Looks like my factory locker is dead

[JBE]

I went on a trip last weekend and engaged my locker (Nissan factory vacuum locker) on a flat stretch of dirt track. I usually engage the locker at the beginning of a track and leave it engaged until the end, except when I drive on flat rock (you get the idea).
The control light came on after a couple of seconds and at the first turn (loose dirt), I heard a lot “clack” noise a couple of times. After that, the noise was gone and the locker would not engage any more.
Before this, the locker worked flawlessly. I never engaged the locker above 6 km/h. I had the diff center out a year ago and all parts appeared to be in good order (no damage or wear).
After the incident, I drove home on the highway for 150 km without any drama.
Today, I drained the oil off the rear diff and there was one metal piece on the magnet and a lot of metal sludge.
The 8mm long metal fragment seems to be machined on three sides and slightly rounded on the top, which makes me think, it’s off the guide ring on the dog gear.
I refilled oil and the diff turns over fine. So, I assume that ring, pinion and all bearings are fine.
I’m reluctant to pull the center as this is a pain in the bum job when you have t do it in the driveway.
What are peoples thoughts:
- keep on driving and don’t us the locker
- try to source another factory locker center and swap
- don’t bother with the factory locker and just put a lsd center in
- try to find a whole diff with an ARB locker.
Cheers
Joachim

[TomSeth]

My factor locker died at a comp in a big way, It was always slow to disengage. So i swapped the front and rear diff housings to GU, changed the ratios to 4.6's and put ARB lockers front and rear. Haven't looked back the ARB is heaps better goes engages and disengaged straight away. But i went a bit over board, If i was you I'd just swap the rear diff and housing for a std GQ and put a air locker in it.

Tom

[JBE]

Does anyone know if you can fit a standard LSD center into a factory locker rear diff housing??

I decided to pull the pumpkin out tomorrow for inspection. Anything else would be guesswork.

Cheers
J

[hiy6o]

Yep it does , I pulled mine removed the actuator and fit a welsch plug in the hole where it was , now run an air locker using the same housing.

[JBE]

HIY60, where did you find the welsh plug??

So far, I found one diff centre with a factory locker for $400 (wrong ratio) and one out of a GU with 120k for $900. Both will cost me about $100 to get them to Sydney.
I'm still trying to cover all options like getting a spare dog gear and its counterpart from Nissan.
I think, internals of the locker are all the same between GQ and GU. I'll call Nissan on Monday with the part numbers to see what they want.

The diagram of the locker indicates that they also are LSD internally. Can anyone confirm that?

[chappo67@bigpond]

i have a parts at home im not useing for one if you need it 3.9 my ph is 0412033858

[JBE]

Well, I pulled the diff center today and I'm amazed that I made it home all the way.
Looks like one arm broke off the fork which tried to engage the sliding sleeve on only one side.
The sleeve seems to be some sort of cast. Ive never seen steel break like that.

Here are a couple of pictures:

http://s1009.photobucket.com/albums/af2 ... ocker1.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://s1009.photobucket.com/albums/af2 ... ocker2.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://s1009.photobucket.com/albums/af2 ... ocker3.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

For now, I'm driving around with an open diff. I'm certainly not going for another factory locker as it is just too hard to get parts.

[chappo67@bigpond]

i see how bad it let go i have a complete diff if you need it for spares have seen one do that before

[DoubleBlackOffRoad]

I can get you Lockrights cheap for Patrols, email me on sales@doubleblackoffroad.com if your keen

[JBE]

i see how bad it let go i have a complete diff if you need it for spares have seen one do that before

Thanks for the offer Chappo67, but I lost faith in the factory locker due to its design. I think, I was lucky to still be able to drive home.
Luckily, the ring & pinion are ok.

Does anyone know if an ARB locker fits into the factory locker center, i.e. are the carriers the same??
I don't want to buy another LSD center just for that.

[patrol_maverick]

They should be the same, only the face of housing is different.

[albundy]

Mine had a similar issue. I had the gears remade by a racer gear maker, fitted aftermarket solenoids and it works everytime now. In and out as fast as an airlocker. Having the gears remade made such a big difference in it's operation. The fork is cast and is very difficult to wled but I managed to get it done. It has been back in for four years now no issues at all.
Al

[JBE]

The factory locker is ok for occasional use. Manufacturing the fork and sliding gear from cast is just being cheap for the sake of it. If they intended to make it a quality product (like the rest of the car), they would have used forged steel.
The main reason why I won't put it back in again is the fact that the sliding gear and the fork had a catastrophic failure which had the potential to make the car undrivable. I am aware that air lockers have their fair share of issues with leaking, but I haven't heard of them exploding altogether.

Cheers
Joachim

[albundy]

but I haven't heard of them exploding altogether.

IO have seen two let go inside the diff, what a mess. I was just trying to give you another option based on my experience.

[RUSSMUSS]

i had my gear ring exploded on my one too, not a good thing go arb