trac-loc

terry mason · #1 (**permalink**) 04-06-2011, 08:15 AM

I just replaced the clutch pack in my trac-loc diff and the clutches are very noisy when the car turns, soaked the clutches in friction modifier and used synthetic 90-145 traction lock lube. any ideas?

DAVID GAGNARD · #2 (**permalink**) 04-06-2011, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by terry mason

I just replaced the clutch pack in my trac-loc diff and the clutches are very noisy when the car turns, soaked the clutches in friction modifier and used synthetic 90-145 traction lock lube. any ideas?

I see your problem right off.........your exhaust is TOO QUITE!!!!

I wouldn't worry too much about it, put a few miles on it and things should loosen up and wear in.........

David

jwd · #3 (**permalink**) 04-06-2011, 01:50 PM

Take it to a large parking lot and do several figure 8's. If you still have noise, add another bottle of friction modifier.

terry mason · #4 (**permalink**) 04-06-2011, 03:52 PM

Put about 50 miles on it and it seem to make more noise, is this normal?
How long before they calm down?

redmt · #5 (**permalink**) 04-06-2011, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by terry mason

Put about 50 miles on it and it seem to make more noise, is this normal?
How long before they calm down?

Noisy or chatter? Chatter is grab and release, and that should wear in. Noisy could be spline slop. Did whoever built it know what they were doing?

terry mason · #6 (**permalink**) 04-06-2011, 05:06 PM

chatter, it was rebuilt by a good shop.

redmt · #7 (**permalink**) 04-06-2011, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by terry mason

chatter, it was rebuilt by a good shop.

Try slow tight circles in both forward and reverse until your dizzy. Sounds like they are a little tight. You could drop out the center carrier and re check specs. I'd do donuts first though.

terry mason · #8 (**permalink**) 04-07-2011, 05:00 AM

thanks, is it typical for the clutches to chatter when new? How about the idea of adding more friction modifier?

DAVID GAGNARD · #9 (**permalink**) 04-07-2011, 07:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by terry mason

thanks, is it typical for the clutches to chatter when new? How about the idea of adding more friction modifier?

Yes,when new they will chatter and grab, I add a little bottle of friction modifier to mine, I think the bottle is about 4 ounces.....I wouldn't put more than 6 to 8 ounces.Also I wouldn't use synthetic rear end oil either, any good 100/140 wt. oil is all you need.... The synthetic oil could be compounding your problem...

The parking lot figure 8s should help them wear-in. You can also put the rear end on jackstands just enough to have your tires off the ground and start up the car and let it run in 4th gear for a while, it will not have a load on it and sometimes that will help things "seat-in", then let it cool down completely and do the figure 8s.......

David

redmt · #10 (**permalink**) 04-07-2011, 07:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DAVID GAGNARD

Yes,when new they will chatter and grab, I add a little bottle of friction modifier to mine, I think the bottle is about 4 ounces.....I wouldn't put more than 6 to 8 ounces.Also I wouldn't use synthetic rear end oil either, any good 100/140 wt. oil is all you need.... The synthetic oil could be compounding your problem...

The parking lot figure 8s should help them wear-in. You can also put the rear end on jackstands just enough to have your tires off the ground and start up the car and let it run in 4th gear for a while, it will not have a load on it and sometimes that will help things "seat-in", then let it cool down completely and do the figure 8s.......

David

I disagree. 2 problems with jacking the car up and running in gear. 1st is that it will play hell with the axle shaft u-joints if you are running an IRS. 2nd, unless you are causing the clutch plates to slip via axle speed differential , then they are not going to wear in.

If you are running a synthetic oil, dump it, flush it , and refill with conventional grease.

terry mason · #11 (**permalink**) 04-07-2011, 08:28 AM

There seems to be a lot of controversy about whether or not to run synthetic lube, Richman gear says to run it, whats the deal?

redmt · #12 (**permalink**) 04-07-2011, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by terry mason

There seems to be a lot of controversy about whether or not to run synthetic lube, Richman gear says to run it, whats the deal?

Old school , new school. My oil distributor only got me to switch from straight 30wt when it became special order a few years ago. My thought is that things don't wear in with synthetics. They are what they are and will pretty much stay that way with synthetics.

I was curious about one thing. If you jack up one tire and rotate it backwards, will it turn smoothly after you get it to break loose or is it still chattery?

DAVID GAGNARD · #13 (**permalink**) 04-07-2011, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by terry mason

There seems to be a lot of controversy about whether or not to run synthetic lube, Richman gear says to run it, whats the deal?

I guess I'm a little "old school", but regular oil has been working just fine for the last 100+ years, if something works for me, I stay with it.....

Trac Loc with clutches were designed probably before synthetic oil was ever invented and because of it's properties, I don't think it is the best thing for trac loc rears with old school clutches.......Just my opinion.......

Another thing to consider is when your clutch pak was replaced, the guy who did it may have shimmed them a little on "tight" side and it will take some time for break-in and wear-in........

David

terry mason · #14 (**permalink**) 04-07-2011, 12:05 PM

Thanks for all the help. The rear end was set up on the tight side of the specs and with a light car and synthetic lube that may have been a mistake.

terry mason · #15 (**permalink**) 04-07-2011, 03:22 PM

even after it breaks lose it still chatters

redmt · #16 (**permalink**) 04-07-2011, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by terry mason

even after it breaks lose it still chatters

Try the donut thing and if it doesn't clear up then I'd tear it down and see what's up.

Frank Messina · #17 (**permalink**) 04-07-2011, 06:03 PM

Hopefully they didn't install the Ranger S spring in place of the stocker. If so it will chatter forever.
Frank

DAVID GAGNARD · #18 (**permalink**) 04-07-2011, 07:03 PM

Does is chatter when going in a straight line or only when turning????
Pushed my fastback out of the shop today to drain the radiator to change the thermostat, the car has not been driven in about a month, when pushing the car in a straight line,it's fine, when I cut the wheel, it chattered a bit!!!!! this trac loc has about 115,000 miles on it all total!!!!!!!!!!! Once I get on the road and drive a few miles,all is well..........

David

terry mason · #19 (**permalink**) 04-08-2011, 11:52 AM

only chatters when turning.

redmt · #20 (**permalink**) 04-08-2011, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by terry mason

only chatters when turning.

Pull it apart before something breaks. That chatter is the clutches grabbing and releasing under load. Not a good thing. Think about what it is supposed to do. When you spin one tire under hard acceleration, the clutches are supposed to grab the off side and lock it up. If they were to grab and release under heavy load then something is going to break.