I would like some opinions on this. I am considering of getting a 2nd carrier (if price is rite) with a lincoln weld or detroit hard locker. I was thinking of swapping carrier for ocassion like az run III or rubicon, ect. I figured with the 233b rear, it should be easy for someone like myself just get in there and swap it over. Any pros/cons on it be appreciated.




GOT ANY BALLS??????????

i can't see anything wrong with this...i've got a spare 3rd for my yota (lowly 4.10s, but that's what i'm running right now ) all welded up, and am thinking of getting another spare, open, to swap in during the winter so the truck won't be so squirly with the snow....

'95 Path (POS thought)
'85 Yota Std Cab

I think once the carrier is backlashed for my axle, I dont think there should ever be a problem.... All it is four bolts on each axleshaft and it practically comes right out. Take the front cover off, swap carrier, get axle back into place, and bam you are done.... I dont think I have to worry about diff oil but I will have to look into that.




GOT ANY BALLS??????????

oil shouldn't be a problem...i've already pulled both 3rds about 2-3 times in 3 months. first to look them over when i got the truck, then when i thought i was going to be swapping gears, twice...nothing's gone wrong

'95 Path (POS thought)
'85 Yota Std Cab

You will have to drain and refill gear oil to do this, but you're right, it's probably not much more than a 1-2 hour job to swap.


1998 Frontier 4x4 seriously built
2002 Xterra 4x4 still stock
"Conjunction Junction, what's your Dysfunction?"

Its just like doing the Ford 9" on the patrol. really not that big of a job. The only difficult part is that the carrier is HEAVY.

One other thing to think about. Why not just go for an ARB air locker? Best of both worlds. No swapping required. Perfectly driveable on the street, but then just hit a button and its locked.

A whole ARB setup will be a little more expensive than another carrier set up with locker, etc, but how much is your time worth? If you have to spend 4-5 hours every major trail run swapping out the differential, I bet the small added cost of the ARB will look pretty insignificant after a few swaps.

Another thing to think about. There are times on the trail that you DO NOT want a welded or fully locked differential.. The narrow offcamber shelf road on Reno pass for example. My limited slip kicking in was enough to cause the rearend to slip downhill on one of the steepest parts. If the wheels NEED to turn at different rates to get over the obstacle safely, or if the obstacle goes around a sharp corner, a fully locked axle could be dangerous.

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"I'm just a bill... on Capitol Hill.."

i dunno much about frontiers but look at your hard brakelines on the axle and make sure you don't have to undo them to slide out the axles, if you do, them custom flex brakelines may be needed.

the cost of brakelines, extra carrier, gears, time welding, possibility of welds breaking, time swaping in and out, not being able to unlock it for a minute of two, VS. ARB push button on/off locker with onboard air.

John, my main concern is I dont want to be turned away from the az run cuz I dont have a locker. I may be stuck running with the tires I have and if I am locked, I can get by with careful driving. Maybe the investment of 32" tires and buying a locker later would be the better thing to do.




GOT ANY BALLS??????????

Noone is going to be turned away from the AZ run unless they are acting extremely irresponsibly or are blatantly not obvserving the guidelines that we have imposed for the run. All you need to do is get some good Mud or All terrain tires on that thing and follow your spotter and you'll be fine.

A mechanical or air locker will help and allow you to take the tougher lines.. but after running Reno Pass, I'm just concerned about taking a full-time locked vehicle on that trail.. It would be dangerous and/or deadly. I may not even take the Patrol up there (its too big!).

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"I'm just a bill... on Capitol Hill.."

Hey John, measure the Patrol. I'm willing to bet it's thinner than your Pathy... Also, I think that the Ford 9" chunk is lighter than the Nissan chunk. The Nissan one is heavy as all hell!

I am interested on the Patrol specs. Get some measurements if you have some time.

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I'm a Funky Chinaman from Funky Chinatown. LET'S GET IT AWN!

ok, i wont bother with it then.... I just want to be compatible to the rules given.... I am going to be lifting the truck 3" at the bare minimum, but may be stuck with stock tires.

I still have those 31x12.5x15 SS thornbirds, I might run that out on the trail, will have to see how bad it rubs after the kit goes on.




GOT ANY BALLS??????????