Any suggestions for where to go for regearing and fitting lockers?

[UKTJ]

I want to have my TJ regeared and at the same time have ARB lockers fitted.  I have contacted three businesses that advertised as doing Jeep work to ask for quotes, but with no luck.

 

PB Customs - number of emails exchanged ending with a promise of a quote for the work but nothing received.

 

Alton 4x4 - said they can't take on the work at the moment (I see their website has changed now and as far as I can see they no longer mention work on Jeep axles / driveline, so maybe they lost the person that used to do that work).

 

Frog Island 4x4 - were honest on the phone saying they may not have the know how to do the work, but asked me to email details, I did that but never had a reply so guess it is not in their area of expertise.

 

I have previously had a suggestion of truck mechanics rather than a 4x4 specialist, if it were just regearing then that may be a good idea but I am sceptical about them having knowhow of fitting the ARB lockers.  I looked at Surrey Off-Road Specialists in Dunsfold, but I never get an answer when I call and the website is very outdated so my guess is they no longer exist.  I have also tried a couple of more general local garages and they have both said the work is too specialist for them.  I tried the Landrover specialist in my village, but they will only work on Landrovers.

 

I am now looking to go with round 2 of trying to find somebody to do the work. Does anyone have any experience of FTE 4x4 Specialists in Essex?  Alternatively, does anyone have any other suggestions for any other options within a roughly couple of hours of Reading, Berkshire?

 

Thanks in advance.

[Chrisby]

PB is 100% the best there is but always is booked months in advance, sometimes 6+ months. You’ll need to be patient on the quote as in a normal week they have 100’s of enquiries and only a small team.
The one thing with a re-gear and fitting ARB’s  is it’s a specialist job and there’s no real money to be made doing it , it’s far more lucrative to do 4-5 full services in the time it takes to do them one axle.
PB did mine in phase one of my JKU build and often picks up on jobs gone wrong done by others like mine as both my Diffs were screwed up by another garage who fitted lockers before it went to PB.

Steve at FTE is another good option but again small team and booked up well in advance 

 

[UKTJ]

2 hours ago, Chrisby said:

PB is 100% the best there is but always is booked months in advance, sometimes 6+ months. You’ll need to be patient on the quote as in a normal week they have 100’s of enquiries and only a small team.
The one thing with a re-gear and fitting ARB’s  is it’s a specialist job and there’s no real money to be made doing it , it’s far more lucrative to do 4-5 full services in the time it takes to do them one axle.
PB did mine in phase one of my JKU build and often picks up on jobs gone wrong done by others like mine as both my Diffs were screwed up by another garage who fitted lockers before it went to PB.

Steve at FTE is another good option but again small team and booked up well in advance 

 

I've just sent Paul a further email to ask if there is any news on the quote.  In October he said they had availability to do the work in mid January, which I would have loved to schedule if I had ever received the quote.

[doodle]

I have had lots of work done by Steve at FTE- Very knowledable on TJ's

Mine was regeared, lockered etc by him as well.

 

[Tony]

If PB customs took that long to reply to a email I would be looking elsewhere.

[UKTJ]

13 hours ago, Tony said:

If PB customs took that long to reply to a email I would be looking elsewhere.

The trouble is that so far I have yet to find "elsewhere".  I have sent PB Customs another email and I will see what (if anything) comes back, while at the same time trying to find other options so I can compare them.

[Ludders]

Depends how far you want to travel?

 

Have you tried Nene Overland?  Expensive though.

 

West Mids 4x4 Ltd but I think Ian is more 4x4 servicing and repairs rather than builds, but you could always ask.

[Black_box_jeep]

On 26/12/2022 at 15:37, Chrisby said:

PB is 100% the best there is but always is booked months in advance, sometimes 6+ months. You’ll need to be patient on the quote as in a normal week they have 100’s of enquiries and only a small team.
The one thing with a re-gear and fitting ARB’s  is it’s a specialist job and there’s no real money to be made doing it , it’s far more lucrative to do 4-5 full services in the time it takes to do them one axle.
PB did mine in phase one of my JKU build and often picks up on jobs gone wrong done by others like mine as both my Diffs were screwed up by another garage who fitted lockers before it went to PB.

Steve at FTE is another good option but again small team and booked up well in advance 

 

I think it was you who recomended PB to me at the expo three years ago or so, I contacted them and received a reply to say that they were busy which is understandable, and I followed up three times (allowing a reasonable time between each, so as not to be that pestering customer) before they stopped replying altogether. 
 

Steve at FTE gave a basic idea of what he’d recomend in the first instance, and responded quite quickly.

 

Storm/ Jeepey also responded with a guide price and some recommendation and a fair few caveats that it may be worth doing X, Y or Z at same time. They also gave an idea on lead time due to stock/ parts supply issues at the time and a good explanation of what’s involved etc.

 

I contacted a couple of local specialists that rebuild classic vehicle and 4x4 axles/ diffs etc and came highly recommended and again, one suggested that if I supplied the relevant parts they could probably do the job but then went quiet and the other didn’t reply at all. 
 

As others have said, it’s a process that needs to be done right, by someone who knows what they’re doing, otherwise the knock on effects and costs could be a minefield.

[UKTJ]

1 hour ago, Black_box_jeep said:

I think it was you who recomended PB to me at the expo three years ago or so, I contacted them and received a reply to say that they were busy which is understandable, and I followed up three times (allowing a reasonable time between each, so as not to be that pestering customer) before they stopped replying altogether. 
 

Steve at FTE gave a basic idea of what he’d recomend in the first instance, and responded quite quickly.

 

Storm/ Jeepey also responded with a guide price and some recommendation and a fair few caveats that it may be worth doing X, Y or Z at same time. They also gave an idea on lead time due to stock/ parts supply issues at the time and a good explanation of what’s involved etc.

 

I contacted a couple of local specialists that rebuild classic vehicle and 4x4 axles/ diffs etc and came highly recommended and again, one suggested that if I supplied the relevant parts they could probably do the job but then went quiet and the other didn’t reply at all. 
 

As others have said, it’s a process that needs to be done right, by someone who knows what they’re doing, otherwise the knock on effects and costs could be a minefield.

Thanks for that.

 

Sounds like my experience of PB Customs is not unique.

 

Did you ever have any work done by FTE or Storm / Jeepey, or indeed any of the others you contacted for quotes?

 

I have had contact with Jeepey before and they were very responsive, but based on some of the prices for parts vs others in the UK my preconception is that they may be quite pricey.  But, my main reason for not going to them for a quote so far is that they are about a 4 hour drive away from me and I would like to find somebody within a couple of hours if possible.

[digger]

Hi UKTJ, apologies I've not responded before.

I can't help as I do almost everything. 

However , have you considered just going to an axle rebuild specialist? There must be people who have been around a long time to whom this should be no problem ,especially if you supply all the parts! I would check candidates out thoroughly , if possible  visit them and take a look around their workshop. I'm sure you know what to look for!  If not, ask!  Good folk are usually proud to do this!

At the end of the day most axles are basically the same and if they really are experienced they will have no  problem. When I did mine, I hadn't done an axle for nearly 40 years and they were still very similar. most of it is having the right tools and a bit of experience! There's nothing special about Jeeps!

Just a thought , hope it helps.

[UKTJ]

13 hours ago, digger said:

Hi UKTJ, apologies I've not responded before.

I can't help as I do almost everything. 

However , have you considered just going to an axle rebuild specialist? There must be people who have been around a long time to whom this should be no problem ,especially if you supply all the parts! I would check candidates out thoroughly , if possible  visit them and take a look around their workshop. I'm sure you know what to look for!  If not, ask!  Good folk are usually proud to do this!

At the end of the day most axles are basically the same and if they really are experienced they will have no  problem. When I did mine, I hadn't done an axle for nearly 40 years and they were still very similar. most of it is having the right tools and a bit of experience! There's nothing special about Jeeps!

Just a thought , hope it helps.

Thanks for that.  If it were just regearing I would definitely look at more general places, the question mark for me is what experience they will have with ARB air lockers if they are not 4x4 specialists.  But I will take a look, maybe my concerns are unfounded.

[digger]

I've just looked at a place called ''UK Axles'' in High Wycombe. They say 40 years in business and mention ratio changes. might be worth a call!

I haven't fitted an ARB locker but I have fitted LSDs where the crownwheel is refitted etc, etc. My bet is, its take it apart and refit with different parts. They probably give instructions as well!

A lot of what some 'trade people tell you is what I call trade b......s (another word for propaganda).  Its just a way of jacking up the price to the unwary, go elsewhere!  EG I had a only a few  year old shower cartridge pack up .  ''You have to buy a complete cartridge, spare parts no longer available''  Where have we heard that before?  Price an arm and a leg!  I stripped it!  Easy!  Failed rubber seals/O rings. Obtained some  for beans!

If you have any concerns you could always give it 500 miles or so after job done  and check backlash/patterns etc yourself. Depending on where you are if you don't know how, you could come here for the day , with the proviso that it depends on my health situation. If not I'm sure others would help.

Edited December 30, 2022 by digger

[V]

I've got three to do in 2023 (2x Ford 8.8 and 1x Dana 30). The ARB in my current Ford 8.8 is jammed in the open position. Probably due to the strange asymmetric 3-pinion (spider gear) design for that application. I need a spreader stout enough for my trussed Ford 8.8 housing before I can start. I will make one in January as I have been unable to locate a Ford spreader for months. The OX-Locker going in my next 8.8 has four spider gears so if the repair parts for the ARB are getting near half the cost of an OX, I may replace the ARB with a new air-operated OX-Locker.

 

How much do firms charge for diff setup now? It might be an interesting sideline for me.

[UKTJ]

8 hours ago, V said:

I've got three to do in 2023 (2x Ford 8.8 and 1x Dana 30). The ARB in my current Ford 8.8 is jammed in the open position. Probably due to the strange asymmetric 3-pinion (spider gear) design for that application. I need a spreader stout enough for my trussed Ford 8.8 housing before I can start. I will make one in January as I have been unable to locate a Ford spreader for months. The OX-Locker going in my next 8.8 has four spider gears so if the repair parts for the ARB are getting near half the cost of an OX, I may replace the ARB with a new air-operated OX-Locker.

 

How much do firms charge for diff setup now? It might be an interesting sideline for me.

Just let me know when you are ready to start the sideline, would be very happy to be your first customer!

[UKTJ]

On 27/12/2022 at 16:59, doodle said:

I have had lots of work done by Steve at FTE- Very knowledable on TJ's

Mine was regeared, lockered etc by him as well.

 

Had a call from Steve at FTE in response to my email about a week ago.  Spent about 20 minutes speaking about options for parts, suppliers, possibility of a HP30 in the front.  He is busy and could not fit me in before April, but that is fine as he has given a clear indication of timing.  Hopefully the promised quote options will arrive in about a week, as promised.  Fingers crossed!

[doodle]

1 hour ago, UKTJ said:

Had a call from Steve at FTE in response to my email about a week ago.  Spent about 20 minutes speaking about options for parts, suppliers, possibility of a HP30 in the front.  He is busy and could not fit me in before April, but that is fine as he has given a clear indication of timing.  Hopefully the promised quote options will arrive in about a week, as promised.  Fingers crossed!

Glad to hear it- Never had an issue with his work. As mentioned he was not sure if still a one man band but is always very busy.