great build...

did you go with IFS width or Tacoma width

 

That is just......... DAYUM! Saw a guy with them on his 87..... It was that Red one I took a pic of before mine got in there. HUGE, lol.... Anyway, it looked SO beef, the axle, in person..... WOW, congratz, man! Stoked for ya!

 

Thanks, and I went with Tacoma width. Guess it's a good thing I already know how to mod a housing for elocker retrofitting.

Thanks to you, too Chef. I just added to the expense of my sas more, but I believe in the end it'll work out better for me and I'll have a better product.

 

Those do look like a quality product.

If only they would do a rear with a 9.5 diff.

Loved the work photos. I'm going to enjoy the upcoming read.

 

It looked like a quality product til I started scrutinizing a little more...



It comes with their stud eliminator kit, minus the bottom 2 cause of how they made it flat and low profile and all. There's no drain plug, so they provide 2 nuts for each of the bottom studs, presumably to use them as the drains. Well, no way in hell is that stud gonna come out once the diff is installed, so I put in a call to LowRange to see if I need to deal with them about it or TG, since it was drop shipped directly from them. Also told them I scored an elocker and would like to switch to an elocker housing, if possible. Dan said shouldn't be a problem as they're the same price. Looking at the thickness of the diff flange, I won't have fun if I have to mod it myself.

 

They don't come with a drain plug?

 

Nope, I believe the idea is that it'll prevent getting hung up on the drain plug. Smooth bottom, to the point I'll have to grind off some of the diff so it doesn't protrude below the pumpkin.

 

Hmm, so how do you change fluid?

 

You pull the bottom studs to drain it.

 

Which is why the quality control on this housing is unacceptable to me. Could you imagine trying to get that thing back in after you got it out to drain? Enough ranting, I'll update when I hear back from either LowRange or TG.

 

They do make them that way on purpose. I'm on my third drain plug on my stock rear. Eventually, I'll be welding the plug shut, and pulling two of my stud eliminators and replacing with studs (or bolts).

 

wow that is disappointing about the misaligned holes but seems like they are willing to work with you, and also get you the E-locker housing almost worked out better this way.

Always had good luck with low range and would recommend them to anybody

 

I'm alright with screw ups as long as they get fixed.

 

Yeah, I'm with Red. LowRange has been pretty cool about it, haven't heard anything about how TG is being about it. If i can fet the elocker pattern in exchange now, then it'll have turned out better anyhow! I suppose I should package it all back up tonight and get it back to work in case we get called to a fire tomorrow! I think our capt is gonna list us as available national now that everyone's had a couple days off and a day or 2 to catch up at home.

Edit: Oh yeah, my capt's dad gave him some money to donate to the families of the Granite Mt Hotshots, left it up to him as far as who to donate it to, so he bought shirts for everyone on our crew. The proceeds go to the families.



It's an xl, so a size too big for me, but I don't care. It's not about me, even if it did happen on my birthday.

 

Well not much to update(on the Runner), no word from LowRange or TG. I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt that it was right before a holiday weekend that I called and they've probably spent the week recovering. I'm not in a big hurry to get the housing, seeing as it'll be awhile before I get to swapping.

I have made progress on the Subie, though


Got the spacers installed in the rear, changed the O2 sensor, knock sensor, pcv valve, and the exhaust manifold gaskets. That cleared up the recurring cel's and the new pcv valve greatly reduced the amount of oil leaking out of the head gaskets. Also changed the thermostat since I'd read they normally showed the temp in the middle of the gauge and mine was showing about 1/3, but now it gets hot going up hills with the ac on where it didn't before, so I'll have to switch that back to the OEM one that has a larger opening.

Hopefully more to rest on the axle Monday, when I call LowRange.

 

Grrrrrr, I know you're being patient, but I'm kind of pissed off for you that this is not being resolved quickly, regarding the axle.

Subie?... She's looking sexy! Hahahaha. I'm glad that's coming together.

I also wanted to drop here, today, because I saw this, at Lowes, in the parking lot, and I immediately thought of you. Lol...



This thing was freaking clean!

 

Man, that is one SWEET Camper Special. Mine will probably never be like that.

Yeah, LowRange hosted a car show over the weekend, though, so I don't wanna be that guy asking why my stupid little problem isn't being addressed when they just had a holiday weekend followed by a major event they put on. We've been busy doing stuff around the base at work anyhow, and today is second day working a fire up on the Kern Plateau.

 

That's a nice truck.


Your axle issue is reminding me to call TAG about that bumper.

 

i dont see how you cant remove the stud once diff is installed since two you said are still studs?
its not uncommon to shave the drain plug. most do it to stock housings all the time and either suck the fluid out from the fill plug or like you said remove a stud or two

 

I'll clarify my thoughts on this stud...
Yes, I could bend it and just pull the one stud to drain it. It could be used, but I just won't accept something like this from a $700 axle housing. If they only are willing to trade for exactly what I have, and I have to modify it for the elocker, I'm ok with that since I'm the one who ordered it prematurely. If they'll trade for an elocker housing, all the better. I'm not really pissed off, just not willing to accept this. If they won't exchange me something, I'll get my money back and buy something else. I could do long travel for the amount I'm going to pay for the whole axle assembly, and I could install that myself in a weekend with no major hiccups.

It's looking more and more like my progress is going to be halted after I get the axle sorted out, anyhow. Fires have slowed and I spent a fair chunk of my overtime already on getting out of the hole I ended up in over the winter last year. Add to that I was booted from the barracks because of "policy" even though I took care of the place, so now I'm paying double what I did for rent and have to drive 15 mi 1 way to work.