detroit locker question

I just put a detroit locker in a ford 8.8 in my 92 cherokee with 7 inches of lift. The part that is bothering me is there is about a 1/4 turn in the driveshaft freely before engaging. I have talked to a bunch of buddies and just from personal experience i have never seen that much slop in a detroit locker. I called detroit and they said this was completely acceptable. It doesn't seem acceptable when every time I shift I can feel the 1/4 turn of slack taken up in the driveshaft and then when I let the clutch out it takes this slack back up before engaging. Any opinions? THanks< Joe

I'm building a 8.8 for my XJ and have been researching it for a while and thats what everyones saying about a detroit in an 8.8, it's normal. I think I'm going to use another type locker in mine.

Mines like that too. Kinda freaky when you put it in park and it rolls a few inches when you let off the brake! I dont feel mine when driving but I dont have a manual either.

hackedxj said:

I'm building a 8.8 for my XJ and have been researching it for a while and thats what everyones saying about a detroit in an 8.8, it's normal. I think I'm going to use another type locker in mine.

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If you really want some play in the axle put in a Lock-right or any of the lunch box style.
A limited slip clutch type orTrue-trac gear style may have less play.
Wayne

Read the no-spin manual, a quarter turn is dead-on correct.

Is it a bad idea to put something like an Aussie Locker in one?

It would be more or less the same thing. You just have to look at how much backlash each one has built-in. Less backlash would mean the shaft spins less before engaging the gears. The Powertrax No-Slip is supposed to have some synchronizing thing to address that, you might want to check into one of those or into the TrueTrac LS.

It's not unusual - My D44 Detroit does the same thing - also will sometimes clang and bang, click and clack, and force a little rear steer. Even made a sound the other day that sounded like a u-joint breaking.

Par for the course. It's reminding you that it works and that you're not spending enough time on the trail.