Thread: Rear axle crunch on full lock with CDL engaged

It's not a good idea to do full lock turns on a hard surface with center lock engaged. The front and rear wheels have to travel different distances and the difference must be taken up by one wheel slipping. If it's a hard surface then one wheel will spin or you will twist an axle to death or something else will need to break to relieve the force that is built up. That noise you heard may have been just a wheel unloading on the hard surface, or an axle twisting, or your rear diff shagging itself. (A wheel unloading can sound quite nasty...)

Less play on the center diff when locked is normal. If there is a huge difference, then it may be the thrust washers in your center diff are worn, and a transfer case rebuild will fix that. Although it will go for a very long time like that. 145,000 is not a lot of k's but that depends on the flogging they have been getting.

Originally Posted by BilboBoggles

It's not a good idea to do full lock turns on a hard surface with center lock engaged. The front and rear wheels have to travel different distances and the difference must be taken up by one wheel slipping. If it's a hard surface then one wheel will spin or you will twist an axle to death or something else will need to break to relieve the force that is built up. That noise you heard may have been just a wheel unloading on the hard surface, or an axle twisting, or your rear diff shagging itself. (A wheel unloading can sound quite nasty...)

Less play on the center diff when locked is normal. If there is a huge difference, then it may be the thrust washers in your center diff are worn, and a transfer case rebuild will fix that. Although it will go for a very long time like that. 145,000 is not a lot of k's but that depends on the flogging they have been getting.

thanks.

I know it isn't a good idea, I just don't remember it doing that ever before

It has done it on a gravel surface also, I have just never heard a Defender do that.

Hmmm, ok, back to the drawing board to search for my massive driveline clunk

Its' 145,000 miles, so about 225,000km?

There is a big difference in play between the front and rear prop when CDL isn't locked. Im thinking something has gone in the rear. Even with newly build diffs

G