Broken lunch box locker??

BigClay

BigClay

Knower of useless ZJ things
Joined
Sep 24, 2008
Location
Winston-Salem
Looking for some ideas of what could be wrong with my rear axle. Rear axle is a 8.8, stock, Aussie locker. Driving home the other day on the road, every time I turned right there was a large pop/clunk and noticeable lurch. I would first think the R&P was bad, but going straight there was no problem, only when turning right. I haven't had time to pull the diff cover, so what do you think it could be?
 
Mother in laws yukon did the same thing last Monday. Started Monday morning and she only drove it about 20 miles after the noise and jerking started.

I trailered it to the house and this is what I found.
IMG_20151005_234408634.jpg

Took out the ring and pinion and carrier with it. Ecgs had my parts here the day after ordering them.
 
I am hoping it is just pins and springs and that the R&P is OK, if not, then looks like I am going to replace the 4.10s with 4.88s
 
It's common the pins break. I don't even use the factory pins any more. I just cut a piece of 1/4" rod and use it instead.
 
Man I have had these things do that then act fine. I tore it down and found no issues. Reassemble, no issues. Then randomly do it again. I sold it an went with a different setup.
 
BigClay said:
haha, how bad is it really on the highway? You have the manual too right?
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Yup. Got one with 32s and 4.88s and one with 32s and 4.10s. The 4.88 one is a gear-banger. You're in fifth by the time you hit the far side of the intersection. :lol:

I have driven it on the highway, up to probably 70-75mph. But it's spinning pretty good at that point. It's really best around town and on the trails.

The one with 4.10s is pretty much perfect. Throw an Atlas and a rear ARB in it, and it will be perfect.
 
Honestly...it's probably fine. I have a Detroit in one truck and a Yukon Grizzly in the other (both rear axles) and both have the same quirks. Sometimes when the lockers unlock between shifting, it feels like somebody hit the ass end of my truck, but that's just kind of how they are. Both trucks are reg cab, long bed. I hear they're worse in short wheelbase rigs.
 
Tire pressure makes a huge difference clay. I know it sounds like a web wheeler thing to say but even if my rear tires were dead even on tire pressure it would still act funny unless I got both of the rear tires to plus 35psi. Try a little bit more air in the tire and see if that help some. You are running the BFG ATs right now right?

I had serious issues with my spartan locker even going strait down the road and on a long wide turn the locker would unload sounding like it sheared the axle shaft. Took the cover off and completely disassembled the locker and it still looked brand new. Got to love owning a jeep!
 
And this is why I prefer my full spool. I even drive it on the road to work occasionally. Had lockrights in my last 2 trucks and hated how they would unlock. At least now, it is constant.

Oh yeah, I have driven my rig from Harlan to Shelby, NC on 31s and 5.29s. That was a long ride.
 
Tire pressure seems to be good. I am running 35x12.5 BFG ATs on the road right now, and everything has been fine up until then (besides the normal locking/unlocking on the street with a manual). If nothing is broken and this is just a "quirck" then an air locker may have to be down the road, because it is really annoying turning on the street like this.
 
I run 35s with 4.88 on the highway and it's perfect around the mountains.

Hit 88 mph one time at 3,400 plus Rpm. Everything got blurry and sparks started flashing so I let out of it. Serious DeJa Vu.

It's been a while since I checked but I swear 70 mph is right at 2,900 rpm. When Jody gets done with my 1st ever clutch replacement I'll post up my 70 rpms.
 
4.88's and 35's is fine. I prefer 4.56 though. I put a mini spool in when I had an 8.8 It was my DD for two years.
 
sgtbriangreen said:
Oh yeah, I have driven my rig from Harlan to Shelby, NC on 31s and 5.29s. That was a long ride.
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holy fuckmonkey, I hope this was at least an auto trans, even then thats a steep gearing even for the 4 banger
 
RatLabGuy said:
holy fuckmonkey, I hope this was at least an auto trans, even then thats a steep gearing even for the 4 banger
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No, 5 speed. I traded my 4.10 diff to a buddy after wheeling all weekend in Harlan. I was about to do a lot of work to my truck and go with 5.29s. This was before I had a tow rig.
 
I have driven the jeep a few times now and the sound and lurch have not happened again. Took the cover off and nothing seems to be wrong. Maybe just the locker failing to unlock quick enough??
 
Like I said, it drove me crazy in my sammi, crazy, I was crazy once, I had an ez locker that done odd things, it drove me crazy, crazy? I was crazy once.....
 
got a spartan in my rear 44.That sucka sounds like gremlin is in there with a hammer and chisel breaking off each tooth on my ring gear. Cruise along and then"PINK!",another tooth has bought it. I've pulled my cover twice to find nothing damaged sooooooooo I started running thicker oil to quiet down a tad.
 
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