fleurys Posted December 12, 2008 Share Posted December 12, 2008 (edited) :excl:I did not know it was going to be like this, but finding an installer that I can trust to install my lockers seems to be more difficult than I tought ! Do you guys know anyone that has installed ARB Lockers (front and back) on a nissan pathfinder 2001 before ? I understand that they are other guys that have already installed arb lockers (mostly on jeeps), but After reading the procedures of the rd107 and rd135, I realize that there is alot of small details that must be followed to the letter in order to have a problem free installation for many years. I have discussed with a few "mechanics" that tell me, "yeah no problem, I don<t need the procedure, arb lockers are all the same "... I have seen, for example, that the ring gear bolts needs to be measured before re-installing to see if it's the long or short ones..If it's the long, then you need to use the washers that comes with the locker in order to prevent problems in the long run... This is just one example,,,that obviously would be missed by this "expert mechanics".... Is it that complicated to find a person that has done this installation before and has actually read what ARB recommend as a perfect installation ? I live near montreal in QC, Canada and I'm willing to pay and drive to the place (+-500Km) to have someone that knows and have already done this and is a perfectionist. I want this install to be perfect as if the mechanic was doing it for his own truck... ps. please I don't need comments like "you can do it yourself..just take your time"... I don't agree...everyone has a specialty..differentials is just not mine and i"m not willing to "learn" and "try" on 2500$ worth of hardware.. Edited December 12, 2008 by fleurys Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Posted December 12, 2008 Share Posted December 12, 2008 National 4wd is one place that does these things all the time. I know of the Burlington, Ontario location, and they do good work there. The QC location is 141 Industriel Boulevard Chateauguay, Québec J6J 4Z2 Toll Free:1-800-575-7500 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fleurys Posted December 12, 2008 Author Share Posted December 12, 2008 Thanks SImon...I'll consider the burlington shop..but I had already went and look at the quebec one, and I was shock... Tools and parts were everywhere on the floor of the garage in no order. this is the "expert" that told me "all lockers are the same" kinda crap... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Posted December 12, 2008 Share Posted December 12, 2008 Wow. That's surprising. I've heard nothing but good things about the Burlington shop. If you're willing to drive this far, also check Rockspyder4x4. They did an ARB locker install for a friend with an Xterra and he was very happy. www.rockspyder4x4.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Precise1 Posted December 12, 2008 Share Posted December 12, 2008 I want this install to be perfect as if the mechanic was doing it for his own truck... No, you want it installed as if it was the mechanics wifes truck. Tools and parts were everywhere on the floor of the garage in no order. this is the "expert" that told me "all lockers are the same" kinda crap... Perhaps you don't trust him and that is fine, but don't judge the quality of work by what you perceive as a 'messy, unorganized'. To make such a call purely by a momentary visual image, well, that's just plain ignorant. Good luck though... B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fleurys Posted December 12, 2008 Author Share Posted December 12, 2008 Simon....I meant the quebec shop......not the burlington one.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Posted December 12, 2008 Share Posted December 12, 2008 Simon....I meant the quebec shop......not the burlington one.. I realize that. I'm surprised that the Quebec shop is seemingly a shambles given what I've heard about the Burlington store. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrimGreg Posted December 12, 2008 Share Posted December 12, 2008 Perhaps you don't trust him and that is fine, but don't judge the quality of work by what you perceive as a 'messy, unorganized'. To make such a call purely by a momentary visual image, well, that's just plain ignorant. Yep, best mechanic I ever knew worked out of his own garage at his house. He could do anything and everything with anything mechanical. But, you could barely manuver through his "shop" because of all the gadgets, projects, tools, ect. everywhere. He had been a coal mine mechanic (retired) who HAD to be able to fix things in the mine, usually without using pre-made spare parts (ie, he had to fabricate stuff from scratch). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vengeful Posted December 12, 2008 Share Posted December 12, 2008 No, you want it installed as if it was the mechanics wifes truck. B You sure about that? In this day and age of 65% of marriages ending in divorce or worse! I'd want it installed perfectly as if it was the mechanics MOTHERS vehicle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamzan Posted December 15, 2008 Share Posted December 15, 2008 Or daughters Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fleurys Posted December 15, 2008 Author Share Posted December 15, 2008 hummm...unbelievable you guys.. it doesn't take much to make you move to another subject....... I have talked to JIM at rockspyder4x4 and this guy not only knows the procedure inside out (bolt lenghts, threaded thrust block in the front, etc..) but he has been performing this installation many times on the r200 and h233b.... I'm awaiting my lockers and will be driving to markham in the beginning of the year for a 2 days installation... Jim has agreed to let me assist and document the installation (photos) inside and out... I will let you know (and show you) when it's all said and done. Thank you very much simon... S. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamzan Posted December 15, 2008 Share Posted December 15, 2008 Markham? That means you'll be passing through here, feel free to stop by! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zonianbrat Posted December 15, 2008 Share Posted December 15, 2008 hummm...unbelievable you guys.. it doesn't take much to make you move to another subject....... That's what makes this site so great. The HUMAN aspect. If you want straight shop talk then you might be better off going to a mechanics forum. Either way you got the suggestions you needed and it worked out and you will have Lockers at the beginning of the year you lucky bastage!. Bri Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Posted December 15, 2008 Share Posted December 15, 2008 hummm...unbelievable you guys.. it doesn't take much to make you move to another subject....... I have talked to JIM at rockspyder4x4 and this guy not only knows the procedure inside out (bolt lenghts, threaded thrust block in the front, etc..) but he has been performing this installation many times on the r200 and h233b.... I'm awaiting my lockers and will be driving to markham in the beginning of the year for a 2 days installation... Jim has agreed to let me assist and document the installation (photos) inside and out... I will let you know (and show you) when it's all said and done. Thank you very much simon... S. No problem man. Glad to hear it's going to work out. Jim is a good guy from what I hear. He's had a big hand in building this beast.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
msavides Posted December 15, 2008 Share Posted December 15, 2008 Glad to see that you found a shop that meets your standards. I honestly was in the same predicament as you. I would love to have found a mechanic I could trust to do mine. In the end I decided to do it myself. I read and read and read until I understood the procedure. The I read it 3 more times. I made a bookmarks folder for every reference, photo, Instruction, and diagram. The I double and triple checked everything. Mostly when I was drilling the diff case for the air line fitting. I did both front and back ARB lockers on my 91 pathfinder. It took several trys to get everything right. I must have put the front diff in the case 30 times until I got the correct preload, runout, backlash,ect. I replaced all the bearings while I was at it. I made sure it was done correctly. In the end (like everything else) I am glad I did it myself. I know that everything was within specs because I triple checked everything. I got about 7,000 miles on my truck since the install, and everything seems great so far. BTW this was the first time I have ever touched a Diff, I learned a lot in the process, and looking back while it was repetitive, it was not that bad. I think you will be very happy with your Arb. Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fleurys Posted December 15, 2008 Author Share Posted December 15, 2008 (edited) Thanks for the comment.... I too, have read the procedures many times, and actually this helped me alot to determine if the installer knew what he was talking about.... Like I said, for example, the H233B came with 2 sets of ring gear bolts...long and short ones (depending of the year and / or model of the truck)....that is why arb gives a set of washer in the kit(they call it spacers)...you have to use them is you have the long ones or else, by tighning them to spec, the non threaded portion of the bolt would have "damaged" the threads on the carrier.... You see this kind of details can be disastrous over the years..but you won't really see it if the first few months or years of usage....but one day you might just witness a locker "explosion" because some bolts did slacked a bit... So this detail is what I used to "test" my installer...when asking the question : "do you know what the washers in the kit are for ?" some told me "what washers ??" I would then hang up ... other "don't know..never saw them "..hang up too...... others told me, " you don't really need them "...hang up once more.... Only one told me " ho yeah, for the rear locker, you need them with the long bolts"..that was Jim..... He was the only guy that knew was I was talking about... So I must say, since then, I have been sleeping alot better..... I understand you can never be 100% sure about someone, but I feel alot more confident then with the other guys... 2009 will be my year.. I have reserved and allocated funds for my pathy and I will , at last , live my dream of going week-end long trails, sleeping in the woods, and letting go of this crazy world that we live in every day... I have been working as a coordinator of Information Technology for almost 20 years now and I can tell you, that I will enjoy every minute of it. The lockers are just the beginning and I can't wait to start phase2 (lift and tires)... This one I will do myself ! Cheers ! Edited December 15, 2008 by fleurys Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrimGreg Posted December 15, 2008 Share Posted December 15, 2008 hummm...unbelievable you guys.. it doesn't take much to make you move to another subject....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
91PathSE Posted December 15, 2008 Share Posted December 15, 2008 Im lovin taht xterra Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fleurys Posted April 2, 2009 Author Share Posted April 2, 2009 yes and no... I have another thread in here explaining how PORC (performance off road center) stole 2200$ from me by never sending the lockers... Eventually got my money back from the CC company and bought only the rear one (RD-135) from another place on march 9th.... The locker is on it's way to my house since yesterday....so I should get it within 7 to 10 days... I will be going to rock spyder within 2 or 3 weeks to get it installed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fleurys Posted April 2, 2009 Author Share Posted April 2, 2009 If You're like me you'll like to read in advance what needs to be done...so I wrote to arb long time ago to get the install procedure for the RD107 and RD135 since they are not on there web site... I have put them here if you want them. http://www.4shared.com/file/96362467/418f7...2135_RD135.html http://www.4shared.com/file/96362453/6dcfe...2107_RD107.html Happy reading ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fukinitupagain Posted April 3, 2009 Share Posted April 3, 2009 What the hell do you guys do for a living that you can drop a couple grand like it aint no thing? Just curious, I want to get on board... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fleurys Posted April 3, 2009 Author Share Posted April 3, 2009 I Saved for this ...My time has come . I dont drink, I dont smoke, I dont do drugs and I donèt like casinos....I have to spend it somewhere ! hahaa Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fukinitupagain Posted April 3, 2009 Share Posted April 3, 2009 I Saved for this ...My time has come . I dont drink, I dont smoke, I dont do drugs and I donèt like casinos....I have to spend it somewhere ! hahaa I don't drink, smoke or do any drugs, no gambling & have no kids... stupid college & tuition I pay for myself... it better payoff, doing this crappy job & no making any money & what not... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fleurys Posted April 24, 2009 Author Share Posted April 24, 2009 hey hey ! don't we all love lady ups ...! My install is scheduled on may 8th... so I can't help you here... did you get yourself a set of timken 32010X diff bearings ? you'll need them... Also, on my part, I decided to get the diff gasket... I'm pretty sure the old one will have to be scrapped.. when are u installing it ?? yourself or outsourced ?? cheers S. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fleurys Posted April 24, 2009 Author Share Posted April 24, 2009 one more thing, I think I saw in a post you said that you got the big compressor....start looking for a place.... I heard from my installer that it was a little bit hard to find place for it.. He also told me that on some of his client (pathfinder), he ended up installing it in the front bumper.... I know under my hood, with the 3.5, there is just no place for the big one....only the small one by the driver's side, in the rear corner (near the windshield)... keep us updated if you decide to do it before may 8th...I too want to know if you got stuck somewhere... see ya.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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