The prevailing wisdom with the ARB is that unless you are really sure about it, dont. Half the time shops that specialize in 4x4 manage to screw them up. If your lucky, it will only leak air or be non-functional. If you try to set up the ring and pinion, you could trash your diff. I think the above well intentioned advice applies to a Lock Rite. Your instincts here, including the garage space, seem right on..... Anyone that thinks a Hummer is the ticket for 4x4 probably ........... never mind. Just ask him to try and buy a new one <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/sleeping.gif" alt="" />

Ditto on the " be careful on who you let install ARB" . I had 4 Wheel Parts do mine, and they didn't do a good job. These guys supposedly do dozens a year. Problem was, they never did a front locker on an IFS rig. 6 months later, I had ball bearings that were shot in the front pinion. My local mechanic found that the diffy fluid was about 1 qt. low when he checked out the noise problem. There is no doubt in my mind they didn't put enough diffy fluid back in when completing the install. Now, trying to prove it is another thing. I wish I had take more time or even spend more $$ on the front end to have someone do it right.

Sorry, but there are no ball bearings in the front diff. There are ball bearing axle bearings in the ends of the axle housing, but...that's it.

Also, low fluid level is *YOUR* problem. Not theirs. You just spent a bunch of money on a locker and install and you could not be bothered to check the fluid? Sorry, but you have to check it on a regular basis. Between the assembly lube and the time it takes for the oil to work its way into the small spaces in the locker and the bearings, the level will go down. Always. Besides, you should have changed the fluid way before 6 months down the road. This allows for the fine metal shavings from the locker breaking in to be removed.

Think of it this way, if you got your oil changed at Jiffy Lube and then drove it for 3000 miles without checking the oil and you happen to have a leak that results in engine damage from a low oil condition, it is not their fault. It's yours.

Sorry, had to defend 4Wheel Parts. In this case, given what you have told us, they are very much not at fault.

Michael

dear moderator..your tone and wording are quite terse and condescending. Take a hike you little dweeb!!!!

Of course it is. You came on here and specifically blamed a shop for something that was not their fault. Given the information you gave, (Full ARB install in the front end and damage found 6 MONTHS later) they are very much not at fault.

As far as the name calling, we are a bit above that here.

Michael

mlclark is right. take your licks and forget about it.

I wouldn't get too worked up over anyone that thinks the Hummer is an appropriate baseline for judging the off-road capability of another vehicle. It still frustrating though, I know..... I really did have a guy driving a completely stock (street tires and everything) Wrangler "Sport" walk up to me at the Badlands and comment that it was "cute" that I brought an Isuzu out there <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/bird.gif" alt="" />

heheh... and I had some guy in a jeep yell at us that we need to buy american vehicles, that we are traitors for driving what he called "censored racist term for japanese crap". (yeah, he actually spelled it out like that, you know, censoring himself and all )

It was funny, because I was in a modified (unrecognizable) bronco2 and the two guys with me were in tacomas... all of which were made in the good ole US of A.

A similar thing happened later, hell might have even been the same guy - but that time I was in the bronco2 along with some legitimately japanese trucks so I guess he was partly correct. He got stuck a few minutes later on the trail and we just stood and laughed. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

Bringing it back to a technical debate...

Q: Why do people bring their work to an auto shop?
A: Because they don't know how (or don't have the tools) to do a job right.

Q: How much of a job do people pay a shop to do?
A: 100%. Not 90%. Not 75%. 100%

If anyone out there wants to pay me 100% to do a partial job, please send me your rigs and your money.

I don't know squat about installing gears. I'd go to a shop. And if part of the install included making sure the axles and differential were truly full, then I expect them to drive in a few little circles and top it off. The shop messed up. Go to a licensed, insured, bonded shop and consider small claims court. Just the notice showing up is enough to get them to make it right and keep it off their insurance.

As for having to always check the shop's workàI'm not paying a guy so that I can tear my vehicle back apart and see if it was done right. If I had time, knowledge, and toolsà.I'd have done it myself.

Off the tech debate, I hate to go against a moderator, but I think the response did come across more like a Pirate4x4 answer instead of the usual courtious/helpful advice we've come to expect.

Wayne

And if part of the install included making sure the axles and differential were truly full, then I expect them to drive in a few little circles and top it off. The shop messed up.

Wrong. They filled it. He did not state that they did not fill it. Failing to fill it would show them negligent. Finding it was low 6 months later is unacceptable. Besides, exactly what shop do you want to put your rig in 4wd and take it for a spin on asphalt? No shop I want touching my rig. This is very simple. They are not at fault.

I'll go back to the Jiffy Lube example. You pay them for 100% of the job. This includes removing the old oil, replacing the filter and putting the correct amount of oil back in. (And what ever the other 21 points are) It does not include them coming to your house every morning to check your oil before you leave for work. If they were responsible for the actual oil level in your engine, they would never touch any vehicle that had the slightest hint of a leak. Monitoring the basic maintenance items is your responsibility.

As for having to always check the shop's workàI'm not paying a guy so that I can tear my vehicle back apart and see if it was done right. If I had time, knowledge, and toolsà.I'd have done it myself.

We are not talking about checking work. We are talking about removing a single plug on the front diff to check the level. It is one of the things that should be done on a regular basis on many parts of your rig. Especially if you do any off-highway driving. It should have been caught sooner than 6 months.

Off the tech debate, I hate to go against a moderator, but I think the response did come across more like a Pirate4x4 answer instead of the usual courteous/helpful advice we've come to expect.

Sorry. I'll include more warm fuzzies in the future. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Welcome to the nature of the Internet. If you or anyone every want to chat with me shoot me a #. I'll even call on my dime. I'm blunt and it seems to rub folks the wrong way. Just as they are not going to change, neither am I.

There is a difference between helpful advice and posting an incorrect accusation. He accused 4 Wheel Parts of causing him to loose a pinion bearing (or bearings). This is obviously not the case. They are not at fault, no matter how you spin the story. To blatantly accuse them of this failure is wrong. If the failure was due to incorrect setup, then he would have a case.

This is about taking responsibility for ones actions. In this case responsibility lies directly with the owner of the vehicle. The owner is within reason expecting them to do the work correctly, using the correct parts and specs. Just as you wish that any shop take 100% risk when they touch your rig. We all mod and use our rigs. If you want 100% coverage and maintenance covered, buy a new Mercedes. The seem to be covering everything for the first 50K or so.

Michael