If any out there have a auto front locker could tell me how much play in your frt driveshaft you have, it would be greatly appreciated. My JK has been down for 2 months with no one able to figure out what the hell the noise I'm getting is coming from.The frt ds has about an inch or rotational play in it. The gear guys say this is within tolerence for the Lockright auto locker. Does the Aussie you guys have give this much play when your in 2wd and sitting in park? I'm thinking this play is causing some kind of stress on the Tcase output bearing Everything else has been gone through, ds, gears , locker, Tcase was supposidely re-built(new bearings,chain and seals) by the dealer. I'm at a lossIt's been with the gear guys for 2 weeks now and their guy is supposed to break down the Tcase tommorow. I didn't have this noise before I got the gears and locker.

 

Have you called Richmond yet?

 

You need to better describe the noise. Auto lockers, especially the Aussie makes a lot of noise when turning tight corners.

There is play in the drive train, and the amount you describe does not sound bad, but the play will not come from the gears, and really won't come from an auto locker. An auto locker has nothing to do with the gears, and the gears are what would cause play that comes from the differential.

I don't think that the play is the issue. If play in the driveline came from the gears, you would slip teeth and know it for sure.

Play in the transfer case is normal, to a point.

Describe the noise and how it is acting before he tears down the transfer case. Are you sure something is wrong? The "ratcheting" noise should only be in tight turns and not all the time.

Guys who don't know I have an Aussie in the front think I broke something if a turn tight and they hear it. When I tell them I have an auto locker, they all realize the noise is normal.

 

Sorry to hear that. I am new to JK but more familiar with noises. Can you tell a bit more? When do you hear it? Any time engine running? In idle, driving 2wd, driving 4wd, shifting gears, turning, acceleration, deceleration? Is the sound continuous(booooooo) or periodic (screech, screech)? Can you describe the sound?

 

Best way I can desribe it is it sounds like a dry bearing noise. Or when a bearing is fixing to go out. Starts at about 30mph and increases the faster you go. Richmond says the locker is within the tolerence range and the gear guys have already torn into the axles twice. The sound is almost like a rrrraarr, rrraarr, rrrarrrr. I know the locker makes noise in tight turns. This noise I'm getting is when I go straight. Complete dissassembly of the Tcase is next when the guy can get to it.

 

From your "rrrraarr, rrraarr, rrrarrrr" description, that sounds like you are describing something that's turning AXLE speed, not driveshaft speed. Sounds like you're describing a low frequency niose, no? If it was the driveshaft, it would be much higher in frequency than "rrrraarr, rrraarr, rrrarrrr" it would be more like "ring, ring, ring", and sound like a much higher speed frequency, because it WOULD be. I think from what you've described, they should be looking at something that turns with the axles, but what the hell do I know?

 

Like you said before Redneck, wish you were closer. Also it does not make the noise in 4wd and when checking it the guy pulled back on the 4wd shifter from 2wd to 4wd, but not completely to 4wd the noise stopped.

 

Richmond hasnt approved that model for the metric 30. They say it close but it's a no go. Same goes for the "no slip" model.

Who did you talk to there?

Just a guess but have you checked the cage in the C.V joint for contamination/wear?

The only thing you havent listed as checked is your front driveshaft is why I ask about its condition. An osscilating(sp?) c.v type shaft thats crapped out can have the symptoms you describe.

 

The shop called Richmond and he said that they told him they've had no probs outta that locker for the jk d30. No probs with the cv joint. The ds I had in was a JEreel, no probs until gears and locker went in, sent it back thinking it was it, got brand new one , same exact noise, took it out, put stocker in , same exact noise. No ds, no noise.

 

I'm still banking on it being something in the front axle that is turning axle speed. I bet it doesn't "go away" when in 2WD. The connection between the transfer case and axle is gone then and the noise is no longer being transferred. Does that make sense??