[joeblow]

Ok........this is for all those that are considering a front locker in a Gv or any other 26 spline front diff.


First off lets be clear in the fact that ARB say the RD 88 can be made to fit, but do not offer a bolt in version. The main reason for this is the many versions, ratios and housing etc. A locker is listed for earlier 22 spline units but thier construction (factory diffs and housings) is constant and predictable.

NOTE: Axles popping out on the drivers side are a common problem with not only stock vehicles, but modified also. CJ on outers (and here) has a solve for this problem.

Now, depending on what ratio you have in you're gv from factory, and whether you have manual hubs or vac engagement will determine where you're factory cross-shafts are located. This is something that varies between factory O.E centres, but is a constant with the RD 88 as this was designed for rear Sierra applications.

To fit an air locker to the front of a GV 'MAY' require some linishing of the end of the axle, and machining of the internal lip of the air locker end cap, though the guys at ARB are looking into changing this.

The main drama from my point of view is the fact that many people lift the front of GV's and Vits too much. Drop brackets will help with drive-shaft angles but the main culprit is axle shafts not being very parallel to the lower control arms. Example, if you have sort of horizontal axles, and arms that are sitting on quite an angle as the arm compresses it will over-extend the axle causing the shaft to pop out. Those of you who have seen the silver GV i built may not know that I actually dropped and re-drilled the lower control arms to be more in line with the axle shafts. If you just have an after market 30-50mm lift you should have no dramas, and remember the vit front ends are a 2 to 1 set up.....10mm packer = 20mm lift!

Dropping you're diff is one thing but the most important is to have axles as parallel to lower arms as possible.

I hope this has been of some help.

[atari4x4]

Thanks Joe, my arms & drive shafts are pretty close to being parralel to each other?

I'm running the calmini drop brackets with their GV springs, i'll get a photo of how they sit on flat ground tomorrow.

So trimming the end off the CV could be an option?

[joeblow]

atari4x4 wrote:

Thanks Joe, my arms & drive shafts are pretty close to being parralel to each other?

I'm running the calmini drop brackets with their GV springs, i'll get a photo of how they sit on flat ground tomorrow.

So trimming the end off the CV could be an option?

Yes, trimming the end will not affect axle strength, but the Vit circlip is known for its holding strength either.

[Polar_Bear]

joeblow wrote:

NOTE: Axles popping out on the drivers side are a common problem with not only stock vehicles, but modified also. CJ on outers (and here) has a solve for this problem.

was that additional bearing on the drivers side diff housing part of it?

[atari4x4]

this is how my CV & control arms sit when level




this is the offending CV...

[Stuey]

That last pic looks all too familiar.......

[Stuey]

Quote:

NOTE: Axles popping out on the drivers side are a common problem with not only stock vehicles, but modified also. CJ on outers (and here) has a solve for this problem.

Can anyone elaborate on this a little more?

[joeblow]

Stuey wrote:

Quote:

NOTE: Axles popping out on the drivers side are a common problem with not only stock vehicles, but modified also. CJ on outers (and here) has a solve for this problem.

Can anyone elaborate on this a little more?

he made a system that uses the same axle as the pass side.


atari, has that axle evr been changed? or is it still the original one?

[atari4x4]

joeblow wrote:

Stuey wrote:

Quote:

NOTE: Axles popping out on the drivers side are a common problem with not only stock vehicles, but modified also. CJ on outers (and here) has a solve for this problem.

Can anyone elaborate on this a little more?

he made a system that uses the same axle as the pass side.


atari, has that axle evr been changed? or is it still the original one?

Joe, that's the original CV's & axle's, i got the vit with 70,000kms & it had never been off road!

[atari4x4]

Is there a magical CV out there that will fit & lock in??

Polar_Bear has an air locker in a GV steel housing & he has a 2nd hand 26 spline CV that locks in nicely, he's thinking it might have come out of a SV620... His Vitara is a 1.6l though & I'm not 100% sure if He's got the RD88 or just the RD88 side gears when he upgraded to the steel housing & 26 spine axles...

Why can't this be plug & play like an apple mac...

[Stuey]

Gus,

I'm pretty sure the SV420 and SV620 share the same driveshaft (as in the one you already have.

When I took my locker in to ARB, they pulled a brand new RD88 locker out of the box and tested my drivshaft in it. Funnily enough it felt like it locked in. However, the RD88 in my steel housing just would not do it. Like I said in my other post, they ended up machining the side gear by 20 thou... (in other words Fark all) but it made the difference.

And just so you know I covered my bases, I went to SuziStore here in Perth, and the guys invited me around the back and we tried every driveshaft they had on their shelf (I'm talking 1.6, 2.0, 2.5, Vitara, X90, GV, XL7....etc etc) and non worked. It still came back to the Locker and not the driveshaft itself.

I dont see how a SV620 (or a SV420 for that matter) CV would fit in a 1.6. From memory, the physical length is quite different???

[atari4x4]

that's what i thought stuey, i was hoping i didn't have to pull the fucking diff apart!

[Joe]

Hey Gus did you end up having to do the same as Stuey did above your last post?

Mr Joeblow do ARB make a bolt in RD88 for the GV housings yet?

[atari4x4]

nah, the bomb proof diff mod fixed that.

[Joe]

atari4x4 wrote:

nah, the bomb proof diff mod fixed that.

What did you do before the diff mod? or did you just put up with the cv popping out?

[steak_knife]

Joe wrote:

atari4x4 wrote:

nah, the bomb proof diff mod fixed that.

What did you do before the diff mod? or did you just put up with the cv popping out?

To my knowledge the r/h side gear was machined to let the C clip do it's job...

[atari4x4]

Joe wrote:

atari4x4 wrote:

nah, the bomb proof diff mod fixed that.

What did you do before the diff mod? or did you just put up with the cv popping out?

[Joe]

steak_knife wrote:

Joe wrote:

atari4x4 wrote:

nah, the bomb proof diff mod fixed that.

What did you do before the diff mod? or did you just put up with the cv popping out?

To my knowledge the r/h side gear was machined to let the C clip do it's job...

Ok cool do i get ARB to do this or take it to a machine shop somewhere?

Stekky

[steak_knife]

Joe wrote:

steak_knife wrote:

Joe wrote:

atari4x4 wrote:

nah, the bomb proof diff mod fixed that.

What did you do before the diff mod? or did you just put up with the cv popping out?

To my knowledge the r/h side gear was machined to let the C clip do it's job...

Ok cool do i get ARB to do this or take it to a machine shop somewhere?

Stekky

That's your best bet, but I would be talking to Mr Joeblow, if you want to keep any warranty your best getting them to do the work..

[atari4x4]

I'd be taking it into the same shop that did Stuey's

[Joe]

Ill catch up with Stuey to see who done his, hope Joeblow looks in here to shed some light on witch way to go
I got the coin for a RD88 but i want to make sure first that i can still get this done

[atari4x4]

Joe wrote:

Ill catch up with Stuey to see who done his, hope Joeblow looks in here to shed some light on witch way to go
I got the coin for a RD88 but i want to make sure first that i can still get this done

say for me

[Stuey]

Hi Gus! Yes..... Still alive believe it or not.
Just no time for Internet on a regular basis anymore. Too busy. And Joe, when we catching up for those jacks?

[joeblow]

If people need this done you are better off freighting me the whole diff, including axles, so you know its done right.