Clicking Question

[Douglas S]

Yesterday I was doing a little bit of offroading with my relatively newly acquired 81, locked front and rear. When I had both lockers engaged I cornered on a grassy surface while on the throttle and got a fair bit of clicking from the front end.

Thinking it was my CV's I took it back on to the pavement and unlocked everything, including the center diff. I went full right and left steering lock and cornered slowly with the windows down so I could hear any noises there might be...there were none.

So my question is, is the clicking normal when fully locked up and cornering while on the throttle? I'm assuming it isn't..so a front axle service may be in my future.


Thanks for any help,
Doug​

EDIT: I should mention that both front and rear lockers were engaged and functioning

 

[Romer]

you should never have the front locker engaged when turning, thats how you break birfs

I only lock the front when I am tight spaces to get over the spot the front tire is in the air and spinning

If you get clicking when the front is not engaged, clicking isnt an issue. You should make sure the axle has been serviced within the last 60K miles or do it to baseline

 

[Douglas S]

The PO had the front axle serviced before I bought it (I have the receipt).

This is the first vehicle I've owned with lockers, so I'm still unfamiliar with proper procedures.

Thanks for the reply,
Doug

 

[utopoo]

Hmm, the lockers will make a noticeable click when first engaging, maybe the front was unable to fully engage? Do you know if the front was actually locked? I've never had any issues with my front locker and turning, other than you can't turn worth sh*t!

 

[Romer]

The PO had the front axle serviced before I bought it (I have the receipt).

This is the first vehicle I've owned with lockers, so I'm still unfamiliar with proper procedures.

Thanks for the reply,
Doug

Excellent

I try and do trails unlocked. When I get to spot I know I may have one of the rear tires in the air, I engage the rear locker. I only engage the front when I need it and immediately unlock when I get over the rough spot

The only time I forgot that lesson was last month on Kane Creek where I got hung up and locked, had the wheels turned and back up a couple of feet. Bamm - first breakage on the trail.

I can't think of a time that somoen broke an 80 axle when they were not locked. Thats why I try and minimize the use of the lockers. Rear you can lock and not worry much about on rough trail.

The reason is the rear tires always travel the same distance

When your turned, the outer wheel always goes more distance than than the inner based on the arc of the turn.

In the general section of the FAQ for 80/LX450 series, there is a link to diffs for dummies (no slam intended) that might help explain