[lgp29]

I just put a used centre in the rear of my swb wt today that has had an auto locker installed. The centre is being replaced by it's previous owner with bundera diffs.
I checked the backlash and it was within spec of the manual.
What sort of characteristics are normal for these style of lockers? I am hearing the clicking noise a lot more than I expected and it is louder than I expected, at very slight bends on a 90kph inner city bypass it was making the clicking noise (unlocking I assume) and unsettling the car with the slightest of bends. Should this be happening? It seems to have increased the drone from my tyres, is this normal?
Also what are the symptoms to indicate that the pins and spring require replacement?
Thanks

[Marko_SJ]

Sounds normal.

You will get a clicking as the locker "ratchets" around corners. If you want differential action, coast around corners.

If you want a spool, apply power around corners.

If you want a loud bang, turn tight with a bit of power

Edit: regarding your issue at 90km/h, if the thing unlocks around a corner it will unsettle the car. Either coast or drive through the corner.

[lgp29]

Marko_SJ wrote:

Sounds normal.

You will get a clicking as the locker "ratchets" around corners. If you want differential action, coast around corners.

If you want a spool, apply power around corners.

If you want a loud bang, turn tight with a bit of power

Edit: regarding your issue at 90km/h, if the thing unlocks around a corner it will unsettle the car. Either coast or drive through the corner.

Thanks. I had searched on the forum and found some answers but as this was a used locker I just wanted to confirm that it was normal, when I thought it should be clicking it sounded more like banging.

[Marko_SJ]

It should click as you turn corners, so long as you are coasting or have very light throttle.

If you accelerate on the normal spot you will get a bang unless it unlocks easily.

[Red89]

I have had trouble with 2 used auto lockers not holding their lock and constantly letting go when under load off road. I wont use used auto lockers again for this reason, but have had no problems with brand new ones.

[tanshi]

does COMPLETE SHIT count as a characteristic?

[lgp29]

tanshi wrote:

does COMPLETE SHIT count as a characteristic?

YES

Funny, how you interpret what you read.
I had interpreted the research I had done as them being a bit to get used to on road and great off road, with a lot of indecipherable arguing.
I witnessed one off road and it appeared to be great.
Now reading the same posts after experiencing one I am reading completely different information.
I drive my car to and from work each day and on the 15klm home after fitting it I thought the whole diff was going to fall out.
I did only have 80/140 left to put in it last night and will change that to 80/90 today and see if that helps any.

Otherwise I might put a spool in my original centre and put it back in

[greenzook89]

Spools are predictable. And cheaper. And better.

[SierraDan]

What you described in the OP sounds like its too loose.

Too loose and too tight make for a bad time with an auto locker.

Ive have nothing but great experiences with Lockright lockers. The Spartan locker came out a few times for adjustment.

[lgp29]

SierraDan wrote:

What you described in the OP sounds like its too loose.

Too loose and too tight make for a bad time with an auto locker.

Ive have nothing but great experiences with Lockright lockers. The Spartan locker came out a few times for adjustment.

Thanks SierraDan. What requires adjustment?

I didn't fit the locker and my understanding is it has pre determined spacers to hold the outer collars at the correct gap.
Is this the area that needs to be adjusted? By reducing the length of the spacer to tighten or adding shims to loosen. I guess?
Is there a spec you have found to be optimum?
I set backlash of the ring gear to .13mm as the manual spec is .15-.10
Thanks

[shep]

I would have auto lockers over a spool any time, if a spool was the only option then I would have nothing. Yes I have had both.

The only time I have had issues with a auto locker was when a small bit of plastic contaminated the locking surfaces.

Auto lockers also allow a wheel to turn faster then the crown wheel, that is the unlocking. Coasting has nothing to do with
how they work. Clicking is the sound of the outside wheel turning faster then the crown wheel.

[shep]

Set back lash as per suzuki FSM and shim the side gears to spec of the locker manufacture.
The shims can wear causing a Locker to be loose.

The first step would be to work out which locker it is. There are at least 3 different auto lockers that fit wt rear diffs

[lgp29]

Previous owner says it is lock right.

Gave it a good go off road and it is def an improvement.
On road it is awful. I never hear the expected ratcheting sound just random loud single clicks followed by vehicle direction change.
I will remove it in the next week or two and see if it is indeed a set up/ adjustment issue

[shep]

It will need shimming, pins replaced or has debris preventing it from locking.
Either way it will need to be pulled out and inspected.

There are 2 different lockrites for sierra diffs so have to pull it out to see which one you have

[Marko_SJ]

SierraDan wrote:

What you described in the OP sounds like its too loose.

Too loose and too tight make for a bad time with an auto locker.

Ive have nothing but great experiences with Lockright lockers. The Spartan locker came out a few times for adjustment.

If it is popping out under power I would agree.

I only did about 10,000km with the locker in. It wasn't the best it could be but it wasn't unlivable either. Mine was a Spartan, should have went a lockrite I think.

As for coasting not making a difference, torque applied = locked, no torque (coasting) will allow it to ratchet.

[SierraDan]

My Lockrights were near silent.

[Qthefun]

SierraDan wrote:

My Lockrights were near silent.

Front and rear Dan?

[SierraDan]

Yeah mate.

[dank]

I never had a problem with my rear lockrite on 34" swampers. Sounds like a setup issue.

[lgp29]

Pulled the diff out today.
Everything spec'd up as it should.
the thrust washers mic'd up at 1.05mm and the gap between the spacers and the pin was at the top end of the specs for the locker.
Shimmed it so that each thrust was 1.2mm
This has made a great improvement. Still not how I expect it to perform but a lot closer.
I will pull it out again when it annoys me enough and add another .02 of shims.

[MrRocky]

If you have uneven tyre wear, for example 60% on one side and 85% on the other i have found this to contribute to the lock/unlock characteristics onroad

[jdk81]

Dissimilar tyre pressures can cause issues too.

[lgp29]

Tyres are as close to identical as if they were new. Tyre pressures are checked frequently.

[Kor3y101]

greenzook89 wrote:

Cap lockers are better.

Fixed it for you.

[lgp29]

OK. I have pulled the diff again and shimmed the locker so as the pinion pin needed to be tapped in.
It was a huge improvement, no more random unlocking at speed.
However the ratcheting (or more correctly banging) noise in slow speed turns is unbearable.

Going to do away with this bloody thing.

Does anyone know a local supplier of spools?

[greenzook89]

Kor3y101 wrote:

greenzook89 wrote:

Cap lockers are better.

Fixed it for you.

How did i miss this?

I know the exchange rate sucks atm, but grab a yukon off Low Range Offroad. I had mine in 4 days from being sent. Otherwise some do pop up for sale occasionally second hand.

[GraphicX]

had a spartan in the rear of my jimny for 6 days, great off road, total nightmare as a daily driven car. maccas drive thru was full of lols as i clicked & bounced around it. was also destroying my tyres.

saved & bought an air locker after that.

[Dan`]

lgp29 wrote:

Going to do away with this bloody thing.

Does anyone know a local supplier of spools?

if you sell it give me a yell sounds like its exactly what i want.

guess your probably sick of it by now anyway but i found that in the nissans the mechanical lsd'd (which i assume are very similar to the lockers) the type of oil made a massive difference in the bangs (in several different brands of centers, nismo, cusco, i forget the other brand ive worked on). i forget which brand of oil it was now but i know it when i see the bottle, will try and remember to go have a look.

[Gwagensteve]

The Nissan mechanical LSD is nothing like an auto locker.

Steve.

[Dan`]

Gwagensteve wrote:

The Nissan mechanical LSD is nothing like an auto locker.

Steve.

how so?