they will work just fine. but i have switched hubs side for side and that has worked to.
Yeah, that's a damn good idea! I think I might be putting a little extra load on these now that I have the posi differential in that front axle.
I actually think now that I might have been slipping in the lockouts for a long time and it may be what took out the spider pin in the open differential case.
Know what I mean? If I was slipping one side then all the rotetion would have went to that slipping axle, really would have spun the hell out of those spider gears.
Anyways, we'll see how it goes.
The guts on these new ones look strong, it's just the outer cap and the switch that's maybe... light duty. I'm like you and not a big fan of plastic, especially in cold temps.
The outer cap body is steel but the switch of course is plastic.
but i have switched hubs side for side and that has worked to. 
