1973 K20 front D44 Spartan locker install

[Craig Nedrow]

This is basically a pictorial R&R of a Spartan locker into my stock open diff D44 on the 73 K20. So...
Remove the tires, than all of the following will need to be removed: locking hub. disc brake calipers, bearing hub and finally the backing plate. As they are listed is how I removed them, this gets you to where you can remove the axles.

 

[Craig Nedrow]

Leave the locking hub together and remove it in one piece as less parts to keep track of. IE leave the wire retainer in.

 

[Craig Nedrow]

Than the c-clip will need to be removed.

 

[Craig Nedrow]

Next remove the outer nut, locking spacer, and inner nut. Inner nut has the pin that the spacer will locate on. I had to adj the nut slightly when installed to get the pin to align with the spacer hole.

 

[Craig Nedrow]

Next remove the calipers, takes a 3/8 hex. These will need to be pried off the disc.

 

[Craig Nedrow]

Now you can remove the six nuts that retain the backing plate

 

[Craig Nedrow]

Now you can remove the axles X2. This will allow differential removal.

 

[Craig Nedrow]

Once the diff cover is removed, mark the caps so they can be installed in the same position. Do NOT get this wrong!

 

[Craig Nedrow]

Once the caps are removed and numbered, and since I did not have a spreader, I used a couple pry bars and remove the carrier. It will come out with the front drag link left in. Carrier is a snug fit.

 

[Craig Nedrow]

Now on to the bench where the cross shaft pin needs to be removed. It is 1/4" and I had a long 1/4 inch drift so easy peezy.

 

[Craig Nedrow]

I always like to mark the ring gear in relation to the carrier so the gear can be installed in the same location. Just a chisel mark, here in line with the number 11.

 

[Craig Nedrow]

Now remove all the ring gear bolts, give the gear a smack or two with a dead blow too remove it from the carrier.

 

[Craig Nedrow]

Now the cross shaft pin can be removed, I used a socket that was the right od and some dead blow persuasion. pushed out with smooth tension like a hydraulic cylinder.

 

[Craig Nedrow]

Here are the parts. The instruction book is excellent, and the kit included a new cross shaft, and shaft retaining pin, (it is a spring pin.)

 

[Craig Nedrow]

Once the cross pin has been removed, the original spider gears and shims can be removed. None of these parts will be used again. but I saved them in case.....