Question about lockers

KJ Willy · **Posted:** Mon Apr 27, 2009 6:56 pm

I have a question, I finally made my first offroad trip since I had the 4.10's and Lockers put in, loved them by the way.

The issue I was having (hearing) was when I put the KJ into 4wd and the front lockers would engage I was getting the loud whine like the power steering pump going out, as I could take it out of 4wd and it would soon go away. When driving in 2wd it does not do it and I have not noticed any other issues with the steering.

So those with Detriot Locker ever had this issue?

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Mon Apr 27, 2009 7:08 pm

Your PS pump may be going out. Did you have the Detroit Locker or the DTT installed up front? If you had the full Detroit Locker installed you will have issues with that locker up front.When "locked" up front it take more force to turn the steering wheel and if you had a weak PS pump it will show it by the whine.

jsc7002 · **Posted:** Mon Apr 27, 2009 7:10 pm

Ive never had any problems with my DTT/ DL

CRD Joe · **Posted:** Mon Apr 27, 2009 7:13 pm

Willy, detroits are engauged until you turn the wheels and the tires get enough traction producing enough PSI to break them loose. Will there be stress on your power steering pump (system) absolutely. How much is hard to say. That's one reason that ARB's are so cool. Engauge the front as long as you need it then open it up when you have to turn. Also Detroits are one of if not the strongest of the self lockers. That means they are difficult to break free (read open) meaning more stress on your running gear.

JL Rockies · **Posted:** Mon Apr 27, 2009 9:31 pm

The DTT up front is the magic ticket. I wouldn't put a DL up front for all the reasons stated.

CRD Joe · **Posted:** Mon Apr 27, 2009 10:30 pm

Ive had dual ARB's in my last five rigs and I love them. They allow you to wheel open which is easier on your running gear, and then turn them on when needed. It's fun and challenging.

JeepinJarhead03 · **Posted:** Mon Apr 27, 2009 10:48 pm

my PS pump does that on the beach in 4wd with the front DTT churnin

i think it's more that the pump is weak and is just further stressed with the sand and DTT

the pumps got a slight whine during normal driving too but till it craps out i'm not sweatin it

LIV42DY · **Posted:** Tue Apr 28, 2009 12:14 am

this is the reason I only have DL in the rear, was not too confortable with straining the PS unit with DTT in the front. Saving for ARB for the front will be worth it.

JL Rockies · **Posted:** Tue Apr 28, 2009 12:39 am

The only problem with the ARB is they are not easy to install correctly and most shops can't. I have not notices the PS pump having any issues with the DTT in any terrain.

jsc7002 · **Posted:** Tue Apr 28, 2009 12:52 am

JL Rockies wrote:

The only problem with the ARB is they are not easy to install correctly and most shops can't. I have not notices the PS pump having any issues with the DTT in any terrain.

X2 I havent had any issues at all with steering and the DTT, whether Im in the mud or on the rocks,, plus it is half the cost of an ARB

JeepinJarhead03 · **Posted:** Tue Apr 28, 2009 1:07 am

just for clarification i wasn't sayin my DTT caused my steering pump to weaken, just that i notice the whine more but i seriously think it's the almost 100k on the pump rather than anything else thats caused it

CRD Joe · **Posted:** Tue Apr 28, 2009 8:09 am

JL Rockies wrote:

The only problem with the ARB is they are not easy to install correctly and most shops can't. I have not notices the PS pump having any issues with the DTT in any terrain.

Ah, my guy Tim Lund was the tech man at ARB for years. He's Mr. gear and locker install guy!

Its nice having ARB so close.

KJ04 · **Posted:** Tue Apr 28, 2009 10:43 am

JeepinJarhead03 wrote:

just for clarification i wasn't sayin my DTT caused my steering pump to weaken, just that i notice the whine more but i seriously think it's the almost 100k on the pump rather than anything else thats caused it

Sounds like you just have an old pump. You could try pumping out most of the old fluid and put in new to see if that makes a difference, if not replace the pump.
In 2 wd. you should not be experiencing any problems, but when you ingauge 4 wd. you will experience some heavyness in the steering which is quite normal for the DTT.

RED_KJ_666 · **Posted:** Tue Apr 28, 2009 4:53 pm

Sorry for Jacking it but.....
What is the Easiest way to Drain all of the fluid in my Power Steering setup? Last time I just used an old Turkey Baster when I changed pumps This time I would like to change out all the old Fluid if possible. I've Blown 2 Pumps in 3 months. One with 156,000km on it another with 72,000+ or - a few. I bought a new one this time I'm also replacing the Cooler this go any insight on how fun that will be?

JeepinJarhead03 · **Posted:** Tue Apr 28, 2009 5:02 pm

I used a fluid evacuator (high-tech turkey baster) and siphoned out and filled back up with fresh fluid about 4 times to get the fluid changed out, just did it over a period of like 4 weeks to let the circulation cycle in the fresh fluid then used the old fluid as cutting fluid when drillin some holes in the shop :lol:

and i totally agree about the old pump, the only funkyness i have in 2wd is a very slight whine

well, that and it actually seems easier to turn to the left than it is to turn to the right but that's probably the rack rather than the pump

it's actually like 2.5X harder to turn the wheel to the right but im not sayin it's hard to turn, it just pushes back slightly in that direction, where turnin left it seems to push the steering wheel in the same direction that i'm turning

you guys notice that too? i've driven like 8k since hte end of january so i've kinda had time to notice such slight things :lol:

RED_KJ_666 · **Posted:** Tue Apr 28, 2009 7:57 pm

Mine does the Same Easier to the Left but when you are turning right it has a slight push back. My Rack isn't loose tho in anyway Drives Great. Maybe this could be the Rack, I don't know. Thoughts? Also I'm saying my pump is shot at Idle it will hardly turn well 1,200RPM and down above that fine. Whines like a bad pump in park if you REV it and try to turn. A kid in a Honda thought I had a SuperCharger on it at Mcdonalds the other night it gets so bad lol.

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Tue Apr 28, 2009 8:13 pm

RED_KJ_666 wrote:

Mine does the Same Easier to the Left but when you are turning right it has a slight push back. My Rack isn't loose tho in anyway Drives Great. Maybe this could be the Rack, I don't know. Thoughts? Also I'm saying my pump is shot at Idle it will hardly turn well 1,200RPM and down above that fine. Whines like a bad pump in park if you REV it and try to turn. A kid in a Honda thought I had a SuperCharger on it at Mcdonalds the other night it gets so bad lol.

You may have a bad rack by the harder to turn in one direction but fine in the other.

JeepinJarhead03 · **Posted:** Tue Apr 28, 2009 8:19 pm

mine turns fine, i just noticed that it is slightly harder to turn to the right than the left, i didnt know if it was a characteristic of the rack or just the rack goin bad

it's got almost 100k on the rack and pump but unless it gets worse or goes out altogether then it'll stay like that

i dont think anyone that just jumped in my jeep and drove it would notice but i've had a ton of drivin miles to notice the slight difference

people thought i had a supercharger too when i had a bad tensioner :lol:

it would even warble when the rpms dropped after a little rev

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Tue Apr 28, 2009 8:29 pm

JeepinJarhead03 wrote:

mine turns fine, i just noticed that it is slightly harder to turn to the right than the left, i didnt know if it was a characteristic of the rack or just the rack goin bad

it's got almost 100k on the rack and pump but unless it gets worse or goes out altogether then it'll stay like that

i dont think anyone that just jumped in my jeep and drove it would notice but i've had a ton of drivin miles to notice the slight difference

people thought i had a supercharger too when i had a bad tensioner :lol:

it would even warble when the rpms dropped after a little rev

The R&P steering gears are prone to internal seal leakage from Chrysler,also the other bad spot is the input gear(pinion gear) valve which directs the pressure can leak internally causing one way to be harder then the other.The Minivans are really bad about that issue and I've replaced many,many R&P's,you can not buy seals for the R&P's either,you must buy a new/remaned unit.PS pump whine is the addition of air into the system that airiates the fluid causing the whine.Check for any leaks in the pump itself,lines,and R&P.Any signs of wetness is a leak that will allow air into the system causing whine.

The added stress of 4wd,lockers,or bigger then stock tires can speed up the process of leaking.

2006 KJ · **Posted:** Tue Apr 28, 2009 10:37 pm

tjkj2002 wrote:

JeepinJarhead03 wrote:

mine turns fine, i just noticed that it is slightly harder to turn to the right than the left, i didnt know if it was a characteristic of the rack or just the rack goin bad

it's got almost 100k on the rack and pump but unless it gets worse or goes out altogether then it'll stay like that

i dont think anyone that just jumped in my jeep and drove it would notice but i've had a ton of drivin miles to notice the slight difference

people thought i had a supercharger too when i had a bad tensioner :lol:

it would even warble when the rpms dropped after a little rev

The R&P steering gears are prone to internal seal leakage from Chrysler,also the other bad spot is the input gear(pinion gear) valve which directs the pressure can leak internally causing one way to be harder then the other.The Minivans are really bad about that issue and I've replaced many,many R&P's,you can not buy seals for the R&P's either,you must buy a new/remaned unit.PS pump whine is the addition of air into the system that airiates the fluid causing the whine.Check for any leaks in the pump itself,lines,and R&P.Any signs of wetness is a leak that will allow air into the system causing whine.

The added stress of 4wd,lockers,or bigger then stock tires can speed up the process of leaking.

^^^^^^^ everything he said is true... i've already replaced my rack&pinon

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Question about lockers

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