Ok so pretty much as soon as I put the new locker in I've had to pull it out. It's a lock right v6 4 pinion case locker. I followed everything to the T and it all seemed to go in fine. I put less than 50 STREET miles on it and went to put new fluid in the axle and a small pice of metal was on my drain plug. SO out comes the diff and when I split open the case.....ALL 4 pins in the locker are broken!!?? WTF!?!? I've seen only one other mention of broken pins/springs on a v6 split case locker but it was with an abused ez locker.

Anyone with advice?? I'm calling Richmond tomorrow...

 

For those who are silent and might care. I talked to richmond today, no definitive answer about what caused the broken pins but they have no problem doing a warrenty swap. Of course I pay return shipping, shouldn't be much so I won't complain if they can get me somthing that works.

 

Oh, we're curious. Let us know what happens. I am particularly interested in knowing how it managed to fail on you with such ease.

 

I am curious too, my initial guess is poor installation, I have had mine in for a while and it has taken a beating with no ill effects.

 

Well being this is my first "lunch box" locker install I initially questioned my work. Which is why as soon as I found the sliver of metal I pulled the diff and opened the case. However with a 4pinion case there is no way to check the cross pin clearances like in a 2 pinion locker which replaces the side gears. With this 4 pinion case, you just check and re-use the side gears and shims. I was very miticulous with my work and I'm 100% sure it was assimbled properly, as Richomd said it could have been a machine issue on there part.....I didn't really like that answer but if they get me one that works I'm fine with it.

As for the issue I had, other than the very small piece of metal that was on the plug I'd never known there was a problem. I don't think mine is the only one, it's just that I got lucky and found that piece of metal before it got ground up by the gears. I think my OC-ness with my work is about the only thing that could have caught this.

 

And I don't know if you could classify this as a total failure, I mean the locker was locking and seemed to unlock in a turn.....but that is just based on my experince with the e-locker on my 80 series. Like I said without that very small piece of metal I'd never known any better.

 

I misinstalled an aussie once - didn't include the shims and check the clearance.. Same deal, started destroying the pins.

 

I discussed this with the guys at Richmond, they said the 4 pinion case shims is all you need or can use since with the two piece case you cannont check clearances.