hotrod6657

Wow, thanks to all of you for the replies. I wasn't expecting to get this much input so quickly.

I was looking pretty hard at Aussie but their website shows that they're out of stock. Guess that means I'm going to have to look at a 3rd party vendor.

Now that i think I have a plan of action I'm going to spend some time this weekend deciding what model I want. It wasn't easy to look before because there seem to be a fair number of lockers that are only for 27 or 29 spline.

I'm pretty excited about this addition and my holiday bonus from work couldn't have come at a better time

hotrod6657

I still find conflicting info on this. The 29 spline axles had a larger diameter than the 27s correct?

Some places online say that with a full locker you can swap out the axles no problem because the full locker replaces the stock open carrier, but with a lunchbox style one you've got to replace the carrier as well due to the size difference (.05" i think)

Hopefully this will be a null issue and I find that I have 29 spline axles, but I'm just trying to get my reaction plan laid out before I pull the trigger.

Also, going way back to the inital embarrassment that's prompted this whole duscussion and I a complete jack wagon or has someone else managed to get "stuck" somewhere stupid like that?

dukie564

yes 29 spline axles are slightly larger diameter. You do not have to replace the carrier with a lunchbox style locker, that's the whole point of this type of locker - ease of installation, and why it is called a lunchbox (open it up, throw it in).

And there most certainly is a difference in the carriers between the 27/29 spline variants, not just the spiders.

99% positive you have 29 spline axles.

hotrod6657

This is what I was thinking. As you said, the whole point of going with the lunchbox style locker was not having to mess with my carrier. If it's going to come down to needing rearend work I might as well start looking at a full locker and new gears... Then I better start looking for a second job because I have a feeling it's all downhill from there lol.

Either way, it does sound like there's a good chance I have a 29 spline (though it's mostly my gut telling me that). I think I might call or email Aussie or whoever I decide on buying from and explain the situation about being unsure of the spline count. Then find out what their policy would be one returning mine if/when it ends up being the wrong one. I've looked and I don't believe that Aussie sells one for the 27 spline axles, but I could be wrong.

Curse these mid year changes!!!

dukie564

yours is at the VERY end of the '96 build year, you're almost guaranteed to have a 29 spline

TheJerm

Ok Ive done some research on this and i stand corrected. You do need to change carries if you go from 27 to 29. But i still think you have the 29 spline since it was built in sept.

hotrod6657

I'm leaning that way too, moslty because of the build date.

I think I'm still going to inquire about returning the thing just in case.

I guess all that's left is to decide which one I want, buy some diff fluid, and bribe one of my co-workers who has a heated garage...

Aussie's website says they won't have lockers for the 8.25 until the end of January and I'd really like to do this sooner rather than later so I can see how this handles snow and ice / teach myself how to drive a locker in the snow/ice.

I'm kicking myself for not doing this a few months ago during the summer when I replaced the fluid.

djb383

What do u mean by full locker? Basically there's 2 types of lockers.....auto or manual. There are different brands, models, strengths and certainly price ranges but they all fully lock.

TheJerm

full locker is where you replace the whole carrier, so you just bolt the ring gear to the full locker and set the gears again, Its much stronger design but expensive to do. lunchbox just replaces the spider and side gears inside the carrier

djb383

I understand all that but a lunchbox locker is not a "partial" locker.....it fully locks.

hotrod6657

This is what I was referring to. full as in the locker and carrier are integraded. Lunchbox as in the carrier is not changed.

The full label was not meant to reflect the performance of the locker, simply how it's installed within the rearend

hotrod6657

That's why I didn't refer to the lunchbox lockers as partial lockers.

This is all new to me so I'm trying to pick up the vernacular as best I can. All of the different configurations get confusing, LSD, Full Locker, Lunchbox...

djb383

3 basic types of differentials: Open, Locking and Limited Slip. The carrier is the case that contains/carries the differential.