Found this forum thru Fred B. so don't hold that against me.

I just installed a detroit e-z locker in my front end(dana 30), my question is the use of spacers and thrust washers.
My differential had no washers or spacers, so when I went to install the spacers supplied with the locker I could not get the center pin in. But without the spacers, center pin fit well. The spacers in the kit I am refering to install in the locker itself.

Any help,info is appreciated. Paul in the Lab

Jeep is '94 4.0, slight lift, decent tires.

I am looking foward to useing this forum

BTT: Paul's got a good question. He installed the lunchbox locker without the spacers/washers that came with the locker. He couldn't get the locker to fit with the spacers/washers. Intial easy offroad trials with new locker in front dana 30 went okay. But, now, he's a little concerned if his install is going to go belly-up on the trail, or if what he's done is okay. Should the spacers/washers have been used for the install, or not?

Fred what little few I have ever installed took EVERYTHING that came in the box.. I would be scared to death of what might happen without all the parts in there.
Perhaps he ahs installed parts of the wrong locker?
Big JIm <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />

I believe Every D30 I've disassebled had thrust washers for side gears and spider gears but it's been a couple of years since I had one apart. If your diff had no washers somethings wrong. Are you sure the washers are not still in there? Stuck in place maybe? <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Start over! All that stuff needs to be in there.
Lunch box lockers will explode when everything is perfect, much less with parts left out.

Call lockrite and ask them...

SD

Thanks, guys. I think this is exactly what Paul was asking about. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

Hey SD i know youve done your fair share of d20 rear axle seals. Ive done my rear left axle seal 2 times now. The first time i did the whole seals. It leaks when i park it on an incline and im wanting to know if there is a trick to get em to not leak. Thanks <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

There are two places to look for a leaky seal. First is the seal area itself. Is the sealed surface good and round? Does the seal fit it well? The other place a seal leaks is where it is pressure fitted in place. Many folks use som sort of sealant when installing the seal. I see many seals that leak pricesly BECAUSE of the sealant used!
Small gobs of sealant can interfere with the seal itself causing leaks. Or in many cases the seal pressure fit can be distorted by the seanant and eventually cause a leak in this area.
I always clean all surfaces real good and then install the seal with as much care as I can muster to get a good metal to metal fit. I NEVER use sealant on any seal.
Big JIm <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />

Thanx all,I will pull apart tonight and recheck.
At least I will be adept at installing them little springs:)

Paul in the Lab

Corp Model 20? (No D, Dana spicer has noting to do with amc 20s)
ALL m20s have crappy weak tubes poorly welded into a fairly strong center section with very strong gears. When those crappy tubes twist or bend axle seal leaks crop up.

For those who are wondering, NO it does not take baja 1000 style jumps to bend one. I've seen one owner never wheeled m20s bent to the point I would throw them in the scapper.

As Jim said careful install will help, also to keep those springs in place, I pack the back side and the lip with grease as well as the area between the two seals.

If you go through all of this again and it leaks have an axle shop take the diff apart and install an alignment bar to check the housing for straightness.
If bent...Dana 44 time has arrived.

SD