Clanking pinion rotation with locker, how much is acceptable?

E

eastbloc

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Been driving without rear drive shaft for the past two days.
Recent regear with elocker.
No whining on any unusual sounds while driving. Leaky pinion seal has been replaced and current is leak free, pinion does not have any in-out or up-down play.

This clanking rotation was not there before, i know this for sure, and definitely was not rotating this much.
Typical locker behavior or something else?


 
Is it an eaton and what do you have Dana 35 or 44? It looks like thats about as much movement that the lockers makes when locking and unlocking. Can you take the cover off and take a video doing the same movement.
 
doubt that's a 35 or 44, that's a front axle, pictured.
ya some E lockers gotta move b4 they catch.
my JK OE locker is reputed to have this issue but i don't believe my pinion will do that. i feel the backlash gap same as anybody else would.

@hosejockey61, what you think? <he knows more than i do bout this stuff.
 
That is front Dana 30 with elocker.
Thank you for reply, will open and take a look.
 
Is the locker engaged when you are turning the pinon? Are the wheels on the ground?
 
This is wheels on ground, locker not engaged.
Been busy with other Jeep things, have not had a chance to look inside yet.

Judging by this thread: https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/ring-gear-and-pinion-play.7241/
people say this is a normal behavior. And it kinda makes sense, since it is clanking because something is binding/engaging half way through the turn and then gives.

I guess at this point it is a guesstimated speculation until i open it up. Does it seems reasonable to check for pattern on gears?
 
Last edited:
it's gonna be a sloppy mess when you remove that cover........have the gear lube needed for refilling on hand. unless you see any obvious odd wear on the ring gear patterning is not needed.

i had the same thought about is the locker engaged.
but even then the symptom i heard of was the wheels had to turn enough to allow the locker to engage. not the pinion spun around to it. that's an inch of free movement.

that looks almost like what i'd expect to see if it lost a pinion tooth.
 
  • Wow
Reactions: Kenneth G Zinis
eastbloc said:
This is wheels on ground, locker not engaged.
Been busy with other Jeep things, have not had a chance to look inside yet.

Judging by this thread: https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/ring-gear-and-pinion-play.7241/
people say this is a normal behavior. And it kinda makes sense, since it is clanking because something is binding/engaging half way through the turn and then gives.

I guess at this point it is a guesstimated speculation until i open it up. Does it seems reasonable to check for pattern on gears?
Click to expand...

It looks like the sloppy engagement I have on my front Rubicon spider gears.
 
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