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Another solid axle build...

4speedfunk

Well-Known Member
Messages
4,208
Location
Tardville
By the way...this engagement system on the Eaton E-locker is for the GM 8.6 10-bolt diff only. The front GM 7.6 IFS uses something very similar. However, the Dana 44 Eaton E-locker uses an entirely different locking system, and the pins are not as prone to rounding off as they are on the GM 8.6. The design Eaton chooses to use, seems to be specific to each axle (D44, D60, D30, 10b, 12b, etc). So not all Eaton E-lockers engage this same way, and these photos may not apply to axles other than the GM 8.6.
 

4speedfunk

Well-Known Member
Messages
4,208
Location
Tardville
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Back on the ground. Startup went fairly smooth. Got some alignment and break-in tasks to do. This truck was APART! So initial test drives will be slow and cautious. Lots of test drives with each one getting longer & faster than the one before.
Building a capable off-roader is fairly easy. Building one that drives, handles, and gets groceries just as well as it crawls...takes a lot more attention to detail. Many guys would be tempted to just drop it down and find some mud. But the real tuning & tweaking work starts here. Double check. Triple check. Making tiny adjustments to drag link, tie-rod, trackbar, steering system, ride height, etc. Bleed, re-bleed, etc....trying to find all the imperfections and get them corrected. There will never be a better time to do this, so patience and persistence is the name of the game.
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06 H3

a.k.a. "The Jackal"
Messages
9,350
Location
Meridian, ID
How’s that redhead steering box? I’m thinking about pulling the trigger on one. It seems even rebuilt boxes can still have play but redhead takes care of that.

They claim, when replacing the worn ball bearings in the box the actual worm gear gets worn down so it still leaves some play. Putting in oversized ball bearings takes care of that.
 

atvspeed4

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,171
Location
massachusetts
How’s that redhead steering box? I’m thinking about pulling the trigger on one. It seems even rebuilt boxes can still have play but redhead takes care of that.

They claim, when replacing the worn ball bearings in the box the actual worm gear gets worn down so it still leaves some play. Putting in oversized ball bearings takes care of that.
On h2 builds we have had issues with red head boxes. My business partner's is leaking again after Moab
 

4speedfunk

Well-Known Member
Messages
4,208
Location
Tardville
I’ll do a full review after I get some miles on it. I can say it is very tight with ZERO play compared to most others I’ve installed. It’s also got crooked fittings for the ram assist. Like the holes were drilled & tapped by Helen Keller. I doubt if it effects performance but I expect more for the crazy price.
 

06 H3

a.k.a. "The Jackal"
Messages
9,350
Location
Meridian, ID
Jesus, you have got the Midwest and east coast handled with a good amount of SAS hummers driving around.

The west coast is getting left behind on custom rigs. Bebe, serge, myself and Dana 60 H3. I think that’s about it.
 

4speedfunk

Well-Known Member
Messages
4,208
Location
Tardville
Don’t forget Panzer! Not sure where that guy went. Last photos I saw did not look promising. The front axle had broken free and it was all wadded up under the transmission. The damage looked bad. Real bad.
 
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