Hi all,

This is my first post on Zukiworld, but I'm sure it won't be my last, lol!

I've got a gremlin in my 1992 ChevZuki TracKick (lifted, 31" tires, rear detroit locker) that I just can't find. Last week, after trying to figure it out for weeks on my own, I caved in and brought it to three different garages in town and NONE of them could diagnose my problem, so here it goes, my last life-line...

Here's the scenario:

If I'm driving into a turn, engine engaging the wheels in 2WD with the front hubs unlocked, and I push the clutch pedal in while in mid-turn the Tracker starts to jump/bind and generally not appreciate it until you stop, straighten the wheels again and let the clutch out, re-engaging the engine to the wheels. It only happens when I push the clutch IN during a turn. If I'm coasting through a corner with the clutch in, then let the clutch out to accelerate out of the turn everything is fine.

It almost feels like a damaged transfer case drive chain in 4x4, jumping and binding as it turns, but I'm in 2WD! I can't figure it out for the life of me! Has anyone ever seen anything like this before? I haven't and I've been lifting 4x4's for years. I didn't do this lift, I bought it already lifted. It's got brand new ball joints and wheel bearings in the front.

Does anyone have any idea what this could be? If you need more info about the lift or anything just let me know and I'll see what I can find out from the previous owner.

Thanks all.
Cheers,

Feragoh

WOW, I'll take  poke at it but I'm most likely way off.

I have no idea but I wonder if the rear locker is somehow locked and the binding is coming from what amounts to a solid axle trying to make a turn.

Seems strange that it happens when off power (clutch in) but maybe thats because the rear inside wheel on a turn might tend to have better traction when off power.

I'm assuming all 3 shops have checked thoroughly for any loose/broken suspension components.
Have you/they checked the rear diff action.
Have the engine, trans/transfer case mounts been checked?

I doubt it's the locker in the rear diff. It's got a ratchet in it to allow the wheels to turn at different rates when cornering. It MIGHT be a drivetrain mount, but I can't understand why the transfer case or front diff would screw up in 2WD... they should be disengaged completely at that point. I don't have a garage anymore (moved to an apartment w/the gf) so there's only so much I can check in a parking lot with few hand tools.

The suspension should all be fine, there's only about 20,000kms on it.
I'm going to bring it to another garage next week if I can find one that specializes in 4x4s in town. I'm just hoping to be able to give them a starting point to find the problem.

Thanks for the thought.
Keep 'em coming!
Cheers,

Feragoh

Your locker SHOULD allow it to ratchet if it's working properly. Sounds like it's NOT. That would be the first place I'd look. It's not like the lockers are foolproof on install or they never fail. I'd definitely check it out.

True, it SHOULD work properly. But why would a locker stop working only when you push the clutch in mid-turn? If you really think it's the locker PLEASE explain further. This is my first vehicle with a diff locker and I didn't install it, it came with the 4x4, so I don't know too much about it.

I can see why it would be the problem, but I'd like to hear the explanation from someone who knows  a ittle more about them than I do.

Cheers,

Feragoh

It's you locker.... Detroit EZ lockers / Lock Rite Lockers will do this if you let off the gas or push in the clutch while turning. Your locker 'locks' when you turn under acceleration (inside wheel moving slower than the outside wheel). When you push in the clutch it instantly unbinds the drive line causing a wratching effect on the drive line.. in turn causing the EZ locker to lock and unlock until the wratching quits. The best solution is.... dont clutch the truck while turning. After driving with the locker, it will become second nature to clutch before making a tight turn and turn at a constant throttle or gradually accelerating.

This should only happen while making tight (fairly tight) turns.

Zig

That's a perfect explanation. Thank you! I've already become acustomed to driving as you said, clutch before or after turning, not during. It never affects my daily driving at all, I was just worried that it was a bigger problem that I had found a way around and wanted to fix it before it left me stranded somewhere. But, if it's a known issue with ratchet lockers then I'm totally fine with it. I can and have been driving with it just fine. Like I said, I was just worried it was something more serious.

One more thing:

I know it's normal for a diff locker to add like 45 degrees of rotational play to your driveshaft, but is it normal for a locker to make the diff produce a speed-based gear whine? Or would that likely go away with a simple gear oil change? Obviously it could be a more serious problem, but I figure I'll start with easy solutions and see if that fixs anything.


Thanks again.
Cheers,

Feragoh

No, the locker should not make a gear whine. If the gear whine is coming from the rear diff, it is probably due to the installer not meshing the gears correctly when they put in the locker. If it has very many  miles on it since install there is not much you can do about it. Definately change your oil in the diff and check for excess small metal shavings on the plug.

Zig

Again thanks ZukiPilot, I'll do that ASAP.

One last question then, if it's caused by the gears improperly meshing is it something that will eventually break itself into a new groove and stop whining or am I stuck with a whining diff forever?

Also, is it safe to keep driving if the whine doesn't go away? Would removing the locker stop the sound? Gearing isn't my specialty, I've never had to pull apart a differential, and the one time we took apart a transmission we ended up with an extra ball bearing when we put it back together and threw out the tranny, just couldn't trust it after that...

Thanks again man.
Cheers,

Feragoh

What he said about the locker.

The whining noise could also be bearings in the rear end. It prob wouldn't hurt to remove the third and check the pinion and side bearings before assuming its gear whine! They in turn could cause more headaches down the road!

Thanks for all the help guys. I'll have a garage check out my rear bearings when they change the oil.

My mission was to get all this stuff straightened out by Christmas, looks like I'll be done ahead of schedule and ready to take on the next stages of the build!

Cheers,

Feragoh