Installing powertrax

Now, the moment of truth: the test. Follow the instructions outlined in the installation booklet to test the function of the locker. If installed correctly, while in gear, both tires will not be able to rotate in the same direction, however, they will spin freely when turned in opposite directions.

If this all checks out, all that's left is to replace the inspection cover on the differential using a new gasket or gasket-maker, and refill with gear oil. Tranny problem question. OG folks chime in! Copyright c OutdoorWire, Inc and MUIRNet Consulting - All Rights Reserved, no part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without express written permission You may link freely to this site, but no further use is allowed without the express written permission of the owner of this material.

All corporate trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Jack the vehicle up, chock the front wheels, and support it using jackstands, then remove the tires. Loosen all the cover bolts, and break the seal carefully near the bottom.

Editor's Note: Your fluid should not be this emulsified color. Once unbolted from the backing plate, the axle can be pulled out to free it from the side gears. After the differential is fully drained, remove the cover plate to reveal the carrier, ring, and pinion. If you plan on re-using or selling your Trac-Lok innards, you may wish to remove them the proper way. Insert the bolt through the side of the carrier opposite the ring gear, and tighten it down to compress the clutches and take the pressure off the side gears.

Use the feeler gauge to knock out the washers behind the side gears. Loosen the bolt slightly and rotate and remove the side gears and spider gears. It is more complicated to do it this way, but there is less chance of damaging anything using this method. This information should be read together with all other printed information supplied by Richmond Gear.

The following information is provided by Richmond Gear. Traction output and resulting handling characteristics of your vehicle will be modified by installation. The vehicle could slip off the jack and fall on you. You could be crushed. Never place any part of your body under a vehicle that is on a jack.

Never start or run the engine while the vehicle is on a jack. If you need to get under a raised vehicle, take it to a service center where it can be raised on a lift. Use extreme care when removing lubrication plugs and when working close to a unit that has been in operation. Check lube level between scheduled lube changes to insure that proper lube level is maintained.

Inspect vent plug to insure it is clean and operating. Inspect the tightness of mounting bolts, misalignment of connecting shafts, lube leakage, excessive heating, or any unusual noise or vibration. Once the calipers have been unbolted, hang them securely so the brake lines are not supporting them.

The axle backing plates can now be unbolted. On a Dana 44 rear, this consists of four studs and the accompanying nuts on the frame side of the axle backing plate. Since the axles are not C-clip retained, once they are unbolted, they will slide right out. Before pulling out the shafts, drain the rear differential thoroughly by removing the inspection plate. Draining it before removing the shafts will minimize the amount of gear oil spilled from the axle tubes.

Even with the differential fully drained, you should still position a drain pan under each axle end before removing the shafts. If you have a numerically-low gear ratio, this is one situation in which you're in luck. You should be able to complete the installation without removing the carrier. However, if you've got great gear ratios for the trail, chances are you won't be so lucky, and the carrier will have to come out. This installation will cover the harder of the two, removing the carrier.

If you can slide the cross-shaft out without interfering with the ring gear, you're one of the lucky ones. If not, read on. First remove the bearing caps, taking careful note of which side they're on and which direction they face. After removing the bearing caps, a long pry bar and a block of wood can be used to leverage out the carrier. Some more difficult applications may require a case spreader. In either case, be sure to keep the bearing caps and races and any shims labeled so they can be replaced exactly as they were found.

Losing track of what goes where will require the gears to be reset, so this is highly important.