May 1999 - front end gears & locker

I finally got around to installing the 4.88 ring & pinion and lockright locker in my dana 44. I had no clue how to take apart a frontend before we tackled this project. It was pretty easy, once I had the right tools. When I had to drain the gear oil after the frontend was broken in, it only took about 2 hours to completely disassemble, drain, and reassemble. It always seems easier doing things the 2nd time around.

Anyway, I took the 3rd member out and brought it, rebuild kit, new carrier, 4.88 ring and pinion, and the lockright to a shop for installation. I could have done the lockright myself, but since the spider gears were already going to be out, the guy installed it free of charge (it's a pretty straight forward install anyway).

In the lockright manual it says to use a valve spring (or some sort of spring) for the short axle stub with the lockright locker. This is necessary because it no longer uses the c-clip since the locker is there. I found a spring to use that worked well, just slid it into the boot, and everything was fine.