I installed my Powertrax no-slip last weekend, everything seemed to be going normal. Today after a 50 mile road trip, I noticed clicking, which seemed to be coming from the diff, while I was driving straight. Now it's really starting to worry me. I hear it most driving through the neighborhood, when I can hear it over the tires. I get no noise when I'm turning, but I get a consistent clicking when I'm driving straight, ideling or accelerating, that changes with the vehicle speed.

I took off the diff cover to make sure everything looked right. There were no signs of abnormal wear, nor was anything obviously loose. I took off the bearing caps and used a mallet and block to make sure the races were fully seated. I just took it around the block with no change.

I'm about to the point that I'm going to pull the carrier back out and re-install the locker. But not tonight <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/sleeping.gif" alt="" />

I did have issues with getting it into the carrier. I purchased the locker used from Matt at Independent4x. He happened to have one already installed in a tracloc carrier that he sent me. I uninstalled and re-installed the locker in the carrier for practice before cracking open my axle. When I got my carrier out and went to install the locker, it wouldn't fit. The last piece didn't want to go in. I took it out and tried the old carrier and it slid right in <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />. I ended up having to tap the last piece in with a block and mallet. It seemed to have the propper spacing (I didn't get the check block since it was used), and it passed all the tests in the instructions.

I snapped a few pics to show the difference in the carriers. They are both marked as TRACLOC, but the shape of the openings and some of the markings are different.





The one with the locker and bearings is the one out of my truck. The main difference is the shape of the opening and the shape of the carrier where the roll pin is.

I don't know if the carrier issue has anything to do with my problem, I just mention it cause, well, you never know <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />.

I have to get this thing figured out! I'd hate to have to drive to Uwharrie for a diagnosis <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shiner.gif" alt="" />

<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" /> Andre

Something that was just suggested to me makes a lot of sense. The driveshaft u-joints could be the culpret. They were replaced, theoretically with heavy duty ones, when I had my 1 piece driveshaft built about 6 mos. ago. Conceviably, the since the locker was installed, and the driveline is getting a little more wind-up and force, it could have caused the u-joint to go. I'm going to check those out tonight before I do anything else.

Sound plasuable?

Andre

andre----check the tire pressure in the rear tires....if they are reasonably close then do a back to front tire rotation and see if the click is still there. ZUK

I actually just checked the rear tire pressure, and they were dead on. I'm going to try rotating the front to back, since the ones on the rear, were on the front for a while, and might have abnormal wear.

Thanks for the tip <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

Andre

I'm still working on this, just haven't had time to post.

I exhausted every option I could think of to no avail. The shop I took it to yesterday was a joke. I left it all day. Their inspection consisted of jacking up the rear, spinning the tires, and running the drivetrain. Their professional diagnosis was that my locker was "worn out". Uppon questioning them, they put me on the phone with some guy that has one of those in the front of his blazer. That guy had a lockrite, which was also "broken". When I came to pick up my truck, they offered me no options, and no suggestions. I started running down my options and asked about the charge for gear set-up if I went with a full case locker, since I couldn't put my limited slip back in. He said that you didn't need to set up gears when you replace the carrier <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/scared.gif" alt="" />

I thanked them for their help and promptly left. Needless to say, I was a bit annoyed <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/angry.gif" alt="" />

Proceded to go home, uninstall, and reinstall the locker with no change. The locker did, however have noticeable wear on outside, where it contacts the carrier, and on the top of the teeth. There were very small metal shavings on the inside of the carrier <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/barf.gif" alt="" />. When I put it back in, the wheels were acting strange durring the tire spin test. At one point I was able to freely spin one tire foward with the other stationary <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />. I don't think that's supposed to happen. I'm pretty sure there is some difference in the spacing of my carrier and the one it came in.

Anyway, as a last effort, I called around to some shops this morning. I called a general auto repair place that had been recomended (but usually takes a few days to get in). They seemed very sympathetic to my situation ( leaving for Uwharrie tomorrow), and pretty knowledgeable. Asked them to swap my carrier for the one the locker came in, and presumably works in. I stopped by the shop at closing time (6:00)to find them just pulling the truck inside. The tech said that they hadn't been able to work it into the schedule, so it was "going to be an all-nighter" <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/zombie.gif" alt="" />. I was shocked, but really impressed that these guys, who had never seen me before today, were going to pull overtime to get me on the road <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />. I gave them my cell # and headed (i.e. caught a ride) to the meeting I was late for. Did I mention that I've been busting my hump at work for the last two weeks to even take a long weekend <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />. Anyway, the shop called at 7:45, while I was in meeting (no phones), and asked me to call. By the time I got the message (8:15), they were gone.

So....

I don't know if it will be ready to pick up in the morning or not <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />.




I'm getting to Uwharrie one way or another <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/patriot.gif" alt="" />

It's the not knowing what I'll be driving that's really getting to me <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/scared.gif" alt="" />

Sorry for the long post, but my co-workers are tired of hearing about it, and my wife just dosent't understand when I don't have simple answers for "What's wrong?" and "How do you fix it?"

Here's hoping <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

Andre

I know the feeling of not being able to explain to anybody whats going on with your truck! it sucks! but thats why I come here! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

Wow, I'm amazed that a guy at a shop tried to tell you to just throw the gears/carrier in there! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/ignore.gif" alt="" /> That is certianly a good time to get your stuff, and go! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />


I'll keep my fingers crossed for you!

<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/patriot.gif" alt="" />

Just so I understand, you installed the new carrier that matt sent you into your axle?

If so, you might need to reset the gear pattern. IIRC, there are real small differences in sizes of carriers. Thats why your old one fit good, but the new one didn't. Forcing it in there without resetting backlash might have messed things up. I dunno. Hopefully someone with more expirience with this can chime in. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/scared.gif" alt="" />

I took the locker out of the carrier that Matt sent me, and put it into mine. I think the problem is that it dosen't fit properly into my carrier. What the shop is doing now is installing the carrier that the locker came with in my axle. They are pressing on my shims and bearings, and setting up the gears if necessary. I feel confident that these guys will make sure the pattern is correct.

I'm going to call them in a few hours.

My fingers are crossed

Andre

If they aren't quite done with it yet, I'd ask to see the pattern just so you have a little piece of mind. If you don't know what to look for there are a bunch of pics around of decent and not so decent patterns. Or, you can take a pic and post up.

No offense to the guys working on it, but sometimes you'll take something that's "close" when you've been working late on it and just want to get it out.

Well, they drove it, opened the axle. Did everything but remove the carrier. They said everything was working fine. They could find nothing wrong. They filled it with fluid and called me. So this morning, I picked it up, and it drove fine. No problems. I get back to my neighborhood, about 15 miles away, and it starts a little clicking again. I drove back to the shop and got the owner to ride around with me. It clicked a little, but nothing major. He said it seemed like the teeth were slipping until they could mesh propperly. But he found nothing wrong.

It's only clicking occasionally now. I'm pretty comfortable with the fact that the only thing that will possibly be harmed is the locker. I think I will just take it to Uwharrie and see what the experts think. It should be fine. That's what AAA is for right <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />.

Wish me luck

<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />Andre