Driveline Slop

[bourban driver]

Here's one for everyone: I just had my rear diff set up by Andy at Carolina Rock Shop two weeks ago. I noticed a lot of "Slop" when I would shift from Drive to Reverse, Park to anything, etc. I just had my frontend alligned out at Richards Auto Alignment in Salem. The mechanic there told me that there was way too much slop in my driveline and that my gears were not set up correctly. I personally watched Andy set them up and he told me the backlash was set up five-thousands off too keep them from being too deep...

OK -- I'm supposed to go to Chilhowie tomorrow a.m. to check out a water tank site. Do I have anything to worry about??? Is my rear diff going to grenade out on me? The mechanic there has a lot of experience setting up drag cars, not 4x4s. Is there a difference? Should I have it checked?

[YJ]

Could be the backlassh, but it also could be a u joint. Just a thought.

[bourban driver]

It's not -- unfortunately. New u-joints. You can turn the driveshaft by hand more than I am comfortable with.

[Trailduster79]

well, I think you stated the problem in your first post.

I just had my rear diff set up by Andy at Carolina Rock Shop

I have underlined your problem.........

[bourban driver]

Just got off the phone with Andy -- he says that all of that "slop" is due to the Detroit Locker engaging when I go from Park to Drive. Anyone out there got a Detroit and an opinion on how much slop is normal?

[yotacowboy]

my lock-wrong has a ton of slop too, and bigger tires make 10º of axleshaft rotation seem like a lot. drain the diff, pop the cover, and check to see if the slop is in the backlash or the locker? easy enough.

[bourban driver]

Thanks for the feedback -- the slop is in the locker. No Worries!