will this locking differential work

[acs17844]

I`m looking for a locker for the front differential will this work?
http://www.accuautoparts.com/axledetails.jsp?parts_id=PTX:1935

[geneelder]

As of right now, nobody has been able to confirm that we do have the 7.25" IFS front differential. Ours is ~185mm and nobody has tested a 7.25" locker. It would be a big gamble to buy it and install it, but if it did work, you would be a genius.

[MTPockets]

It might, but you'd tear the font end to pieces running a front locker on a GMT360.

Joel

[AlekG]

It might, but you'd tear the font end to pieces running a front locker on a GMT360.

Joel


This is certainly the current opinion on the subject. However, the Roadie dug up some exciting news recently:

http://forums.trailvoy.com/showthread.php?t=18723

We do know that the H3 has the same front axle set up as we do. If ARB is going to release their air-locker for them, then I would expect that they did their due diligence and tested the crap out of it.

Which then gives us hope that maybe it is not as futile a proposition as people think currently, and that perhaps with the proper precautions, a front locker can be workable.

Now if we only had a confirmation of what the rear axle is for the H3 - 8 inch or 8.6 inch?

AG

[the roadie]

The following vehicles are listed as using the GM Corporate 7.25" front diff:

T 4WD Mid-sized Pickup & Blazers 2003 UP
L AWD Van Astro & Safari 1997 UP
ZR2 S-10 & Sonoma 1983 UP
G Full Sized Van 1983 UP

# Ring Gear Diameter 7.25"
# 10 3/8" RH Threaded Bolts
# PINION Diameter 1.315", 27 Spline

drivetrain.com offers lockers, ring and pinions, bearing, and all SORTS of parts for that differential, which they say is the AAM (American Axle Manufacturing) 725 differential.

http://www.drivetrain.com/americanaxle/7.25ifs.jpg

The AAM web site says there are both iron and aluminum cased versions of the AAM725, and our GMT360 platform and the H3 are using the aluminum, which is also described as the 185mm.

I am completely baffled why ring and pinions and lockers for the iron AAM725 can't fit into the aluminum AAM725, and I haven't spent any time on the phone with real experts. BUT, the one piece of data I have is that the Hummer forums are still crying that they can't get a front locker. I can't explain their frustration if the AAM725 iron case parts would have fit. The AAM web site lists them as having identical torque capability, so it can't be a different number of splines on the input or output.

I don't get it, and I HATE it when there's a mystery I can't solve.

[topprolmc]

http://www.drivetrain.com/americanaxle/7.25ifs.jpg


I don't get it, and I HATE it when there's a mystery I can't solve.

Where'd ya get the neato Pic?

I was just out at the AAM website and they offer a locker for the 7.25 right on their site.just need to find a shop that can get them http://www.aam.com/technology/tech_prod_dl_diff.html

http://www.aam.com/technology/tech_prod_dl_diff.html#TRLK

[AlekG]

Where'd ya get the neato Pic?

I was just out at the AAM website and they offer a locker for the 7.25 right on their site.just need to find a shop that can get them http://www.aam.com/technology/tech_prod_dl_diff.html

http://www.aam.com/technology/tech_prod_dl_diff.html#TRLK

I would double check into that. The locker in the picture looks extremely close to the factory locker we can get from GM, the one I had to replace:
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l230/AlekG/locker_bg.jpg

The rotation of my chewed one is 180 degrees from the picture on AAM but those clips and things in their picture look similar to when my mechanic showed me the damage, although I can't be sure as their picture is not big or sharp enought.

If it is the same unit (i.e. AAM makes if for GM) then I don't think in can be used in the front 7.25 unit but only in the rear 8 or 8.6 unit.

**EDIT**
Actually, after browsing through AAMs site, I do see where they say the whole TracRite differential series is for the 725 axle, so I would assume all those models could work.

AG

[the roadie]

Where'd ya get the neato Pic?
Any image link can be right clicked on, then you can see the URL where is comes from. Lots of pictures in postings here are hosted on photobucket. Many of mine I host on my own web site. And in this case the URL is
http://www.drivetrain.com/americanaxle/7.25ifs.jpg so it ultimately comes from www.drivetrain.com which is full of useful stuff.

I was just out at the AAM website and they offer a locker for the 7.25 right on their site.I'm very sure that's a page of various possible lockers the corporation makes, and doesn't imply availability for any specific size of differential. Places like Randy's Ring and Pinion (www.ringpinion.com) and www.drivetrain.com are the places to buy.

But we've been down this road before with web sites with errors. Randy's says they have a Lock-right locker for the "7.2 GM IFS":

PT 1935
7.2" GM S10 & S15 LOCK-RIGHT

Compatible with Differentials:
GM 7.2 Differential GM 7.2

And their differential link says that's the diff used on:

Compatible with Models:
Astro / Safari Van: 1990 - 2005 (Front)
Envoy: 2002 - 2005 (Front)
H3: 2006 - 2006 (Front)
S10 Blazer & Pickup: 1983 - 2002 (Front)
Syclone: 1991 - 1991 (Front)
Trailblazer: 2002 - 2005 (Front)
Typhoon: 1992 - 1993 (Front)

So call Randy's up and see if they're really really sure that locker will fit us, and if so, they why aren't the Hummer H3 wheelers beating a path to their door to buy the same thing?

IIRC, AlekG already tried this.