Locked differential

[subforry]

I was replacing the left hand axle lug nut studs with right hand threads and needed to turn the axle. I put the car in neutral and to my surprise it didn't turn. I had to lift the right tire. So I guess the diff is locked. There seems to be no slop, mechanical noise, and I tried a pry bar to turn only one wheel - no go.

This explains why the car turns like crap. It's a '66 Charger with the stock rear end, 440, auto. Since I am going to spend more time turning rather than doing burnouts, seems like I need to fix this. I like the current gearing - I need to check what it is.

I think I would like to get a Sure-grip, any recommendations on brands or sources? Any warnings about doing the swap? Any suggestions on gear ratios? While I might be bolting on more power, it's just a street car and can't imagine it having over 500hp.

Thanks.

 

[pnora]

Why. Sounds perfectly normal to me. You are wasting time and money and the end result will be what you have now.

 

[dadsbee]

So it's a sure grip and doing exactly what it's supposed to...

 

[khryslerkid]

That's what I was thinking.

See if there's a tag on one of the nuts. Awl nuts!

 

[dan juhasz]

I'm assuming it is not turning like a normal functioning sure grip. I wonder if someone in the past pulled a road kill and welded up the spyder gears?

 

[roadrunnerh]

Is there a spool in it?

 

[dadsbee]

I'm assuming it is not turning like a normal functioning sure grip. I wonder if someone in the past pulled a road kill and welded up the spyder gears?

He had the opposite side tire on the ground, no way he's gonna turn it...

 

[dan juhasz]

He had the opposite side tire on the ground, no way he's gonna turn it...

I was referring to his comment that the car does not go around turn well. All my cars have sure grip, they can make a turn no problem. I don’t think you understand what he’s referencing. He feels it is an open differential that is malfunctioning. Yes of course if it is indeed a sure grip and one wheel is on the ground the other won’t move.

 

[roadrunnerh]

I was wondering about the issue he has with turning as well.

 

[pnora]

I was wondering about the issue he has with turning as well.

Maybe he trying to push it by hand.

 

[snakeoil24]

That is not doing what sure grip will do did someone previously weld the spiders or is their locker in it?

 

[Bighouse]

I'm assuming it is not turning like a normal functioning sure grip. I wonder if someone in the past pulled a road kill and welded up the spyder gears?

The Lincoln Locker.

 

[dadsbee]

Or real wide tires and not enough figure 8's in a parking lot to free the old OE suregrip up. Pretty easy to determine if it's actually "spooled"..

 

[subforry]

So I did wonder if it is locked (spool or Lincoln or blocks) or something else. Limited slip diff I have worked with in the past allow one tire to be turned (although not easily) while the other is on the ground.

I used a 2 foot pry bar on the studs to try and rotate the drum while the other wheel was on the ground, nothing moved. Are sure-grip that tight. Do they lock up from lack of use/age?

I don't have any history or other info until I take it apart. My guess based on other work done on the car, it's been welded.

 

[khryslerkid]

So I did wonder if it is locked (spool or Lincoln or blocks) or something else. Limited slip diff I have worked with in the past allow one tire to be turned (although not easily) while the other is on the ground.

I used a 2 foot pry bar on the studs to try and rotate the drum while the other wheel was on the ground, nothing moved. Are sure-grip that tight. Do they lock up from lack of use/age?

I don't have any history or other info until I take it apart. My guess based on other work done on the car, it's been welded.

Very hard to turn one wheel while the other is on the ground with a Sure Grip. Normally if you can the clutches are shot.

Have both wheels off the ground and turn one. Both will turn the same direction if its a Sure Grip. (Unless someone welded the spider gears or installed a spool.) See how much effort it takes and if you can feel any play.