clunking locker?

[Roofer]

I hear a clunk from the rear end when the tires slip on snow or gravel. I've never owned a truck with a locker before, so is this normal? Or is it something else? Any ideas?  

I should probably do something about it, if it is a problem. Winter is almost here.

[carguru]

That is suppose to be normal.  The clunk comes from the locker trying to unlock because the wheels are spinning at the unlock threshold speed of 18 -22 mph.  I got mine to do that the other day for the first time.  If the wheels spin faster or slower, it does not clunk.

[RyanbabZ71]

mine sometimes sounds like it is exploding.  I like to see the peoples faces in the car behind me  

[SoMnDMAX]

Joe, I've heard it in my '01, and my '99 made a similar noise. The folk's '97 Tahoe makes a similar sound, and all are equipped with the G80 locker. My '01 locker seems to make a bit more noise than the others, but I know it's a much more robust unit, which could very well result in more noise.

 

From my experience, the noise is normal.

 

Bring on the winter!! Wahoo!!!  

 

Matt

[Roofer]

Thanks for the replies. It kind of scared me the first time it did that. Thanks for the re-assurance.

[RyanbabZ71]

It kind of scared me the first time it did that

 

It scares the ^$^%# out of me everytime it happens.  So far it has been fine and it always works.  

 

Also i do notice though after time the noise has been going down.  I dont know if this makes sense but this is what i have noticed

[BDBWTE]

I like to call it the 3-2-1 locker myself..

 

You see your one tire turns for about 3 seconds before the locker, locks up...so when I'm spinning I go in 3-2-1 take off and you hear that punk lock up...

[need4speed]

The noise all of you hear can be cured by changing the fluid in the rearend. I have had this noise in ever truck I have owned in the last 10 years. I usual starts around 3000 miles. Usually after getting of the freeway after a long drive and turning a corner.

Change the fluid, dealer has an additive and it won't make that noise anymore.

[RyanbabZ71]

The noise all of you hear can be cured by changing the fluid in the rearend.

 

I did that at 18K miles.  No help

 

Also that additive the dealer has is only for pre 99 trucks.  The 99+ trucks dont need it becuase they use synthetic fluid in the rear

[durangokid]

I had a pretty severe clunk when taking off from a stop.  The dealer replaced the split rear drive shaft with a solid drive shaft.  The clunk was gone for a month or so and is now slowly returning....but not too bad yet.  I'm taking a wait and see right now.