Posi's Do-over

Pulled both front axleshafts today in preparation for installing an ARB in the D30. Retirement is great, but I lost my 600 sq ft warehouse to work on the Jeep. My garage is dinky so I had to pull the Jeep outside to have enough room to pull out the shafts. Got the diff draining. I should be able to install the new locker while it's inside the garage. Got a few days of nice weather in the forecast, all the way up to 52* here today. Hoping to finish up the new shackles over the next few days. All I have to do is weld in the center braces and try to get some paint on them before we get back to normal temps.

 

Yep, sure is

Congrats on that

 

That ARB is gunna be nice. I'm jealous.

 

Congratulations on retirement John! Glad to hear your still working on Posi.

 

I'm a little apprehensive about the ARB install. I'm sure it'll be no big deal. But still, drilling a hole in the diff housing will be a little nerve wracking. One shot to get it right.

 

John, are you upgrading the axles while you are adding the ARB? I been looking at doing same with my 30, but just read article in magazine where they upgraded to 30 spline axle shafts.

 

Your going to really like the ARB. Did you get the high volume pump? Works great for inflating tires.

 

When I put the ARB in my rear D44 I used a drill press to make the hole in the housing. That took some of the stress out of it, but was probably not really necessary. Anyway, if you are worried about precision, you may want to consider that.... Good luck!

X2 on the high volume compressor.

 

I'm not so concerned about drilling the actual hole so much as getting it in the right location. I'll spend some quality time with the instruction book before I even get started. I doubt the ARB's compressor has more output than the Quickair. I can take a 13.50 x 35" tire from 9 lbs to 20 lbs in 2 minutes, and I have a 2 gal air tank as a reservoir too.

 

haven't really tested out my ARB yet.......

 

Take lots of pictures when installing the ARB, its on my wishlist

 

No problem.

 

In the beginning................... was the Void!

 

Dropped off the ARB for the moment so I could finish another project that I started about a month ago. I wasn't happy with the shackle angle I had after the springs settled out. They are dead on flat, which is cool as I wanted the least amount of lift you can get from a springover. I made these shackles 3/4" longer than the previous ones and that brought my angle back to about 45*

I started with a piece of 3/8" x 2" cold rolled flatbar. It's a little pricey, but it's great to work with. Nothing to grind before you weld. I might have $50 - 60 in material for these (all four).



I punch mark the sides so I can keep them oriented to each other. That way if there are any difference in how your holes come out it shouldn't matter.


I drill the top hole in two sides, line them up and use the drill bit for an alignment tool, then I tack weld the halves together so they can't move and drill the bottom hole in both pieces at once. Not easy getting a 9/16" hole through two 3/8" pieces of steel.





Used some manila folder to make a template of the shape I wanted for the ends.




Test fit all of them.


Used some DOM tubing I had laying around and cut a couple of spacers so I could weld in the center support. The springs measure 3" at the bushings, but I made the shackles 3 3/16"" as I am using 1/16" washers between the spring and the shackle.

 

Nice work John. Cold rolled steel is great stuff.

 

Looking good. I sure like those welds.

 

Arb locker realy don't take as much air as people think...got a friend of mine who doesn't have any compressor in his jeep but i have a small tnak that he fill before going off-roading and he have enough air for a complete day....

 

Thanks guys.

johneyboy03: I hear ya, I've got more than enough air to hook up an ARB. I haven't figured out how yet, but I intend to run braided stainless line to the locker from the solenoid. It's going to take some adapting I'm sure.

 

Nice! I finally got my frame extensions yesterday so this weekend its frame stretching time.

 

Right on, Mike. I should be able to start on the ARB this weekend.