Attention: TDR Forum Junkies I got my truck back together today. Thought I would share my experiance with it. I picked up a ARB air Locker for the front end of my 03 dually. Last year I kept running into the problem of one front wheel stopping during my pulls. So I set out to remedy this by installing a locker. I didnt want a mechanical locker cause they play havoc with your front end. I didnt like the electronic units either for various reasons so I chose the air locker. It operates as a normal open front end until you flick the switch. The kit is well made and all the parts including the switches are very nice. Overall the install is very do-able by the backyard mechanic.
(Sorry no pics of the process. My girlfriend would have shot me if her camera smelled like gear oil)
I did this install by myself over the course of a few days because of weather.
It is model number RD-51 from ARB-USA
Tools Needed:
Hand tools (sockets, wrenches, etc... )
Good Torque Wrench
Air Tools expedite the process
Oil pan
Magnetic or Vice Grip mount dial indicator
Bar type gear puller (if you are going to reuse the bearings)
4 quarts 75w90 gear oil (I used Royal Purple)
Rubber hammer
Lots of rubber gloves (gear oil stinks)
Jack and quality stands
Drill with 7/16 bit and a 1/4 pipe tap
Brake line cutter
Locktite Blue
I am not going to go through the entire process but will give some details on the more difficult parts.
1. First Step is to remove everything off the front end. You have to get the axle shafts out of the pumpkin. This includes steering linkage to make room for removal of the carrier.
2. Set up your magnetic dial indicator and check backlash. This is important because you need to set up the new carrier the same way. My was at . 006".
3. Remove the two locks from the top of the bearing caps with a socket and loosen the 4 bearing cap retaining bolts. The AAM axle uses two spanner nuts to adjust backlash and preload. (its alot easier than shims!) Dodge sells a special tool thats $60 to loosen them. Dont buy it you dont need it. A simple long punch that fits into the hole will do fine. Loosen both nuts all the way.
4. Mark the bearing caps so they can be oriented to the same position while reinstalling. While holding the carrier remove both bearing caps and pull the carrier out. It is heavy and oilly so dont drop it. Put a box under it if your clumsy.
5. Remove the ring gear from the stock carrier. There are about a dozen reverse thread bolts that come out and then use a rubber hammer to persuade the gear off.
6. Reinstall ring gear to new ARB unit. i took a stone and ran it over the back of the ring gear to make sure there were no high spots by the bolt holes. It will need to be heated. I hung it in front of a space heater for 5 min. Dont use a torch! You can mess up the heat treatment on the gear.
7. I installed new bearings. You can reuse the old ones if you manage to get them off without damaging them. They are Timkins and I ordered them through a distributer for about $60 each. Dodge wants $90 each.
I chose to boil them in oil to aid installation and I was able to drive them in with a big socket.
8. Drilling the hole into he pumpkin required a 90 degree attachment for the drill due to size constraints in the pumpkin. Tap it with 1/4" pipe tap.
9. Intall ARB unit just the way the old one came out. Set your backlash and preload per instructions and re-assemble the front end. Check backlash in a few spots around the carrier and make sure the measurments are not too differant. If it is then something is wrong.
10. Run your air line and install the compressor and switches. I got the small compressor and it fits nicley on the backside of the passenger side battey box. Switchs went in the overhead console.
Result. The unit works good. You can engage it while underway and it quickly engages and disengages. The compressor is loud but runs only for a few seconds. I am very happy with it so far. Didnt get any pulls on it yet though. The job is not really hard but it is time consuming. I estimate it would take a full day to complete this and tie everything up neat. This was all done in my driveway on jack stands so it would go quicker with a lift.
(Sorry no pics of the process. My girlfriend would have shot me if her camera smelled like gear oil)
I did this install by myself over the course of a few days because of weather.
It is model number RD-51 from ARB-USA
Tools Needed:
Hand tools (sockets, wrenches, etc... )
Good Torque Wrench
Air Tools expedite the process
Oil pan
Magnetic or Vice Grip mount dial indicator
Bar type gear puller (if you are going to reuse the bearings)
4 quarts 75w90 gear oil (I used Royal Purple)
Rubber hammer
Lots of rubber gloves (gear oil stinks)
Jack and quality stands
Drill with 7/16 bit and a 1/4 pipe tap
Brake line cutter
Locktite Blue
I am not going to go through the entire process but will give some details on the more difficult parts.
1. First Step is to remove everything off the front end. You have to get the axle shafts out of the pumpkin. This includes steering linkage to make room for removal of the carrier.
2. Set up your magnetic dial indicator and check backlash. This is important because you need to set up the new carrier the same way. My was at . 006".
3. Remove the two locks from the top of the bearing caps with a socket and loosen the 4 bearing cap retaining bolts. The AAM axle uses two spanner nuts to adjust backlash and preload. (its alot easier than shims!) Dodge sells a special tool thats $60 to loosen them. Dont buy it you dont need it. A simple long punch that fits into the hole will do fine. Loosen both nuts all the way.
4. Mark the bearing caps so they can be oriented to the same position while reinstalling. While holding the carrier remove both bearing caps and pull the carrier out. It is heavy and oilly so dont drop it. Put a box under it if your clumsy.
5. Remove the ring gear from the stock carrier. There are about a dozen reverse thread bolts that come out and then use a rubber hammer to persuade the gear off.
6. Reinstall ring gear to new ARB unit. i took a stone and ran it over the back of the ring gear to make sure there were no high spots by the bolt holes. It will need to be heated. I hung it in front of a space heater for 5 min. Dont use a torch! You can mess up the heat treatment on the gear.
7. I installed new bearings. You can reuse the old ones if you manage to get them off without damaging them. They are Timkins and I ordered them through a distributer for about $60 each. Dodge wants $90 each.
I chose to boil them in oil to aid installation and I was able to drive them in with a big socket.
8. Drilling the hole into he pumpkin required a 90 degree attachment for the drill due to size constraints in the pumpkin. Tap it with 1/4" pipe tap.
9. Intall ARB unit just the way the old one came out. Set your backlash and preload per instructions and re-assemble the front end. Check backlash in a few spots around the carrier and make sure the measurments are not too differant. If it is then something is wrong.
10. Run your air line and install the compressor and switches. I got the small compressor and it fits nicley on the backside of the passenger side battey box. Switchs went in the overhead console.
Result. The unit works good. You can engage it while underway and it quickly engages and disengages. The compressor is loud but runs only for a few seconds. I am very happy with it so far. Didnt get any pulls on it yet though. The job is not really hard but it is time consuming. I estimate it would take a full day to complete this and tie everything up neat. This was all done in my driveway on jack stands so it would go quicker with a lift.
