detroit locker problem
 

Hey all,

I've got a TJ 2004 dana 25 with 33 inch tires (3 inch lift) with 4.11
gears and a detroit locker (professionally installed by a shop that
does this regularly). The locker was installed over 3 years ago/50K
miles ago. No wrecks or accidents, so the frame and front end
alignment haven't changed.

Over the last month, the locker has started "popping" every 20-30
seconds while going down the road. I've checked tire air pressure
(didn't make a difference) tire diameter was off due to very uneven
wear, and put new BFG t/o's on it last week, with no change in
behavior. (also had the alignment done at a shop that specializes in
lifted trucks)

Seems almost like one side is "loose" and slipping a tooth on the
locker "gear". When it was up on the rack at the shop, it looked like
the right side was "tight" and difficult to unlock, and the left side
was "loose" and easy to unlock, but the diff still locks up.

Are there any parts that are replacable in a detroit (this is standard
detroit, not a gearless)?

Can I pull the locker out and do this without having to re-do the diff
gear set up? (If not, the labor+parts is likely to be the same as
having a new locker put in)


thanks

tim

Re: detroit locker problem
 

<bonsai4tim@aol.com> wrote in message
news:1185548968.666007.153410@57g2000hsv.googlegro ups.com...
> Hey all,
>
> I've got a TJ 2004 dana 25 with 33 inch tires (3 inch lift) with 4.11
> gears and a detroit locker (professionally installed by a shop that
> does this regularly). The locker was installed over 3 years ago/50K
> miles ago. No wrecks or accidents, so the frame and front end
> alignment haven't changed.
>
> Over the last month, the locker has started "popping" every 20-30
> seconds while going down the road. I've checked tire air pressure
> (didn't make a difference) tire diameter was off due to very uneven
> wear, and put new BFG t/o's on it last week, with no change in
> behavior. (also had the alignment done at a shop that specializes in
> lifted trucks)
>
> Seems almost like one side is "loose" and slipping a tooth on the
> locker "gear". When it was up on the rack at the shop, it looked like
> the right side was "tight" and difficult to unlock, and the left side
> was "loose" and easy to unlock, but the diff still locks up.
>
> Are there any parts that are replacable in a detroit (this is standard
> detroit, not a gearless)?
>
> Can I pull the locker out and do this without having to re-do the diff
> gear set up? (If not, the labor+parts is likely to be the same as
> having a new locker put in)
>
>


Firstly, you have a Dana 35, not Dana 25. <that was probably a keystroke
error, but I have to cover the ground just in case>

You keep saying Detroit Locker, but there are different kinds. If you have
the Detroit EZ Locker, then this is a light duty locker that sounds like is
about to break. Given your tire choice, I think you have the wrong locker if
you in fact have the EZ Locker.

Yes, you should be able to pull the locker without altering the gear mesh
settings. If you have the EZ Locker, then you are at a cross-road. You have
to consider putting in another EZ Locker, or upgrading to the Full Detroit
that can handle the loads placed upon it.

Re: detroit locker problem
 

<bonsai4tim@aol.com> wrote in message
news:1185548968.666007.153410@57g2000hsv.googlegro ups.com...
> Hey all,
>
> I've got a TJ 2004 dana 25 with 33 inch tires (3 inch lift) with 4.11
> gears and a detroit locker (professionally installed by a shop that
> does this regularly). The locker was installed over 3 years ago/50K
> miles ago. No wrecks or accidents, so the frame and front end
> alignment haven't changed.
>
> Over the last month, the locker has started "popping" every 20-30
> seconds while going down the road. I've checked tire air pressure
> (didn't make a difference) tire diameter was off due to very uneven
> wear, and put new BFG t/o's on it last week, with no change in
> behavior. (also had the alignment done at a shop that specializes in
> lifted trucks)
>
> Seems almost like one side is "loose" and slipping a tooth on the
> locker "gear". When it was up on the rack at the shop, it looked like
> the right side was "tight" and difficult to unlock, and the left side
> was "loose" and easy to unlock, but the diff still locks up.
>
> Are there any parts that are replacable in a detroit (this is standard
> detroit, not a gearless)?
>
> Can I pull the locker out and do this without having to re-do the diff
> gear set up? (If not, the labor+parts is likely to be the same as
> having a new locker put in)
>
>


Firstly, you have a Dana 35, not Dana 25. <that was probably a keystroke
error, but I have to cover the ground just in case>

You keep saying Detroit Locker, but there are different kinds. If you have
the Detroit EZ Locker, then this is a light duty locker that sounds like is
about to break. Given your tire choice, I think you have the wrong locker if
you in fact have the EZ Locker.

Yes, you should be able to pull the locker without altering the gear mesh
settings. If you have the EZ Locker, then you are at a cross-road. You have
to consider putting in another EZ Locker, or upgrading to the Full Detroit
that can handle the loads placed upon it.

Re: detroit locker problem
 

<bonsai4tim@aol.com> wrote in message
news:1185548968.666007.153410@57g2000hsv.googlegro ups.com...
> Hey all,
>
> I've got a TJ 2004 dana 25 with 33 inch tires (3 inch lift) with 4.11
> gears and a detroit locker (professionally installed by a shop that
> does this regularly). The locker was installed over 3 years ago/50K
> miles ago. No wrecks or accidents, so the frame and front end
> alignment haven't changed.
>
> Over the last month, the locker has started "popping" every 20-30
> seconds while going down the road. I've checked tire air pressure
> (didn't make a difference) tire diameter was off due to very uneven
> wear, and put new BFG t/o's on it last week, with no change in
> behavior. (also had the alignment done at a shop that specializes in
> lifted trucks)
>
> Seems almost like one side is "loose" and slipping a tooth on the
> locker "gear". When it was up on the rack at the shop, it looked like
> the right side was "tight" and difficult to unlock, and the left side
> was "loose" and easy to unlock, but the diff still locks up.
>
> Are there any parts that are replacable in a detroit (this is standard
> detroit, not a gearless)?
>
> Can I pull the locker out and do this without having to re-do the diff
> gear set up? (If not, the labor+parts is likely to be the same as
> having a new locker put in)
>
>


Firstly, you have a Dana 35, not Dana 25. <that was probably a keystroke
error, but I have to cover the ground just in case>

You keep saying Detroit Locker, but there are different kinds. If you have
the Detroit EZ Locker, then this is a light duty locker that sounds like is
about to break. Given your tire choice, I think you have the wrong locker if
you in fact have the EZ Locker.

Yes, you should be able to pull the locker without altering the gear mesh
settings. If you have the EZ Locker, then you are at a cross-road. You have
to consider putting in another EZ Locker, or upgrading to the Full Detroit
that can handle the loads placed upon it.

Re: detroit locker problem
 

<bonsai4tim@aol.com> wrote in message
news:1185548968.666007.153410@57g2000hsv.googlegro ups.com...
> Hey all,
>
> I've got a TJ 2004 dana 25 with 33 inch tires (3 inch lift) with 4.11
> gears and a detroit locker (professionally installed by a shop that
> does this regularly). The locker was installed over 3 years ago/50K
> miles ago. No wrecks or accidents, so the frame and front end
> alignment haven't changed.
>
> Over the last month, the locker has started "popping" every 20-30
> seconds while going down the road. I've checked tire air pressure
> (didn't make a difference) tire diameter was off due to very uneven
> wear, and put new BFG t/o's on it last week, with no change in
> behavior. (also had the alignment done at a shop that specializes in
> lifted trucks)
>
> Seems almost like one side is "loose" and slipping a tooth on the
> locker "gear". When it was up on the rack at the shop, it looked like
> the right side was "tight" and difficult to unlock, and the left side
> was "loose" and easy to unlock, but the diff still locks up.
>
> Are there any parts that are replacable in a detroit (this is standard
> detroit, not a gearless)?
>
> Can I pull the locker out and do this without having to re-do the diff
> gear set up? (If not, the labor+parts is likely to be the same as
> having a new locker put in)
>
>


Firstly, you have a Dana 35, not Dana 25. <that was probably a keystroke
error, but I have to cover the ground just in case>

You keep saying Detroit Locker, but there are different kinds. If you have
the Detroit EZ Locker, then this is a light duty locker that sounds like is
about to break. Given your tire choice, I think you have the wrong locker if
you in fact have the EZ Locker.

Yes, you should be able to pull the locker without altering the gear mesh
settings. If you have the EZ Locker, then you are at a cross-road. You have
to consider putting in another EZ Locker, or upgrading to the Full Detroit
that can handle the loads placed upon it.

Re: detroit locker problem
 

>
> Yes, you should be able to pull the locker without altering the gear mesh
> settings. If you have the EZ Locker, then you are at a cross-road. You have
> to consider putting in another EZ Locker, or upgrading to the Full Detroit
> that can handle the loads placed upon it.

Yes, its a dana 35 (key error)

Its not an EZ locker, it's the Full Detroit style.

tim

Re: detroit locker problem
 

>
> Yes, you should be able to pull the locker without altering the gear mesh
> settings. If you have the EZ Locker, then you are at a cross-road. You have
> to consider putting in another EZ Locker, or upgrading to the Full Detroit
> that can handle the loads placed upon it.

Yes, its a dana 35 (key error)

Its not an EZ locker, it's the Full Detroit style.

tim

Re: detroit locker problem
 

>
> Yes, you should be able to pull the locker without altering the gear mesh
> settings. If you have the EZ Locker, then you are at a cross-road. You have
> to consider putting in another EZ Locker, or upgrading to the Full Detroit
> that can handle the loads placed upon it.

Yes, its a dana 35 (key error)

Its not an EZ locker, it's the Full Detroit style.

tim

Re: detroit locker problem
 

>
> Yes, you should be able to pull the locker without altering the gear mesh
> settings. If you have the EZ Locker, then you are at a cross-road. You have
> to consider putting in another EZ Locker, or upgrading to the Full Detroit
> that can handle the loads placed upon it.

Yes, its a dana 35 (key error)

Its not an EZ locker, it's the Full Detroit style.

tim

Re: Re: detroit locker problem
 

On Sat, 28 Jul 2007 04:34:58 -0700, bonsai4tim@aol.com wrote:

>
>
>>
>> Yes, you should be able to pull the locker without altering the gear mesh
>> settings. If you have the EZ Locker, then you are at a cross-road. You have
>> to consider putting in another EZ Locker, or upgrading to the Full Detroit
>> that can handle the loads placed upon it.
>
>Yes, its a dana 35 (key error)
>
>Its not an EZ locker, it's the Full Detroit style.
>
>tim


The "problem" with a Detriot type lockers is that if the is any speed
variatio between the two wheels going down the road that can clunck
and when they get can get worse. These style lockers have absolutely
no abilty to power both wheel at even the slighest speed difference.
It is either both locked together and skidding in a turn and it
unlocking when conditons permit and switching to 1wd and one wheel
coasting. You are hearing this happen. Eitheri you have a different
rolling radius between them, your truck is dog tracking a bit and you
are wondering a bit on the road abd a speed differnce is developing
and it is trying to rachet one wheel to free torque on axles. ALso a
D35 is not a strong axle not have a very big carrier so with a Detriot
in it and big tires it is going to tend to wear out with time and get
clunkier in operation. A carrier gets its strength for its diameterand
the small carrier ina D35 with a detriot works a lot harder than even
a D44 carrier on same wheel torque load. This is one reasom why GM
GovLocs have been known to grenade in 10 bolts with big tires and off
road use because the carrier is small in diameter compared to a GM 9.5
or 10.5 which have bigger daimeter carriers and lower surface loads on
clutch or locking device because on their increased diameter. To put
it another way in your D35 the locking device has maybe a 3 inch
diameter at most (likely less) because of small carrier and if it is
indeed 3 inched were it locks at the mean you have a 1.5 inch radiuse
from axle center line and you have tires that have a 16.5 inch radius
from center line so 16.5 divided by 1.5 equals 11 which meeans 11
times the force place on one wheel is placed on locker and 22 times
that amount for ce applied to both wheels. If you put down a combine
suface trative force of say 3000 lbs that means that locker is seeing
over 60,000 pound of force which will take a toll with time. A bigger
axle with a bigger carrier that allowed even a 1 inch bigger daimeter
locker would se switched locker surface loads reduced 33% with same
surface traction effort being applied. What this all means is
everything else look okay your locker is likely wearing out from the
extreme loads being placed on it.
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