problem with the drive shaft or rear diff?

sacax · **Joined:** Sun May 20, 2012 7:35 am **Posts:** 48

Hi all!

could you please take a look at the vid http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-bXt9qrg18&feature=youtu.be and give me your opinion on wether something is messed up with my rear drive shaft or rear diff... at the end, you can clearly see a complete strange rotation ... unfortunately i cannot explain it in english (not my first language) and thats why i post a video...
i also hear a clunk when taking my foot of the gas pedal and some clunking also at sharp turns but not always and its always corelated with deceleration... this is since i have installed a detroit locker but now i am worried...

thanks for all the advices!

sacax · **Joined:** Sun May 20, 2012 7:35 am **Posts:** 48

well I see nobody wants to help...

anyway, i have just found out that the backlash is in fact in the locker and not ring and pinion... so is wether the detroit locker was broken from factory or something else... has anyone had this type of experience? the backlash of the detroit in my rear is about half a turn of the driveshaft...

thanks

kjon · **Posted:** Fri Jul 27, 2012 10:58 am

It's hard to tell what's going on from your video, although I am impressed with the camera angle you achieved! I'm wondering if the clunk you feel on deceleration/corners is unrelated to the slippage in the diff you're encountering, and that your rear upper control arm ball-joint might be worn out (center of the boomerang). That will make a pretty distinct pop/clunck when letting off the gas, and going over bumps in my experience. I have no experience with lockers, so your guess is as good as mine...

sacax · **Joined:** Sun May 20, 2012 7:35 am **Posts:** 48

thanks!

upper arm and lower rear arms were changed 2 weeks ago... no change whatsoever... they were 140,000 km old (never changed) and no clunk from them... must say that jeep has made me a complete addict after this...

now, about the clunk, turns out that its a backlash inside the locker... so i have to see what i can do with it... it is almost half a rotation play of the drive shaft so i guess it is really not good at all...

in the video you can really see how the drive shaft slips because of the backlash which the jeep dealer says will worn out and maybe break the trans chain...

thank you again...

Grannysgoat · **Posted:** Fri Jul 27, 2012 1:27 pm

Who installed your locker and how long has it been in? Not sure I understand "backlash" in the locker itself. If you are getting 1/2 rotation of the drive shaft with out it moving that is obviously not good. Jack it up and turn the wheels manually to see if you can determine where the play might be coming from. Lastly, have you pulled the diff cover to see what is going on inside?

Also, check this out:

http://4x4icon.com/offroad/detroit/detroit_noslip.htm

sacax · **Joined:** Sun May 20, 2012 7:35 am **Posts:** 48

well, i have looked very well and run some tests... moving the drive shaft with my hand moves the ring also... so it is not a backlash in the pinion ring setup... it is in the locker... the ring moves rather freely until it stops and then it moves but with more force applied on it...
i have done this in the jeep service and seen it myself...

the locker was installed about two months ago by the guy that imported it for me, a mechanic that is also preparing off road competition jeeps... so i suppose he knows a thing or two...
the wheels ar turning a bit and then they stop until you have to apply more force... it is the same thing as for the drive shaft...

i swear i have no idea on what could it be but it is clear that it comes from the locker as this is happening from the secont i have installed it...

sacax · **Joined:** Sun May 20, 2012 7:35 am **Posts:** 48

also, I have read in the FAQ on eaton's website that a backlash inside the locker is normal but i really do not think it should be that much...

Grannysgoat · **Posted:** Fri Jul 27, 2012 3:16 pm

If you have had it back to the guy that installed it and he says it is Ok, drive it. Detroit Lockers by their nature are a little noisy, I call mine a happy locker because it talks to me. It will click and clack, make your rear chirp when going around corner under acceleration and have some clunks when you shift from forward to reverse. If you have a manual transmission you will get more noise transfer.

sacax · **Joined:** Sun May 20, 2012 7:35 am **Posts:** 48

hi again!

after talking to someone from EATON Corp regarding the normal lash in the locker, i was told that it is completely normal and that the driveshaft play is normal.
But the clunk when coasting is present only in 2WD and if i put it in 4WD it stops... and the play in the driveshaft actually dissapears... can the issue be in the transfer case?

thanks!

problem with the drive shaft or rear diff?

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