I've got a 2000 TJ with a dana 44 rear axle with 4.56 gears and a detroit locker. My problem is that there seems to be slack in the rear end. When I get on and off the gas the Jeep slams forward like there is slack in the rear end. I've check the U joints in the rear drive line and they are fine. I'm wondering how to correct this problem. Is it possible that there is too much backlash in the ring and pinion? How do I correct this?

I imagine that wasn't there before the installation of the Detroit? Lockers typically have a certain amount of running clearance built into them and the lower the ring and pinion ratio, the more slack you will have.

it's normal for the detroit. you'll get used to it. the mechanism is freewheeling when there's no torque applied to the driveshaft. when torque is applied it has to "wind up" to engage. it's what makes it an "autolocker". you'll get used to throwing the clutch around tight corners and when the tires break loose and go all wonky fishtaily. you'll also have to learn to be on the gas or off the gas while driving. my old lady pumps the gas as she drives and the jeep wants to change lanes every time she does it! you'll be amazed at your new traction off road.

oh yea, don't put posi additive in with the detroit. it makes it work too well so that it will lock with extremely little torque. my buddy stuck some in (thinking it was a tight posi) and it wasn't an upgrade on the street.

You probably have one of the newer so called "Soft Locker". I believe that's all they've manufactured for the last 10 years or so I guess. About 20 years ago I installed an original Detroit Locker (No-Spin)in my friend's 83 Jeep J-10. You don't know what clunking is until you drive this truck. It is a pain to drive in traffic or around town but this truck has crawled out of mud holes that have had people in disbelief. It also has a Trac Lok in the front axle.

Wow! Listening to you guys talk about Detroits makes me glad I went with an Aussie Locker! (They take some getting used to too.) <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

awwww, don't get down on the detroit. it is true that every time you get in and drive you're aware that your driving more of an atv than a car. right up my alley!

they really are pretty hardcore for street applications but are clearly indestructable. in low traction situations they're 100% consistant too. it always does the exact same thing, lock solid. pretty quiet too aside from the semianual engagement clunk and hands down better than a spool. selectables just aren't reliable and having the option to get maximum spline count are all great points of the detroit. i like jeeps way too much. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/ignore.gif" alt="" />

I didn't say anything bad about them! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/notooth.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

Before I had the Detroit Locker and 4.56 gears installed, there was some slop in the rearend, but I believe that was due to the fact that the 3.73 ring & pinion gears had gotten pretty warn down. At least that is what the tech who did the work told me. I had the Locker and gears installed about 3 years ago, and I'm used to driving the Jeep with it the way it is. I just wanted to make sure nothing was seriously wrong. Is it normal for the jolting to be almost unnoticeable in 4 wheel drive? I'm guessing that the "slack" is actually the Locker "ratcheting" back to a locked or unlocked position when I get in and out of the gas.

Thanks for all you input

The slamming you are refering to is the gear breaking when you let out of the gas, an when you step on it the jerk is the gear pulling harder, thats as elementary as I can put it, you should fill a 5.13 with about 800ponies from a dead stop, talk about slam, you can fill your eyeballs trying to keep up with your face.