I'm new to the third member diff so bare with me.


1.  If I want to run 26 spline axles in the front of a Sammy, can I just get a Lock Rite for the rear with side couplers or do I need to get the complete rear carrier. 


2.  Side couplers do away with the side gears??? Is this correct???

Thanks

Replacing the sidegears with a set from a rear unit would be very simple. 

I think the hard part is finding/making 26-spline axles for your Samurai.

I guess it would be possible to take an existing pair of axles to a machine shop and have them custom-build new axles shafts, but that would cost more than a few bucks...

There are tougher aftermarket axles and Birfield reinforcement cups that will replace/beef up your front axles.

Unfortunately, I cannot put my finger on a vender that sell them..

Something else for the FAQ...

calmini and newfield both make them

Thanks for the replies but my question is still out there.  I know where to get axles and I know how to replace side gears.  I want to know if the rear lockrite will work in the front allowing me to use 26 spline axles.

I guess the answer would be "Check with the maker of the Lockrite."

As I understand it, there are two types of passive locker systems:  one that uses the side gears and one that replaces the sidegears with it's own components.  Since I don't know which group the LockRite fits into, I can't give you the ultimate answer.   However, I would expect that, if you have a rear LockRite and it uses the existing sidegears, then all you have to do is come up with a set of rear 26-spline sidegears to make the differential work.  It will bolt into a front carrier as the carrier in the front is same as the  rear. 

This is not the case on the Sidekick/Tracker/Vitara, which may be the source of confusion to you.  It Internet is sometimes not the best place to get a straight answer.

If the LockRite uses it's own replacement components for the side gears, then a rear LockRite will bolt into a front carrier as long as you use 26-spline shafts.

{edit: sorry I was so long-winded - the posts below are the Reader's Digest version  }

Hope this helps!

Thanks for the replies but my question is still out there.  I know where to get axles and I know how to replace side gears.  I want to know if the rear lockrite will work in the front allowing me to use 26 spline axles.

Yes.

  Like Skyranger said "yes". The sammy lockers are the same front and rear, as far as the ones that let you reuse your side gears, part#1510's if I remember correctly. The front and rear side gears are physically the same, except for the fact they have diff. spline count and inner spline diameter.

Thanks.

 we received a locrite for a sammy and it wasnt the right one so as we were changing to kick R&ps we fitted kick rear side gears to change it from 22 to 26 spline the rear side gears fitted ok in the kick front carrier,  I would say they would fit a sammy carrier as well??

we received a locrite for a sammy and it wasnt the right one so as we were changing to kick R&ps we fitted kick rear side gears to change it from 22 to 26 spline the rear side gears fitted ok in the kick front carrier,  I would say they would fit a sammy carrier as well??

Yes, samurai front, samurai rear, and tracker/sidekick front sidegears will all interchange and will fit any of the carriers.  I believe tracker/sidekick rear sidegears are bigger though, so they will only fit tracker/sidekick rear carriers.

rear kick gears are the same , i put them in my front kick diff when i did the 26 spline upgrade  like you say all interchangeable , might save some one a little money when doing the upgrade

rear kick gears are the same , i put them in my front kick diff when i did the 26 spline upgrade  like you say all interchangeable , might save some one a little money when doing the upgrade

Good to know. Thanks.
Just to clarify....he is talking about carrier sidegears being interchangeable (NOT ring and pinion gears).  The trackick rear ring and pinion gears will only fit the rear of the trackicks and nothing else.