How strong is a Full Case Detroit Locker?

[redjeep]

Evidently, not as strong as I thought.

I was up checking the ice to go fishing next week and there was about a foot of snow on the trail to get in.  I ended up digging myself out once before making it back to the pond.  While turning around to head out I was in reverse spinning all 4 tires when I heard a loud bang and noticed the front driver tire wasn't spinning.  I turned the hub out and winched around to get back out on the tracks I made coming in.  With the front hubs out, in 2WD  there wasn't any noise or vibration driving down the road.  At first I thought it was the hub that blew but upon inspection everything in there looked good.  I popped the diff cover and everything looked OK and rotated normally by hand looking like the locker was working.  The oil looked pretty clean with no big chunks.

While cleaning the housing out I found a screw in the last puddle of oil in the little detent under the ring gear.  Then I found 5 more hiding in there.  They weren't as chewed up as I would have thought.  The ring and pinion look perfect.  What would cause all 6 screws to come loose I have no idea.

I pulled the axles and popped the carrier out this morning, this is what I found when I pulled the Detroit apart.  I haven't cleaned everything out but it looks like only one gear took damage.

 

[SteveB]

That’s crazy I’ve heard of a couple people having the bolts come out on their carriers. That looks similar to what happens to posi when you increase power on truck and tire size.

 

[SteveB]

Posi

 

[RedJeepster1]

I had the screws back out of my Detroit. They looked about like yours. I believe they backed out because I had a driveshaft vibe.


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[Paul]

Other than pulling everything out and checking is their way of knowing your bolts are backing out?

 

[RedJeepster1]

Borescope through the fill hole


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[Red Rocker]

Aren't the bolts locktited from the manufacturer or do they need to be before installation, or were they and they backed out anyway

 

[JeepinMaxx]

Wow - I had a a Detroit in the D44 rear on my YJ and on in the front on my current TJ

 

[RedJeepster1]

They need to have locktite on them. Mine did not, which is something I corrected when I had the front end apart.

Should also note that I got my Detroit second hand and when I got it, it was completely disassembled in a shoe box and missing the bolts all together. It was my mistake not using locktite in first assembly.

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[redjeep]

As far as I know,  it hasn't been touched since Big Bad Whitey put it in back in the day.  From what I'm reading on the web, this seems to be somewhat common.

 

[massxj]

The only failure I have seen on Detroit is the screws backing out or shock load from a snapped shaft

 

[YJScrounge]

This makes me uncomfortable 

 

[massxj]

This makes me uncomfortable 

like the cat claws your balls during sex or the milk curdling in your coffee.  Just how uncomfortable?

 

[sedge1080]

As far as I know,  it hasn't been touched since Big Bad Whitey put it in back in the day.  From what I'm reading on the web, this seems to be somewhat common.

I had that carrier out 5-6 Years ago when an axle shafts broke at the splines in the carrier.  I found those bolts loose and one was in the bottom of the Diff.  Everything was cleaned/used Loctite when put back together.

This really makes me want to dig into both my axles just to double check

 

[massxj]

See, snapped axle shaft

 

[redjeep]

I cleaned everything up today and need 3 pieces to repair it.  I'm having a hard time finding them.  Summit sells the parts, but for a different model locker.  I emailed Eaton today asking where to purchase them.

 

[HankD]

Hope they don't cost more than a whole locker.

 

[JeepinMaxx]

As far as I know,  it hasn't been touched since Big Bad Whitey put it in back in the day.  From what I'm reading on the web, this seems to be somewhat common.

Wow - I was there when Les / BigBadWhitey666 did that D44 build on your Black Jeep (formerly a Sahara Green Jeep) when the Detroit Locker was installed - he had quite a few Bud's in him when he did the install - right after he did a burn out in his General Lee in his barn 

 

[redjeep]

Looking at options if I can't get parts.  If I went the lunch box route, I would need to purchase a carrier also.

Anyone have experience with these?  Looks like a Truetrac knockoff.

 

[joe98tj]

I run a spartan lunch box. Yeah you need an open carrier for the lunchbox. Idk if I would run a spartan full case but I also dont know anyone who has.