Yes. That means it was crap. It should still unlock under power.
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Well I have the Eaton Detroit locker in now, decided in the end to go the maxi axles and flanges too. First test drive up in the hills behind queenie seemed good, no wheel spin on sections that would previously require more momentum but now crawls up easily! And operation on street driving was flawless - don't notice it at all and no clunks. Can't really comment on supermarket carparks; don't have one of those here. But so far seems great and can't wait test further in coming Xmas break!
But of interest to the discussion, my mechanic was saying they used to fit the Detroits in trucks all the time as they handled better on slippery declines underground.
When you do the first time it might be a bit of a shock. When I first fitted my Detroit locker the clunks were loud and were accompanied with a decent shutter from the backend. I'm not sure if the cogs round a bit but the clunks are softer now and so is the shutter. I've had it in for about 2 years.
The difference is the Detroit is far superior than Lockright and much more reliable - basically Lockright are crap (they regularly break) and Detroits are good [thumbsupbig].
On my 11 year experience with a rear detroit, you will only here them unlocking is if you do a tight U turn on bitumen. If you do similar on damp ground/grass it will probably not unlock and rip up the grass - as happens when I manoeuvre on my lawn.
Garry
Interesting... Exactly what u described with the behaviour of your Detroit is the same as what I've experienced with the AutoLocker that I use to have in the rear of my Zook & I had that in there for 7yrs or so until I snapped a rear axle. I rarely heard it unless I had to do a tight turn in a carpark where I also had to apply the accelerator...This is when it became annoying and when I did snap a rear axle and saw how the splines were twisted on both axles eventually replacing it with a Airlocker in the rear, but left the Front Autolocker in which has turned out to be a much better option in the Zook as I find I very rarely ever need the rear airlocker as the front AL gets me through most obstacles...
A good mate of mine has a Detroit in the rear of his 80's when he 1st bought it and normally u didn't really hear it either... unless u just happen to need to remove your front driveshaft for fault finding and u suddenly start hearing it a lot more because u no longer have any drive going to the front diff/wheels...
I assume with most full-time 4wds like the 80's/105's & LR's that this would be the case where a fair portion of the drive goes through the front, thus limiting any noise coming from the rear Detroit ??
All these "AutoUnlockers" all work on the same basic principle - just some like the Detroit work better than others.
In AWD all the noises etc of a Detroit in the back still happen - one of the original complaints in hot rods etc was these diff locks tended to try and drive the vehicle straight ahead on corners because of the lack of differential action until forces may the diff unlock on click and there would be sudden issues with handling.
In low wheel base awds, the front drive tends to overcome the tendency to drive straight ahead as the front pulls the vehicle in the direction you are wanting to go. Also - the makers of the Detroit changed to the "soft locker" version some time back, which is where all the unlocking etc happens "softer" so less banging and crashing which has been my experience. 99.9% of the time you would not know you have a newer detroit in the rear - and with a 101 and its big axles, axle problems are extremely rare.
Garry
Well, did some further testing tonight.. I took the defender for a decent highway drive (wet road). First up, the 99 bends leading out of Queenstown (if you know it you know it.) I was expecting some action up here on the hairpins - but heard nothing and it felt normal to drive. If anything felt better. Then 40ks or so of highway with varying corners; no unexpected or unusual steering effects noticed. I would also add there is absolutely no extra backlash actually feels tighter; I suppose the old axles/flanges could have been a little worn. Back in town I took the kids for a drive looking at Xmas lights, so lots of turns in cul-de-sac etc. No noises in diff, odd tyre scuff in gravel and the turning circle might be worse? But, for the added capability offroad and minimal negative effects on road (so far) I would totally recommend this set up. Be very interesting to do more driving on and off road in coming weeks. I will see if I can't test it further this weekend up Darwin plateau, Montezuma, climes or similar. Otherwise there is a trail behind the highschool that will give it good test!! (That is the last place I snapped a half- shaft.)