Why no 9" OX locker?

[treetopflyer]

Subject says it all...I realize the Ford and Dana carriers are totally different designs...but can't that be overcome (ignorance showing)? I'd love to have a CABLE operated locker for my 9", no electricity or pneumatics to mess with. I have a soft locker, but that can get squirrelie on off-camber ice and snow.

 

[blazinchuck]

just a thought here...but the OX has those cool covers because part of the mechanics are built into that cover. To make something like that work on a 9"...you would have to cut the whole rear axle cover off the housing and weld a new cover from Ox in place. But, not sure that would woork either, the carrier would have to connect to the shifter fork blind...meaning you couldn't see the parts go together correctly. I could be wrong, but maybe someone else will chime in,Chuck

 

[SteveL]

I remember at one time they were working on an ox locker for the rear. It was a few years ago. nothing ever came of it.

 

[OX1]

Would have to supply a whole new 3rd casing, would probbaly be rediculous. Might be worth it is they incorprated a "strange" like case with the deal (since many hard core guys get oen anyway).

 

[Broncobowsher]

All the OX lockers are for diffs with bolt on cover plates. They ue there own cover plate to engage the locker. 9" has no cover plate, no place top install the locking mechanism.

 

[deltarat]

Why couldn't they cut off the rear, drill and tap holes for a bolt on cover?

 

[Bronchole]

Or simply supply an entire axle housing

 

[Broncobowsher]

Why couldn't they cut off the rear, drill and tap holes for a bolt on cover?

I volenteer your truck for that.

Think about it. It is a bolt on kit. There are no simple way to bolt on a selector fork on a Ford 9". Yea, you could get a custom casting for the third member or do some butchery on the housing. But there isn't a nice way to do it. cut the back cover off and you are left with a hole. You are not going to get the back cover to seal. Its hard enough to get machined sealing surfaces to remain sealed. Then figure how many different 9" housing styles there really are. You can't logically put the shifter in the housing. So what's left? A custom case for the third member. That just takes out the economically viable factor of building one that people will buy. They would sell a few, but not enough to cover the development and production costs. It's a lot different making a third member then doing a little machine work to build a diff cover.

At times I wonder if people actually understand what is inside the 9" and have any clue how an OX locker even works?

 

[OX1]

I volenteer your truck for that.

Think about it. It is a bolt on kit. There are no simple way to bolt on a selector fork on a Ford 9". Yea, you could get a custom casting for the third member or do some butchery on the housing. But there isn't a nice way to do it.

I think if they could bring it in for 1500$, it would be close in price to an ARB/strange case combo. Not sure if they could.

I know many have zero problems with an ARB, but 2 of my fellow wheelers have had enough problems with them to at least give me a second thought about running one. I love the cable lockers on my mogs that I can feel engage on the shifter. Not sure if there would be room in a 9" case to fit the arm and locking collar like a 404 diff. The mog 404 diff guts seem compact (see dif under 406 axle in pic), I assume to allow room for the locker mechanism. Even mercedes went vac locker though as the 406's I got are just that.

 

[bronko69er]

The "official" reply to my inquiry was that they tried but there was no room for a locking ring.

 

[Steve]

At times I wonder if people actually understand what is inside the 9" and have any clue how an OX locker even works?

That would be a huge NO!

I have a Detroit Electrac in my front D44. They told me when I inquired about one for the 9" that they had no intention of even attempting to make one for the exact same reasons listed above. The Electrac's actuator is also part of the cover - no cover, no place to put the actuator.

 

[OX1]

The "official" reply to my inquiry was that they tried but there was no room for a locking ring.

I believe it, would need to be outside the spot the adjuster normally resides. Maybe if they moved one of the bearings/cap in some, but then might need a really *custom* axle shaft too..........