'91' XJ, rear diff (trak-loc diff) noise on sharp turns
 

I just recently had the rear diff "serviced" at a stealership. It looks like
they took off the rear diff cover but I still get the strange noise on sharp
turns. Could it just be the normal noise that the trac-loc clutch plates make?
Maybe I should just put in some more trac-lok additive?
-Bill (remove "botizer" to reply via email)

Re: '91' XJ, rear diff (trak-loc diff) noise on sharp turns
 

Is the noise a low groan, banging, or something else? Is it worse on left
or right turns, backwards or forwards, tighter or straighter? Are you
running synthetic diff oil? How about friction modifiers?

The trak-lok diff is just a wet-plate style LSD made by Dana with a fancy
name attached by the marketing types. If it sounds and feels like one axle
is winding up against the other and then letting go with a bang you can hear
and feel, or it's a low moan/groan that increases with more steering lock
then it's probably what we call diff-chatter. That's when the clutch plates
stick and then slip - when one axle is trying to turn faster than the
other - and don't run smoothly. Usually caused by glazing and/or synthetic
or "dry" oils. If you are running a synthetic oil (never recommended with
any cone or plate style LSD but sometimes specified by the OEMs due to temp
issues) try adding a friction modifier such as Mobil 3022L or Sturaco 7098.
Warning, do not use more than the recommended dosage (as a % of oil) as
friction modifiers tend to be pretty aggressive on seals (especially at
higher temps) and more does not generally improve performance. From memory
the Mobil should be about 2-3% and the Sturaco about 6% of total fill. My
advice - drain the oil fully (hot) and then replace it with a good brand LSD
mineral oil (LSX90 or similar) and see how that goes.

Good luck.... Clax.

"Wblane" <wblane@aol.combotizer> wrote in message
news:20040825160011.21353.00001926@mb-m18.aol.com...
> I just recently had the rear diff "serviced" at a stealership. It looks
like
> they took off the rear diff cover but I still get the strange noise on
sharp
> turns. Could it just be the normal noise that the trac-loc clutch plates
make?
> Maybe I should just put in some more trac-lok additive?
> -Bill (remove "botizer" to reply via email)

Re: '91' XJ, rear diff (trak-loc diff) noise on sharp turns
 

Is the noise a low groan, banging, or something else? Is it worse on left
or right turns, backwards or forwards, tighter or straighter? Are you
running synthetic diff oil? How about friction modifiers?

The trak-lok diff is just a wet-plate style LSD made by Dana with a fancy
name attached by the marketing types. If it sounds and feels like one axle
is winding up against the other and then letting go with a bang you can hear
and feel, or it's a low moan/groan that increases with more steering lock
then it's probably what we call diff-chatter. That's when the clutch plates
stick and then slip - when one axle is trying to turn faster than the
other - and don't run smoothly. Usually caused by glazing and/or synthetic
or "dry" oils. If you are running a synthetic oil (never recommended with
any cone or plate style LSD but sometimes specified by the OEMs due to temp
issues) try adding a friction modifier such as Mobil 3022L or Sturaco 7098.
Warning, do not use more than the recommended dosage (as a % of oil) as
friction modifiers tend to be pretty aggressive on seals (especially at
higher temps) and more does not generally improve performance. From memory
the Mobil should be about 2-3% and the Sturaco about 6% of total fill. My
advice - drain the oil fully (hot) and then replace it with a good brand LSD
mineral oil (LSX90 or similar) and see how that goes.

Good luck.... Clax.

"Wblane" <wblane@aol.combotizer> wrote in message
news:20040825160011.21353.00001926@mb-m18.aol.com...
> I just recently had the rear diff "serviced" at a stealership. It looks
like
> they took off the rear diff cover but I still get the strange noise on
sharp
> turns. Could it just be the normal noise that the trac-loc clutch plates
make?
> Maybe I should just put in some more trac-lok additive?
> -Bill (remove "botizer" to reply via email)

Re: '91' XJ, rear diff (trak-loc diff) noise on sharp turns
 

Is the noise a low groan, banging, or something else? Is it worse on left
or right turns, backwards or forwards, tighter or straighter? Are you
running synthetic diff oil? How about friction modifiers?

The trak-lok diff is just a wet-plate style LSD made by Dana with a fancy
name attached by the marketing types. If it sounds and feels like one axle
is winding up against the other and then letting go with a bang you can hear
and feel, or it's a low moan/groan that increases with more steering lock
then it's probably what we call diff-chatter. That's when the clutch plates
stick and then slip - when one axle is trying to turn faster than the
other - and don't run smoothly. Usually caused by glazing and/or synthetic
or "dry" oils. If you are running a synthetic oil (never recommended with
any cone or plate style LSD but sometimes specified by the OEMs due to temp
issues) try adding a friction modifier such as Mobil 3022L or Sturaco 7098.
Warning, do not use more than the recommended dosage (as a % of oil) as
friction modifiers tend to be pretty aggressive on seals (especially at
higher temps) and more does not generally improve performance. From memory
the Mobil should be about 2-3% and the Sturaco about 6% of total fill. My
advice - drain the oil fully (hot) and then replace it with a good brand LSD
mineral oil (LSX90 or similar) and see how that goes.

Good luck.... Clax.

"Wblane" <wblane@aol.combotizer> wrote in message
news:20040825160011.21353.00001926@mb-m18.aol.com...
> I just recently had the rear diff "serviced" at a stealership. It looks
like
> they took off the rear diff cover but I still get the strange noise on
sharp
> turns. Could it just be the normal noise that the trac-loc clutch plates
make?
> Maybe I should just put in some more trac-lok additive?
> -Bill (remove "botizer" to reply via email)

Re: '91' XJ, rear diff (trak-loc diff) noise on sharp turns
 

The noise happens intermittently on sharp left hand turns (like U-turns). I
don't know what the stealership mechanics put in the
differential, but they supposedly rebuilt it.

>Is the noise a low groan, banging, or something else? Is it worse on left
>or right turns, backwards or forwards, tighter or straighter? Are you
>running synthetic diff oil? How about friction modifiers?


-Bill (remove "botizer" to reply via email)

Re: '91' XJ, rear diff (trak-loc diff) noise on sharp turns
 

The noise happens intermittently on sharp left hand turns (like U-turns). I
don't know what the stealership mechanics put in the
differential, but they supposedly rebuilt it.

>Is the noise a low groan, banging, or something else? Is it worse on left
>or right turns, backwards or forwards, tighter or straighter? Are you
>running synthetic diff oil? How about friction modifiers?


-Bill (remove "botizer" to reply via email)

Re: '91' XJ, rear diff (trak-loc diff) noise on sharp turns
 

The noise happens intermittently on sharp left hand turns (like U-turns). I
don't know what the stealership mechanics put in the
differential, but they supposedly rebuilt it.

>Is the noise a low groan, banging, or something else? Is it worse on left
>or right turns, backwards or forwards, tighter or straighter? Are you
>running synthetic diff oil? How about friction modifiers?


-Bill (remove "botizer" to reply via email)