Detroit Locker Whats Normal

Ok so I purchased a used Detroit locker from fleabay. Swapped out my truetrac for this. The jeep has some very pronounced bad road manners now which is ok if this is normal. The rearend seems like there is a lot of play as far as the yoke actually rolls back and forth before engaging. I mean about 1/4 turn. Ive checked backlash and tooth pattern and these are set at factory specs. Is this normal? And if it isnt are ther parts available to rebuild this. It is a 30 spline Dana 44 Flanged rearend.

 

Did you check backlash with the old carrier before you put in the new Detroit? You wanna try to get it close. I'm sure you're okay as long as you're in factory specs.

Yeah, they suck on-road. Plain and simple. The extra play in the pinion is normal. That's the space between the gear teeth being taken up. Some other niceties to look forward to:

Tire chirping/squealing around corner
Possible need to turn the wheel to the left when letting off the throttle and right turn when back on.
A huge, clanging "BANG" out of nowhere that scares the S&%$ out of you (it's just the locker teeth tumbling into mesh under load - happens every now and then and is normal - won't harm anything)
Chatter/weird drivetrain on/off/on/off bucking feel even with clutch in while trying to coast into a parking spot.
More....

They're great off-road, but they do come with a world of quirks on-road. I recently yanked the Detroit out of the back of my YJ 'cause I had enough. Put an E-Locker in its place. Like a whole new Jeep.

Not trying to discourage you, but I really do recommend a limited slip, selectable locker, or a spool in the rear of any short wheelbase (under 101-inch) Jeep. I hardly notice the Detroit in the rear of my M-715, but a YJ or a CJ will really get tossed around by it.

 

don't know about the play in your axle, but having followed a lot of Jeeps with a Detroit in the rear on pavement, I would say the road manners sounds typical to me.
The Jeeps seem to jerk one way or another at just a touch of the throttle.

 

Seems like all the above, I dont use it much on road but yeah 1st time I took her for a ride after the installation there was a terrible clank scared the heck outta me thought maybe the rearend fell out. But made me and my son definitely look at each other, and grin one of those oh S&%$ grins and hoping everything was okay.
Thanks for the info Christain

 

Ya get used to it.

 

Yep pretty much the way it reacts pretty interesting ride. But boy can she climb even better than before.
Thanks Jim

 

completly normal, it will climb till it falls over.(I know!)but the faces on the people in the parking -lot is the best...some even jump!!!!. aired down it is a hand full but aired up it is better.

 

So your good at this fallin over stuff I just need a cage so I can practice safe falling

 

The noise is not what you need to worry about, those are kind of fun.

Watch the rear end on rain slick streets or on the snow. If there is not enough tracton to "unlock" the rear, it can very easy completely break free and you will be looking the other way very quickly.

 

Rain? Snow? Enough with those old wives' tales and urban legends.

 

r)r)

 

I may be a bit late, but getting a detroit from ebay and you do not know how old it is, such as a newer designed soft locker or a older unit. Anyway the newer units are a lot friendlier. That said a detroit is an acquired taste, and once you get the taste in mouth you deside it is not that bad. the payoff is the offroad no thought performance, and the strength of the detroit. My first dedtroit and I shocked, then I kinda got used to it, now I run detroits front and rear. but then I have gotten used to bangs and unplanned lane changes.

 

Every once in a while mine will let go with a "bang" just to remind me it is there, wakes you up real fast. With that being said you get used to it and I would not trade it for anything!