Gears & Axles - Issue with my 9" and locker

I bought my Moser 9" about 5 or 6 months ago from EPP (Great People). I have about 1500 miles on it now. I have horrible gear whine and I believe the locker is going out. When I first installed it everything seemed fine. It made a little noise which I expected. But lately it has gotten worst, there is a lot of slack in the rear. I can turn the pinion 45* before it catches. When I would turn slow and sharp the rear would feel as if it was binding and very loud clunking. Now recently it started shuttering. When I back out of the driveway and get going forward it does it. Anytime I turn slow and sharp really. Also if I get on it and spin the tires it will shutter. Another thing that is strange is the other night left the club it was a little wet. I turned out on to the road and the ass of the car felt real loose. I was driving very easy and not doing the on purpose. It could have been the tires just spinning but I don't think I gave it enough gas for that, also it didn't shutter like it has been.

I don't know if there is any kind of warranty with this locker. I assumed not, I'm thinking of taking it to the local rear-end shop. I would go with a posi but I have 35 spline axles. I order a 9" with such a heavy setup because I didn't want to have to ever worry about it again.

I bought my Moser 9" about 5 or 6 months ago from EPP (Great People). I have about 1500 miles on it now. I have horrible gear whine and I believe the locker is going out. When I first installed it everything seemed fine. It made a little noise which I expected. But lately it has gotten worst, there is a lot of slack in the rear. I can turn the pinion 45* before it catches. When I would turn slow and sharp the rear would feel as if it was binding and very loud clunking. Now recently it started shuttering. When I back out of the driveway and get going forward it does it. Anytime I turn slow and sharp really. Also if I get on it and spin the tires it will shutter. Another thing that is strange is the other night left the club it was a little wet. I turned out on to the road and the ass of the car felt real loose. I was driving very easy and not doing the on purpose. It could have been the tires just spinning but I don't think I gave it enough gas for that, also it didn't shutter like it has been.

I don't know if there is any kind of warranty with this locker. I assumed not, I'm thinking of taking it to the local rear-end shop. I would go with a posi but I have 35 spline axles. I order a 9" with such a heavy setup because I didn't want to have to ever worry about it again.


I would check your tire height, NOT PRESSURE, and make sure that they measure equal distance from the ground to the top of the rim. It is perfectly normal to have that much play on the pinion if you have a Detroit Locker. Typical characteristic is to bang and clunk and make all kinds of noise. With we pavement it can definately kick the rearend out with little effort. If you got gear noise that is a whole other issue. I would say drain the fluid, if you have not changed it already and see what the oil looks like. Hope this helps. Any questions let me know.

Jeff

A friend went to the shop I talked about and talked to the owner. He said Mosers are bad about whining because of a brand of gear they use. He also said the same thing about the pinion and noise of the locker that you just did. I'm going to drain the fluid, hopefully a bunch of metal doesn't come out.

lockers makes those noise.if you have some kind of gear whine or howling then you have issues.listen to jawsgear.

I bought my Moser 9" about 5 or 6 months ago from EPP (Great People). I have about 1500 miles on it now. I have horrible gear whine and I believe the locker is going out. When I first installed it everything seemed fine. It made a little noise which I expected. But lately it has gotten worst, there is a lot of slack in the rear. I can turn the pinion 45* before it catches. When I would turn slow and sharp the rear would feel as if it was binding and very loud clunking. Now recently it started shuttering. When I back out of the driveway and get going forward it does it. Anytime I turn slow and sharp really. Also if I get on it and spin the tires it will shutter. Another thing that is strange is the other night left the club it was a little wet. I turned out on to the road and the ass of the car felt real loose. I was driving very easy and not doing the on purpose. It could have been the tires just spinning but I don't think I gave it enough gas for that, also it didn't shutter like it has been.

I don't know if there is any kind of warranty with this locker. I assumed not, I'm thinking of taking it to the local rear-end shop. I would go with a posi but I have 35 spline axles. I order a 9" with such a heavy setup because I didn't want to have to ever worry about it again.


Drain the oil and let me know what you find out. If you have any questions give us a call at 260 244-4808. Thanks. Bob

If your car is a six speed the clunking, banging etc on turns unloaded is normal for a locker to do, you will also hear clicking.

The 45* of driveshaft rotation before you fell it catch is also normal.

All the above applies to all TRUE locker rearends such as a Detroit Locker.

An automatic car masks these symptoms somewhat, but they are still there.


The whine is a different issue. Most do. It is a gear pattern issue...mine is dead perfect(by the pattern) but still whines.

Also the axle tubes not being in line will also cause a whine, when I had mine narrowed it was TERRIBLE. I took it apart and slid the axles in and bolted them with no center section in and they were pointing in different directions!

I had it fixed and it made it much better.

David

Equalize the tire pressures and check the circumference not the tire height. You want them to be no more than 3/8" difference. Tire tape can be found in most local hotrod shops.

Thanks for the help, I'm about to drain the fluid and see whats in it. I used Lucas brand last time. What would you all suggest?