the parts going in a little bigger than the stuff that comes out. So, things need to be modified in order to make it work properly. Grinding c clips, bearing caps or even the housing itself isn't a big deal at all as long as you do it the way we tell you to as MFR's. I ground the C clips on my 8.25 when I put the TT in awhile back before I bought the ARB. Worked fine...

I wouldn't worry about it.

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Thu Jul 31, 2008 7:29 pm

Quote:

Troy, if there's a bunch of stuff grinded down in my front diff to make the DTT fit, I don't want to know.

There was no grinding of anything in the front diff you have now,the TT went right in.

I agree with what ARBSeth said,though I stated about the same info,he just went into it a little more indepth.I fully understand about adding a locker and lower gears to a 9" housing,it was a royal pain and much grinding to get USAFCOP's ARB and 5.13 gears into his 9" third member,thank god I wasn't the one doing it.

rangerd77 · **Joined:** Sat May 03, 2008 10:48 am **Posts:** 512

they had to grind my c-clips don to get my DTT in and i dont have a prob, havent had a prob for the last year.

Inc · **Posted:** Thu Jul 31, 2008 11:48 pm

I agree with JL Rockies 100%. Why can't they make them so they don't have to be ground down? Include the new parts already made to fit and be done I think.

That said, JL and I aren't the MFRs so we have to buy what's out there and the stuff out there requires grinding. So we have to grind and life goes on I guess.

InCommando · **Posted:** Thu Jul 31, 2008 11:54 pm

This kind of stuff is pretty common, from what I have seen in the last 25 years or so.

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Thu Jul 31, 2008 11:58 pm

There are to many versions of the same axle for a certian locker to fit perfectly in all,some you need to modify some you don't.

Guest · **Posted:** Fri Aug 01, 2008 12:05 am

InCommando wrote:

This kind of stuff is pretty common, from what I have seen in the last 25 years or so.

PFFT, what would you know :lol:

tommudd · **Posted:** Fri Aug 01, 2008 12:20 am

ThunderbirdJunkie wrote:

InCommando wrote:

This kind of stuff is pretty common, from what I have seen in the last 25 years or so.

PFFT, what would you know :lol:

I was wondering what either one of you knew , but I will say it quietly to myself , here in my small padded room and not post it on LOST :shock:

dieselenthusiast · **Posted:** Fri Aug 01, 2008 1:40 am

Exactly what are the C-clips?

Milner · **Posted:** Fri Aug 01, 2008 10:47 am

Have to agree with Seth and InCommando. I've been around this stuff for 20 years....Grinding/modifying dif parts is standard procedure in some applications. True, most shops won't say anything to you about it, they just do it. However, they have the experience to know that it is not a big deal.

Milner · **Posted:** Fri Aug 01, 2008 10:49 am

dieselenthusiast wrote:

Exactly what are the C-clips?

They are C shaped clips that go over the end of the axle shaft inside the dif in order to retain the axles from sliding out.
Not my favorite design, but fairly standard in light duty axles (1/2ton and less)

Milner · **Posted:** Fri Aug 01, 2008 10:53 am

some pics

dieselenthusiast · **Posted:** Fri Aug 01, 2008 11:04 am

Thanks Milner, it's all making sense know.

JL Rockies · **Posted:** Fri Aug 01, 2008 11:09 am

incubusmike wrote:

I agree with JL Rockies 100%. Why can't they make them so they don't have to be ground down? Include the new parts already made to fit and be done I think.

That said, JL and I aren't the MFRs so we have to buy what's out there and the stuff out there requires grinding. So we have to grind and life goes on I guess.

I agree with your agreement.

I have spent most of my working life working for manufacturers. I've worked for Toyota and JL Audio which are both very strong engineering firms as well as the current manufacturer I work for; Vutec. I have also worked for a firm (now out of business) that built performance parts for rice rockets. In my younger days, I did custom fabrication for cars (fiberglass and aluminum work) usually centered around high-end audio systems.

JL Audio, for example makes a product called "Stealthbox". These are vehicle-specific enclosures made from fiberglass. Some of these applications bolt right in, some require permanent and irrevesable modification to make them fit. The difference here is JL Audio is up front about the modification to the vehicle. If the modification would make the vehicle less safe or less reliable, the application simply would not get done.

When I was customizing cars, I would turn away work that would be unsafe of degrade perfromance. I could not count how many times I would refuse to cut up the rear deck of a BMW to make room for subwoofers. Even if the customer was OK with the fact the structural integrity would be blown.

I wonder how many lockers would be sold if the manufacturer was up front. This is our $600 locker perfectly engineerered to fit your vehicle that you need to grind to make fit. It's not our fault that you need to grind though, it's the fault of the OEM. If something goes wrong of course, that's not our fault either.

Why don't they make one universal application that people can grind until it fits? They would only have one SKU to keep track and tech support would not be needed.

I must say that they've done an excellent job of creating a culture of acceptance. I envy that.

For those considering a Detroit Locker: Consider this

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