Lock right - extreme ratcheting problem

[u0061914]

I have a Lock Right installed in my dana 44 in my 71 Bronco. It has worked flawless for the past year, however now the driver side ratchets horribly. Not really when i turn, but more so when I'm going straight and accelerate hard. I pulled it apart and I see nothing worn excessively, no shavings, chunks or anything broken. The pins and springs look fine. If I unlock the drivers hub, no ratcheting. If I lock the drivers, but unlock the passenger hub, it ratchets terribly. ( I verified the hubs are good) This has really seen only minor use in the past year. Nothing extreme by any means. Has anyone ever see anything like this?

I'm trying to get this figured out this week so I can have it back together and running by next weekend.

 

[75bronco08]

iv ran into that.i shimed mine and took care of the problem.

 

[u0061914]

Would it be normal that a thrust washer would wear? Or something else wear in that amount of time? It was shimmed properly when I installed a year ago. That you are saying makes sense though.

 

[SC74]

Mine did that too.... I threw it away and went with a full detroit and have never looked back.

 

[broncnaz]

More than likely it cant handle the tire size you have. Seen quite a few lunch box types do that with large tires.

 

[SC74]

More than likely it cant handle the tire size you have. Seen quite a few lunch box types do that with large tires.

Good Point, but I was only on 33's when mine did it.

 

[75bronco08]

generaly when guys installs them, you use the old shims witch do have wear on them from the old side gears.if you happen to have a shim pack or shim stock and make one it doesnt take much.as far as tire size i v ran 42s with them never had a problem.this was full size bronco w9" busted pin and 44 frt busted lots axles.

 

[broncnaz]

Good Point, but I was only on 33's when mine did it.

a few of the lunch box lockers have a limit so to speak of 33in tires. I'm sure the shims would help but they shouldnt be worn that much to cause the unlocking.

 

[u0061914]

Good points guys. I fully understand and agree that I am probably somewhat oversized in the tire arena for this locker, however the odd part is that is has worked flawlessly for the past year. Almost all of the guys that I wheel with run the same locker and have never had issues. Some with smaller tires, some with bigger ones. There is nothing worn or broken on the locker ( that I can see anyway), so it could probably be the washers. Kind of a pain taking everything apart and putting it back together, but a cheap enough thing to try.

 

[wildbill]

Is it the diff. slipping or a bad hub. That sounds like a hub not locking good luck. Bill %) ;D

 

[u0061914]

Funny you should say that. Originally that is exactly whaty I thought the issue was. So on the trail, I completely swapped out the hub. Still did it.

 

[Viperwolf1]

Funny you should say that. Originally that is exactly whaty I thought the issue was. So on the trail, I completely swapped out the hub. Still did it.

Maybe it's the other side.

 

[u0061914]

Nope, the other side is fine. If I unlock the drivers side, the ratcheting quits. If I unlock just the passenger side, it still ratchets horribly.

 

[C Saporito]

I had installed a Lockright on my F250 diesel with 35" tires. It wore the tires real fast and after 6 months started scaring the crap out of pedestrians when going around corners. Turned out the wheel bearings were worn and let the axels ride in an 1/8 inch or so, which made it hard to disengage. So they would bang when they popped loose enough to slip and catch. There was no damage yet to the Lockright but I didn't like the tire wear, the back wore out faster then the front, so I changed it.



You probably just need to adjust the shims somehow.