Indestructible 47
SILVER Star
First off I'll say that I'd like to think that I have a reasonable understanding of mechanical workings but I think I am more in need of experience this time.
Vehicle is a DD. 150k original miles. Factory locked, but has an ARB air locker in the rear. Not sure why, the elocker was taken out prior to my ownership. Everything was fine for a good while, before some symptoms started occurring, which I will list in order.
1. Air locker would not engage. Compressor would continually run and a strong diff oil sent became present around the vehicle. After a few times trying the locker engaged as normal. Progressively became harder to engage.
2. Steep as heck track. Serious angles, no winch point. Rear locker would not engage. A lot of right foot and the front locker engaged with the compressor trying to engage the rear we were able to get ourselves out. Locker still won't go in.
3. Dropped the diff oil. Huge amounts of metal in the rear diff. No chunks however. Refilled the diff with oil. Tested the locker, worked perfectly.
4. 5000 miles later and I need the locker. Fails me again. Just will not engage. Same as before, compressor runs continually and strong diff oil smell.
5. 1000 miles after that and today, I have diff oil everywhere. Huge amounts, like caliper to caliper spray happening. Looks to be coming from the diff breather. Is not the pinion seal, that is about the only dry spot on the entire axle.
So that brings me here. It's my DD, I'm short on spare cash but can't run around spraying oil everywhere. Gunna drop the oil in the diff, and see but I'm struggling to understand what is causing the oil to suddenly gush from the breather. The diff is not over full. Only other way out of the breather is by pressure. Water in the diff causing steam? Air locker compressor stays off when not using the locker. On the air locker, what about it? I'm certain it is responsible for the metal in the diff, where will the metal be coming from if it is the locker?
I guess I'm just looking for any help and guidance that's going to save me the most coin. Yes I can go back to the factory e locker but that's a $$$$ option right now. I know I need to pull the diff down and take the 3rd member out but I really really don't want to have to go back in there.
Any ideas and opinions are welcome, I'll be a happy man if someone calls me a idiot and points to something super simple.
Vehicle is a DD. 150k original miles. Factory locked, but has an ARB air locker in the rear. Not sure why, the elocker was taken out prior to my ownership. Everything was fine for a good while, before some symptoms started occurring, which I will list in order.
1. Air locker would not engage. Compressor would continually run and a strong diff oil sent became present around the vehicle. After a few times trying the locker engaged as normal. Progressively became harder to engage.
2. Steep as heck track. Serious angles, no winch point. Rear locker would not engage. A lot of right foot and the front locker engaged with the compressor trying to engage the rear we were able to get ourselves out. Locker still won't go in.
3. Dropped the diff oil. Huge amounts of metal in the rear diff. No chunks however. Refilled the diff with oil. Tested the locker, worked perfectly.
4. 5000 miles later and I need the locker. Fails me again. Just will not engage. Same as before, compressor runs continually and strong diff oil smell.
5. 1000 miles after that and today, I have diff oil everywhere. Huge amounts, like caliper to caliper spray happening. Looks to be coming from the diff breather. Is not the pinion seal, that is about the only dry spot on the entire axle.
So that brings me here. It's my DD, I'm short on spare cash but can't run around spraying oil everywhere. Gunna drop the oil in the diff, and see but I'm struggling to understand what is causing the oil to suddenly gush from the breather. The diff is not over full. Only other way out of the breather is by pressure. Water in the diff causing steam? Air locker compressor stays off when not using the locker. On the air locker, what about it? I'm certain it is responsible for the metal in the diff, where will the metal be coming from if it is the locker?
I guess I'm just looking for any help and guidance that's going to save me the most coin. Yes I can go back to the factory e locker but that's a $$$$ option right now. I know I need to pull the diff down and take the 3rd member out but I really really don't want to have to go back in there.
Any ideas and opinions are welcome, I'll be a happy man if someone calls me a idiot and points to something super simple.