Detroit E-Z Locker trouble...Help!!

[overtimeracing]

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

 

[HahnsB2]

EZ lockers are known for early failure, know someone who put one in his D35 in his B2 knowing they have problems only to pull it out and replace it with a lock-right after it bit the dust soon after install, IMHO the only good lunchbox lockers are made by Powertrax and Aussie.
Random quotes from people on pirate who've had problems with them turned up by a quick search.

I ran mine on a TJ with 35's. The violent popping and jerking was barley bearable on a short wheelbase. About a month after I got it all installed the rear end started free wheeling. It eventually was in freewheel mode all the time.

It randomly pulls to the left or right, and loads and unloads at speed, in a perfectly straight line.

i had some problems like that with my e-z locker, then i blew it up and replaced it w/ a loc-right.

My buddy and I put an E-Z Locker in the front of his Cherokee and it did the exact same thing. We replaced the springs and pins in it twice, still didn't help. Took it out and threw it in the trash in favor of an ARB.

I had two EZ's in the front of my rig that I grenaded pretty good.. Went to a lockright & never looked back.

i put an ez-locker in the front of my dads cj7. its been popping for a while and i cant figure out why. it pops driving straight, backing up, and really pops when hill climbing, to the point where the tire or tires arent spinning.

 

[RangerX]

I can't help you on the locker, but tell us about the Javelin, please!
What kind of build did you do, and what made you go with the 8.8? Is it stronger than what it came with?

 

[overtimeracing]

EZ lockers are known for early failure,

Early Failure??

Early Failure?? It barely made it out of the garage. I hate the thought of throwing away $$ like that. Thanks for the fast reply... I just got it tore back apart this afternoon. I got a buddy who is the local Ford guy, Ill have him stick his nose in there before i toss it out. Thx...Kevin

 

[overtimeracing]

I can't help you on the locker, but tell us about the Javelin, please!
What kind of build did you do, and what made you go with the 8.8? Is it stronger than what it came with?

thanks for asking... The Javelin is a 1968. 360 (soon to be a bored and stroked 401 to 420 cu in.) 727 torqflight trans with a 4000 stall converter, manual reverse valve body, and a tranny brake. The rear is a 1995 explorer 8.8 with 4:10 gears, disk brakes, and what is probibly a junk detroit e-z locker. (no wonder they quit making these.) The best AMC rear I could get, I had already and sold it to get the 8.8. It was an Amc 20 rear from a Sc/Rambler. 3:54 detroit locker. The problem with these are the pressed on hubs, with a single drift pin holding them on. You can cut the shaft for a second pin, or replace the axels, but for the money, I went with the 8.8. I figured the Mustang guys have been beating them up for years, why cant I. Besides, how many Javelins do you see w/disk brakes anyways? Thx...Kevin

 

[Cobraguy]

Nice ride. It's good to see any old Rumbler show up these days. I like those cars too.

 

[gijoecam]

The Explorer 8.8 should last a good long while in a Javelin... Hell, they get thrashed in an Explorer and are good for 300K+!! In a Mustang or Javelin, they'll last.

As for the locker issue, I can't be much help there... I say go with a TruTrac myself, but that's just my preference. No need for a full locker on a street car IMHO. A TruTrac will take the abuse, never wear out, and still provide power to both wheels when you need it most!

 

[overtimeracing]

Thanks for the help guys... Ill try and get some pics of the Javelin on here soon. 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

 

[turboexplorer]

I put one of those in my GM 10 bolt under my 79 Trans Am with a built Olds 403 and a wicked TH400. I wanted more at the track and was told it would hold. First pass down the track it held on my trans brake launch with over 530Lb-ft to the wheel then when it went into second it made a really nasty crack and then just spun. Had to trailer the car home and I have pics it disinigrated the EZ locker. No teeth left. I got a refund and went with a 1200LB posi trac. I would try o get your money back and put it towards a real locker you will be much happier. Thats my story with the EZ Lockers.

 

[overtimeracing]

Thanks for the reply... Thats part of the problem, I bought the e-z about 1 1/2 years ago. Installed it in the rear and moved on to the rest of the vehicle. They're only warranteed for 1 year, so I pretty much own it. Besides, with their bad reputation, how could I sell it?? Thx...Kevin

 

[overtimeracing]

Hey Guys... 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...

 

[HahnsB2]

Yeah, you shouldn't be using a notched crosspin.

 

[turboexplorer]

Thats a bummer about the warranty. Let us know what you end up going with?

 

[overtimeracing]

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

 

[HahnsB2]

Hate to throw a wrench in the works all the time, mutli piece mini-spool (in c-clip axles) are known for grenading because of their design the pieces rock back and forth and bend/fatigue it. Of course it would take a while to happen but I personally would weld it, a properly welded diff will be much stronger than a mini-spool.