WTF is up with my locker???

[Fish Taco]

I've posted this problem before and on the national board and got a little help but I wanted some local advice. You guys are nicer anyway!

I went out wheeling and realized my front end wasn't engaging. I thought it was the locking hub because the previous owner said it had been sticking a bit and he'd replace it soon. So I took it to him and said, okay replacement time.

Once we really got under there and started looking, the hub issue was really minor (the spring popped out) and it was fixed in no time. Unfortunately, I still had no front end. WTF!!!

Everything was fine when it was up in the air but as soon as there was any resistamce on the wheels I had nothing. And yes, the front driveshaft was turning. Is this my TruTrac??? He's supposed to help me take off the thrid member as soon as he has a chance. I wanted to go out to FJ this Friday night though and really would like to fix this crap before then!!! Any suggestions?

[FAUX X 4]

I've posted this problem before and on the national board and got a little help but I wanted some local advice. You guys are nicer anyway!

I went out wheeling and realized my front end wasn't engaging. I thought it was the locking hub because the previous owner said it had been sticking a bit and he'd replace it soon. So I took it to him and said, okay replacement time.

Once we really got under there and started looking, the hub issue was really minor (the spring popped out) and it was fixed in no time. Unfortunately, I still had no front end. WTF!!!

Everything was fine when it was up in the air but as soon as there was any resistamce on the wheels I had nothing. And yes, the front driveshaft was turning. Is this my TruTrac??? He's supposed to help me take off the thrid member as soon as he has a chance. I wanted to go out to FJ this Friday night though and really would like to fix this crap before then!!! Any suggestions?

Sounds like maybe your Detroit went :explode:

Only way to tell for sure is to open it up and inspect everything.

[Crash]

Sounds like maybe your Detroit went :explode:

Only way to tell for sure is to open it up and inspect everything.


I hear that happens a lot when used in the front.

[ToyBoxAuto]

I've posted this problem before and on the national board and got a little help but I wanted some local advice. You guys are nicer anyway!

I went out wheeling and realized my front end wasn't engaging. I thought it was the locking hub because the previous owner said it had been sticking a bit and he'd replace it soon. So I took it to him and said, okay replacement time.

Once we really got under there and started looking, the hub issue was really minor (the spring popped out) and it was fixed in no time. Unfortunately, I still had no front end. WTF!!!

Everything was fine when it was up in the air but as soon as there was any resistamce on the wheels I had nothing. And yes, the front driveshaft was turning. Is this my TruTrac??? He's supposed to help me take off the thrid member as soon as he has a chance. I wanted to go out to FJ this Friday night though and really would like to fix this crap before then!!! Any suggestions?

If the TruTrac went south the front end is not going to move. It will move in the air with no load, but when loaded up the carrier will spin and the TruTrac will just spin too. By doing this the axles won't move. The TruTrac can be fixed if it isn't stripped. Or you can just switch to a different style locker, depending on funds.

[Fish Taco]

Yeah sounds like my TrueTrac aint being so true. Crap. Crap. Crap.

I'll tell you one thing, I didn't do this. This thing was jacked my first moment on the trail. Previous owner blues.

Well, I'll get it looked at tonight by a guy I trust and who knows Toyotas like the back of his hand (Weston, you all might know him) so I'll know for sure tonight. If it is my TrueTrac and I choose to, or are forced to, lose the limited slip, what do you suggest as the next best thing?

I could just weld up my front end right? Since I have locking hubs in the front it wouldn't affect my on road driving. Funds, yes! I don't have the cash right now or I'd go fully selectable all around. But welding in the front will affect what I can do with that axle in the future. I don't know. :banghead:

[AzBearFan]

I don't like the idea of welding the front simply because it will make negotiating tight spaces very tuff. you may not have experienced this with the tru-trac, but steering a truck on the trail when the locker is engaged is tough. at least if you had a lunchbox locker it would disengage some of the time and make it so you wouldn't have to get out and unlock a hub just to manage getting around on the trail.

I still stand behind the aussie locker and recommend it if you don't plan on getting too crazy with the skinny pedal

[Fish Taco]

We tore the axle apart. The locker looks weird. I thought it was a spool at first, not a TruTrac but it would have been engaged and aould have been spinning at least one wheel when I drove the thing up on a wall to check it out. Any ideas on what that thing is?

Anyway, tore out the axle and found a broken axle shaft on the short side. The teeth were completly worn down where the axle shaft joins with the birfield. Got a replacement like nothing from Weston and am looking into Bobby Longs very soon. Hopefully we'll get it out on the trail tonight and I'll know if there is anything wrong with the locker too. Anyway, good stuff. I know my axle intimately now!

Will post pics and details about the performance tonight at some point. Thanks for all the help.