I bought a strange 9" direct bolt in from craiglist, and i couldn't resist: i had to tear it apart. It is a strance center section and housing with 4.10 gears, 35 spline axles, and a detroit locker. this is what i bought: https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/engi...9-3rd-gen.html

first, when i drained the gear oil, it was had metallic powder in it (from what i believe to be break in oil)

second, they used grade 8 bolts for the ring gear... can upgrade them to arp bolts? arp ring gear bolts

can i change the socket cap screws on the main bearing cap to arp studs? http://www.jegs.com/i/ARP/070/250-3004/10002/-1



josh

what gear oil should i use for a detroit locker?

 

here are some pics

 

Not really contributing to what you're after, but what's wrong with the grade 8 hardware that makes it worth replacing? To me it just seems like a waste of money, but whatever floats your boat

As for gear oil, just be sure to use synthetic IMO, no reason not too. Personally I like the Lucas stuff, I figure the nastier it smells the better it has got to be lol

 

i would just like a little extra insurance, i will have a 540bbc with a manual transmission behind int.

would do you have to say about the metal fillings in the oil? is that common for new gears?

 

i used to work in a shop i did a lot of the preventative maintenence on the vehicles and ive removed 100's of rear diff covers and i have only seen very few that didnt have any small particles like that as long as theyre too small to pick out an idividual shaving i wouldnt be to worried thats just me.. one trick i used to see if there was a problem i would stick a decent sized magnet to the rear diff cover drive a few weeks pull the cover back off and if theres a layer of shavings on the inside were the magnet is more than maybe 1/16th to 1/8th of an inch thick depending on how parranoid u are then i would look into it... till then you should be ok

 

"what gear oil should i use for a detroit locker?"

any good top shelf gear Lube.

 

The manual says to use the recommended lube for the vehicle for the Detroit Locker. Detroit Locker owners manual.

 

I too have a Detroit Locker in my 9" and the guy that put it in for me said he couldnt use the ARP ring gear bolts I gave him. Something about them not being long enough or something.

As far as the shavings, I agree with the guy above. I do axle work at a dealership and shavings are normal. Pieces you can pick up are not. As long as everything is just thin shavings, its normal.

For gear lube, I have Ford 75-140 synthetic in mine. I used Ford becuase its on my bench at work and therefore is free. Any synthetic 75-140 would be good though.

 

let me nip this in the bud..

the Detroit Locker takes NO SPECIAL Lubricants

just use what your vehicle/axle manufacturer recommends
(I have a Locker, and The manual) so any top shelf gear lube works
like posted

i drop mine with every summer, it's cheap, and makes me feel good.