Fergie

I've got an EZ locker in the rear of my '86 manual turbo. It makes the typical noises around corners and handles accordingly in parkings lots and the like, but it also has some behaviors that dont seem quite right.

It randomly pulls to the left or right, and loads and unloads at speed, in a perfectly straight line.

I've had lunchbox lockers in my Jeeps before, and they did not behave like this, and from my readings, they dont behave like this in Toys either.

Tire pressure and alignment are fine.

I have the left over parts from the shop that did the install, all the side gears and washers, is this correct?

Any ideas on what I need to start troubleshooting?

Thanks

Fergie

Ganoid

I'm fairly sure that the EZ locker and Lock right use the 2 side gears and the spacers under them as part of the locking mechanism in the 4 pinion V6/Turbo diffs. You should have 4 spider gears left over (there is a small bowl shaped washer with each spider gear as well) and thats it the rest should still be in play in the rear diff if its a Turbo diff. If you by some chance have a 4cyl NON-Turbo 2 pinion diff then you should have 2 side gears and 2 spider gears left over as the side gears are not reused in the 2 pinion diffs.

You can read the write up here and compare your left over parts with this guys.
4 pinion V6/Turbo EZ locker install

Fergie

This is what is left.


All the gears and washers are there.

I don't think any pieces were left out, or forgotten, but I dont think the settings are correct.

larc68

im not sure but mine does that sometimes also.

Fergie

I would understand "sometimes", but not every 30 seconds or less.

Ganoid

Its possible you could have a broken spring causing irregularity's but other than that these are very simple devices.

Fergie

Would an improper backlash setting have the effects I am describing?

leiniesred

low tire or different sized tires left/right. Measure.

RustBucket

iTrader: (1)

You have the right pieces left over.

So the pulling and unloading is random? Mine will sometimes do it when I am driving straight but only when I shift gears and change throttle position. I'm not sure exactly what's happening, but I think that the locker causes the axles to lock and push the truck *exactly* straight, and that works against the steering position of the front wheels, since I doubt they are often *exactly* straight when you are driving around.

Fergie

Okay, well the 235s are gone in favor of some 31 MTs. When I was at the shop, I had the guys there mount two new street tires(non-agressive), and took the truck for a ride.

This tires measured the same, within an eigth, and the pressures were the same.

Still had the same loading and unloading, and it is getting worse. I'm taking it back to the shop and they are going to see what they can do.

881stGenRunner

mine does the exact same thing and today we had the backlash set up by a professional. We have pulled the pumpkin 4 times and it not working is starting to become a major pain in my glutes. I think i am gonna get rid of mine and get a detroit locker that replaces the entire carrier.

Fergie

Well, I had a shop do the setup for the specific reason that I wasnt comfortable setting the backlash, and this crap happens.

highly irritating.

881stGenRunner

yes very highly irritating. they even had the wrong springs in the package at first and we had to call detroit to have them send us the right ones! We were able to put the locker in, it is just a matter of having a professional set the backlash, which we have done to prevent the truck from doing exactly what it is doing right now.

Fergie

What is somewhat concerning to me too, is the sudden changes in pull, making it non-driveable currently.

Also, I fear that the damn axleshafts are going to break when it unloads.

I will get rid of it for either a TT or an ARB/E-locker. I've seen too many full detroits take out entire cases when they grenade,so I shy away from those.

BOSTON4RUNNER

mine does the same thing

snaps, locks up, unlocks on normal straight roads etc

it is the nature of the beast

Fergie

I talked with the shop that installed it today, and he said he'd tear it apart and see if there was a problem for free, but if there isnt a problem, it'll cost me. Hell, I can do that in my garage for less time.

He also said it is how the thing reacts normally. I understand what these things do normally, I have had them in my Jeeps previously, but this one isnt acting the same.

The loading and unloading every 3-10 seconds drives me nuts, and it isnt light al lthe time, I think it is going to shear an axle shaft!

I'm gonna hang on to it for a bit, and then get an e-locker, ARB, or truetrac to replace it.

Fergie

mudbutt

The "lunchbox" lockers are prone to this. When you drive straight down the road you could have only one side of the locker engauged. Imagine only walking forward with one foot, you will just turn around. This is the same force that your truck is dealing with.

My 4runner does this lots, roads with the big truck dips(asphalt) make this condition way worse. I don't feel it is to the point of being unsafe though. If it feels really bad I just chop the throttle and it usally goes away.

If your housing is bent or your rear axle is not pointed straight ahead this will make it worse.

The only other thing I have seen is not torqueing the ring gear carrier and the bolts coming loose (assuming it is a v6/turbo carrier still).