Hey guys... I hope you can help me. I have a 1968 Amc Javelin with a 1995 Ford Explorer 8.8 rear. It was an open diff with 4:10 gears. I installed a Detroit E-Z Locker and it seemed to unlock real easy even pushing the car around the shop. Oh well no big deal right? I have been through this whole car. The only thing I havent changed was the distributor hold down. Get what I mean?? Last week I was taking the car for exhaust work and a front end alignment. This car has not been on the road for 20 years...Woo Hoo I was pumped!! It acted a little funny, locking in/out in/out. thought a had a tranny issue slipping out of gear, nope. Got the car back home, pop/bang, in/out. My buddy has an E-Z also...says that is the way his is and it is o.k. untill HE drove the car. It seem like any time you accelerate one side of the locker will unlock, or BOTH sides will unlock. It will just sit there and grind until BANG, it locks back in. Has anybody else had this problem? Thanks in advance for your help. Kevin  

i would put a call into the manufacturer...



i know that it would be impossible...   but ... you do have the 31 spline axles in the housing right... not the 28 spline axles..  

Yes...Correct...31 spline axels... I called Eaton/Detroit today and they said I may have forgot to put the side gear trust washers back in. He said these would close the gap in the middle of the locker, and allow the teeth to grip each other. Do any of you guys have a pic of these? There was a real thin, almost paper thin, washer/bearing/race thingy I put back in, on both left and right sides, but I dont think this was what he was talking about. These were definately too thin to close any gap. Thanks again for the help. Kevin  

try this for an image...

http://econtent.autozone.com:24991/znetrgs/repair_guide_content/en_us/images//0900c152/80/18/f0/e9//large/0900c1528018f0e9.gif

you will have to copy and paste that link into a new window...

if those side thrust washers are really thin...   paper.. thin... they and the case might be worn out do to the previous owner running different sized tires for tens of thousands of miles...

there used to be selective thrust washers/shims for the side gears...    poor mans posi's were just shimming it tight and driving the gears in on a cut down extra shaft with a brass faced hammer or brass punch... till one could drive in the full length cross shaft..

warning.. this can distort and crack come cases.. and overload the carrier bearings as the case is wider...  it changes the pre load on the side bearings.  


but if the case is spread... or worn... there is a measurement for the inside of the case... but i don't have access to it..  

Got the trust washers from Ford today and guess what, I already had them in. Called Detroit again, this time they told me to replace the washers, and use a completely round cross pin. He also told me to step up to something else as this unit wont hold up to what I have planned for it. We'll see...  

if you plan on possibly breaking stuff in the rear end... get to a radio shack and get some neodynium magnets..    stick them in the housing where they will stick tight... and pull the metal particles out of the oil... and keep them out of the bearings...  much better than just a magnetic fill plug can...


i have even used magnets pulled from heater fan motors...  

Hey guys... Gonna try a mini spool this weekend. Hope that works. Here are some pics of the car if you are interested. Let me know what you think so far. Thx...Kevin

http://www.myspace.com/Overtimeracing