86' Samurai with mechanical locker in rear diff. I have notice what seems to be more noise when shifting than usual (both at the clutch disengagement and re-engagement) from the rear diff. area. I have checked the u joints and all seem fine. The rear drive shaft does seem to have excessive rotational play to me at least (I'm not familiar with how much it is supposed to have though). I measured the play at the pinion flange two ways. First with the e brake on: 3/4 inch. Then with tires on the ground and no e brake: 1 1/4 inch.

The locker was used when I installed it. I put in new springs and pins in the locker before installing.

Any ideas where I should start looking for problems if there? locker, ring & pinion, axles?

Thanks, Jim

most of what you describe is intrinsic w/locker...more d-shaft rotation, clicking, tires chirping, 'slop' when shifting, etc.

most of what you describe is intrinsic w/locker...more d-shaft rotation, clicking, tires chirping, 'slop' when shifting, etc.

It just seems the 'slop' and clunk is worse than this March when I installed the locker. I did take it on an extreme rock run earlier this summer and started noticing the change since then.

the locker might be shattering (coming apart) I have a couple that are in eight pieces instead of two, they will not unlock on the street is one way to tell is this hapends.

the locker might be shattering (coming apart) I have a couple that are in eight pieces instead of two, they will not unlock on the street is one way to tell is this happens.

I'm still hearing nice clicking on the street during cornering. Appreciate the help.

That noise is usually from thelocker being toast. It may work fine and dandy when taking turns when it has a side load induced, but when it goes load to unload when shifting it may cause that. To me it sounds like the locker is done.


Zak

86' Samurai with mechanical locker in rear diff. I have notice what seems to be more noise when shifting than usual (both at the clutch disengagement and re-engagement) from the rear diff. area. I have checked the u joints and all seem fine. The rear drive shaft does seem to have excessive rotational play to me at least (I'm not familiar with how much it is supposed to have though). I measured the play at the pinion flange two ways. First with the e brake on: 3/4 inch. Then with tires on the ground and no e brake: 1 1/4 inch.

The locker was used when I installed it. I put in new springs and pins in the locker before installing.

Any ideas where I should start looking for problems if there? locker, ring & pinion, axles?

Thanks, Jim

The driveshaft play sounds normal.
What kind of sounds are you hearing?  Popping?  Clicking?  Banging?  Lockers make noise and usually make more noise as they get used more.
I suppose something could be broken.  But there is no way to tell for sure without pulling the third (if everything is still working correctly).  So either live with it, or pull the third and check it out.

Third member is out. It appears the slack is due to wear in the groove of the locker drive where the pinion shafts (3) go (Lockright terminology). Going to live with it for a while as nothing is broken.

Thanks everyone.

Third member is out. It appears the slack is due to wear in the groove of the locker drive where the pinion shafts (3) go (Lockright terminology). Going to live with it for a while as nothing is broken.

Thanks everyone.

When you put the 2 locker halves together, the hole in the locker pieces don't form an exactly perfect circle.  So there may be no wear at all to the locker.

After tearing it down looking at it and putting back together, the noise/slack is gone, at least for now. Didn't find anything loose or broken. Just one of those things I guess.

If you did not preload the bearings during the locker install, it will seem to develop more play.  It is actually just what what you left in there.  It is also important that when adjusting the backlash that you always stop when tightening, that helps keep the preload in.

I doubt that you wore a grove in the locker.  If you had, the lack of oil would have made a very noisy diff.

Lockers are quirky, but they do get the job done.