Crown/Novak review
jasonmark1993
Old Time Jeeper
- Posts
- 1,366
- Media
- 10
- Thanks
- 2
- Location
- El Paso TX
- Vehicle(s)
- FJ cruiser (wifes ride)
2008 ZX10R,
73 CJ5, 408W, Toploader, Dana 20, 9" Dana 30 5.38 gears, next purchase=slicks
Review of Dana 20 rebuild kit; first Dana 20 rebuild for me
Ordered a rebuild kit for my Dana 20 from Crown. Kit was complete. Everything went fine until I went to install the intermediate shaft/pin. A couple different threads that I had read stated that the shaft could be pushed in until it entered the front of the case which is .015" smaller (if I remember correctly, but somewhere around there). I immediately noticed that I wasn't going to be able to push the pin in. Thought maybe my case was a little off so I started tapping it in. The whole time I was feeling that it shouldn't be this tight but I kept going. Once I started going into the intermediate gear I knew there was a problem. Felt like I hit something solid. Tried to drive it back out but it was too late. Nicked up the end of the new intermediate shaft. Buggered it up so bad that it trashed my case on the way out.
Got my mic out and sure enough, the old pin was 1.246" and the new one from crown was 1.257". Had I been more experienced I would have measured them first or at least tried to dry fit it first. I also would have know that you for sure can push the pin into the rear bore by hand. Luckily I had a spare Dana 20 laying around and tore it down and used that case.
Called 4 wheel parts. They wanted every single part of the kit back. I told them that wasn't going to happen. I understand their point but they didn't exactly go out of their way to help me. The manager just kept quoting their return policy. Refused to call Crown. I won't be using them again.
Called Crown. First guy was helpful and directed me to another guy above him. Left him a few messages and never heard back. All was asking for was another kit; I even offered to buy one at cost. No luck.
So on to Novak.
Kit immediately looked nicer (gasket quality mainly). This one was $50 more though. Their intermediate shaft is totally designed different with O rings on both ends and a button on the end that you would tap on to drive it into the smaller bore. Did a test fit and it slid right into the case and through the intermediate gear. Dual confirmation that the shaft from Crown was oversized. I like their poppet ball springs better also. They are a little shorter so you don't have so much resistance when shifting. Got it all buttoned up with no issues. Oh and the Novak kit didn't come with the shift rod caps so I removed those from my junk case.
So, between Crown and my inexperience it cost me AMC 150 for the kit and I no longer have a spare Dana 20 laying around. But, I learned that 4 wheel parts customer service guys are pricks and that Crown can have some quality control problems and won't return phone calls.
Hope this helps somebody.
Thanks
Another note, I got a nice set of pictured instructions from Pirate 4X4 but Novak had a written set that had a detail or two that the other didn't.
Pirate4x4.Com - Extreme Four Wheel Drive
Paste that. The guy is installing a tera low kit but its the same.
Ordered a rebuild kit for my Dana 20 from Crown. Kit was complete. Everything went fine until I went to install the intermediate shaft/pin. A couple different threads that I had read stated that the shaft could be pushed in until it entered the front of the case which is .015" smaller (if I remember correctly, but somewhere around there). I immediately noticed that I wasn't going to be able to push the pin in. Thought maybe my case was a little off so I started tapping it in. The whole time I was feeling that it shouldn't be this tight but I kept going. Once I started going into the intermediate gear I knew there was a problem. Felt like I hit something solid. Tried to drive it back out but it was too late. Nicked up the end of the new intermediate shaft. Buggered it up so bad that it trashed my case on the way out.
Got my mic out and sure enough, the old pin was 1.246" and the new one from crown was 1.257". Had I been more experienced I would have measured them first or at least tried to dry fit it first. I also would have know that you for sure can push the pin into the rear bore by hand. Luckily I had a spare Dana 20 laying around and tore it down and used that case.
Called 4 wheel parts. They wanted every single part of the kit back. I told them that wasn't going to happen. I understand their point but they didn't exactly go out of their way to help me. The manager just kept quoting their return policy. Refused to call Crown. I won't be using them again.
Called Crown. First guy was helpful and directed me to another guy above him. Left him a few messages and never heard back. All was asking for was another kit; I even offered to buy one at cost. No luck.
So on to Novak.
Kit immediately looked nicer (gasket quality mainly). This one was $50 more though. Their intermediate shaft is totally designed different with O rings on both ends and a button on the end that you would tap on to drive it into the smaller bore. Did a test fit and it slid right into the case and through the intermediate gear. Dual confirmation that the shaft from Crown was oversized. I like their poppet ball springs better also. They are a little shorter so you don't have so much resistance when shifting. Got it all buttoned up with no issues. Oh and the Novak kit didn't come with the shift rod caps so I removed those from my junk case.
So, between Crown and my inexperience it cost me AMC 150 for the kit and I no longer have a spare Dana 20 laying around. But, I learned that 4 wheel parts customer service guys are pricks and that Crown can have some quality control problems and won't return phone calls.
Hope this helps somebody.
Thanks
Another note, I got a nice set of pictured instructions from Pirate 4X4 but Novak had a written set that had a detail or two that the other didn't.
Pirate4x4.Com - Extreme Four Wheel Drive
Paste that. The guy is installing a tera low kit but its the same.