Issues after ARB install...

[brittan]

I installed ARB lockers a few months back and haven’t wheeled with them yet. After breaking in the gears (500 miles) I drained the gear oil to see how it looked. The front has some material in it as expected but is otherwise clear. The rear, however, is cloudy (dark gray) and has remained cloudy weeks after I drained it. Mike Thiel, they guy I take my vehicles to when they need work, thinks that the backlash is not set correctly due to the cloudy oil. I am thinking of pulling the 3rd and taking it to Wheelers to get it redone as a precaution. Has anyone else ran into this issue? I’d prefer to have wheelers look at it vs. replacing the ring and pinion when it breaks on the trail. I'll post paint pics of the install when I get home from work.

 

[-Spike-]

I'd pull the wheel bearings and have a looksee. The inner seals might be toast and allowing the oil to mix with the grease. Have you ever serviced the bearings?

Do you have a magnetic drain plug? If so, were there shavings on it? If not, GO GET ONE!

-Spike

 

[D'Animal]

What color was the oil you drained out when you began too installed the locker?

 

[brittan]

Thanks guys for the impute...

Spike...I replaced the seals on the rear when I did the ARB job...but thanks for the suggestion. I will have a look see.
I do have a magnetic plugs and there was metallic flakes on it but no more so than was on the front.

Animal...the diff oil looked good before the ARB install. The cruiser has 50K miles on it...I think maintenance was done on it at 40K.

 

[-Spike-]

I'm no expert, but it seems to me that if you were getting wear from a bad gear install the magnet would be overloaded. Other than grease, I can't think of anything that would wear, cloud the oil, and not be magnetic.

-Spike