Electric locker for 2000 "X" Dana 35 front end

[Dre]

Hey guys... I need your opinion. Looking to install an electric locker in the front of a 2000 Explorer... Rear works great. Has been tested in pretty extreme environment and passed with flying colors. Now it's time to fit a locker in the front Dana 35 - any chance this baby will fit without too much of a hassle? Lookig at this:
ECTED Auburn Gear

tell me what you think... anyone run this with 4.30 gears?

 

[chriswells78]

I've heard Heep guys piss and moan about e-locker for D35 sucking. Then again, they could just be making excuses for thier vehicle. LOL

 

[Blee1099]

wtf.. Dre weren't you in Michigan? Or am I really losing it?

 

[Dre]

yeah, I was... in Illinois but moved my ass about a month ago. So far I like the other side of the pond... My **** is still in transit but I have already started working on trucks.

I could probably get a solid axle for my 98 SOHC... but it's not my truck. Client wants to lock the front... rear is locked with that very same locker. I'm only asking here since I can't get any answers from the store... need to probably get in touch with Auburn Gear.

So anyone??? any experience with lockers in the front 1998 and on???

 

[jaysend5.0]

Perhaps I missed something. Are you talking about the stock dana 35 IFS? If so that unit will not fit. The only thing available for the IFS Dana 35 is the aussie locker. I have one and it works great. I would love to get a selectable locker for the front so if you know something I dont please share! I am waiting for the torsen limited slip to come out. If I could get ANY selectable, I would jump on it.

 

[Dre]

selectable locker is not available for the IFS D35. It's a smaller package and only lunchbox lockers are available. We were trying to see if we can fit something else in there... ARB will fit but fork will not... I guess it's a bit expensive to try and modify it.

 

[jaysend5.0]

Best of luck, if you figure anything out let us know! Torsen is supposedly making a L/S for it. I wouldnt hold my breath but they say this summer. Also quaife makes a L/S, then there is the Aussie. As far as I know that is it.

 

[gijoecam]

Actually, the IFS D35 is the same size as the solid axle in teh heeps. The difference is in the side gears... the IFS needs a snap ring groove machined into those side gears to engage the circlip on the CV/axle shaft. Without that groove, it'll walk right out of the housing. If you know (or can find) a shop over there with a jig grinder and the apropriately sized grinding wheel, and if you can get the specs for the circlip groove location, they may be able to machine the groove into the gears...

Good luck!

Where are you at in Poland?? I've got family over there...

-Joe

 

[Dre]

We're measuring the whole thing to see what needs to be done to fit that locker inside the front D35. Detroit claims that it can be done using their locker but then cover needs to be retrofitted to install the fork. I never thought about the c-clip...


We'll see.

Poland? I have moved here little more than a month ago and dove right into the business of working on rigs... trucks and SUV's. I sell them too. SUV's became really popular lately...

I'm in the northeast part of the country - Białystok...

 

[jaysend5.0]

If you are able to make it fit please take lots of pictures so others can follow!

 

[CDW6212R]

Best of luck, if you figure anything out let us know! Torsen is supposedly making a L/S for it. I wouldnt hold my breath but they say this summer. Also quaife makes a L/S, then there is the Aussie. As far as I know that is it.

I'd like to consider a streetable non open carrier for my 99 work truck. Would you say that the Auburn is usable full time on the street? Does it use clutches at all, that would wear out too fast. I have a Torsen in my other truck, and another to go into the rear of this 99.

Where I bought the first Torsen's, they said that they could make a True-trak fit in the Explorer D35, they knew what to do with it. Is there a Torsen for a normal D35 that they might be able to work with? Regards,

 

[jaysend5.0]

I'd like to consider a streetable non open carrier for my 99 work truck. Would you say that the Auburn is usable full time on the street? Does it use clutches at all, that would wear out too fast. I have a Torsen in my other truck, and another to go into the rear of this 99.

Where I bought the first Torsen's, they said that they could make a True-trak fit in the Explorer D35, they knew what to do with it. Is there a Torsen for a normal D35 that they might be able to work with? Regards,

I believe all auburns use clutches.
If you were reffering to the aussie I mentioned, it is a full time locker and I would recommend it conditionally. If the 99 you are talking about, has a part time tcase, or if it has hubs then yes. If not than no. I have had mine for a little over a year and I am just starting to get used to it at speed on snow/ice covered roads. It does let go nicely if you let off the gas, but not using the accelerator when turning is a hard habbit to form. You can do a brown wire mod etc.. It is also very hard on CV shafts. For what it is worth, I will get the torsen to replace it. (if they release it.)

For Torsen, I really like them. I am getting less optomistic about the dana 35 ifs unit. I am starting to think we wont see it. They do not have a dana 35 unit. I talked to a machine shop that claimed they got a trutrac to work for a customer but they would never do it again. I have also heard rumors of getting an oem trak lok to fit. Never seen it though. Not that I would consider going through all the custom machining just to have a trac lok!

If you have about $1400 burning a hole in your pocket, you cannot beat the quaife ATB, as far as I am concerned it is the ultimate Limited slip, now if I could get about a 60% discount, I would have one.

Hope I was somewhat helpfull.

 

[CDW6212R]

Thanks, that clarifies what I thought. Yes I meant the Aussie carrier, and I would like the Torsen. My 99 is a BW4405 Control Trac A4WD, not my best choice, I thought that I could get an AWD TC in it somehow. I'm settling on what I have, the SOHC mileage is worse than the old OHV engine. I am going to swap the front/rear diff. housings with spare 3.73's that I have. I don't need 4.10's with 29.5" tires, I'm getting just over 9mpg each day on my 29 mile route. So thanks again, I'm narrowing down my final plans. I'll check with Reider Racing about the Torsen option before I swap the front parts. Regards,

 

[jaysend5.0]

Well if you dont mind, please shoot torsen an email and ask about a unit for our app.
torsen@torsen.com
They have had the design for ages. They gave production a green light, but they are "running into supply issues" and release has been postponed until summer. FYI that is exactly what they said last year.
I figure if they see enough interest they may take if off the back burner.

 

[CDW6212R]

I spoke to them in Winter of 2003, when I bought the one for my rear diff. I wasn't in a big need then, but just asking about possibilities. Thanks for the contact, I'll send them a message. Regards,

 

[brianjwilson]

I don't think the 4.10's are causing you to get 9mpg!
My sport trac with stock tires (255/70/16) and 4.10 gears got 18 on the highway easily.
3.73's might help, but I don't think they are the real problem.

 

[CDW6212R]

I'm a mail carrier, I travel 29 miles in about three hours, engine off for about five minutes. That's a lot of stopping and starting.

My past vehicles have all achieved 10mpg, except for a worn out 351W Crown Vic. My other two Crown Vics and two 4.0 Explorers all got right at 10mpg at work. I really do have a little too much gearing with the 4.10's, I can tell the difference in rpm's and tire spinning. It may make no difference I know, but I'm hoping that it is more about the gear than the SOHC engine. I chose this engine instead of the other two just for the mileage.