I just went a on bit of a wheeling trip today and just before we were about to leave I decided to make a run up a hill, I get about halfway up and start hearing a snapping and grinding sound, when I get back down we did a test, putting it in 2wd in dirt and gassing it, one wheel would spin and we got the horrible grinding sound again. I figured I had broken my Aussie Locker.

I get home and take it apart, and after taking the locker out I find that both of the axle gears blunted on the edges of the teeth and are all rounded off, causing the teeth to skip and not lock. Considering i've only had this locker since August and maybe put 5,000 miles on it and maybe a few intermediate wheeling trips and it has already failed im not very impressed if this is typical of the Aussie's.

Im sure they will give me another through warranty since they seem to have a pretty lenient warranty policy, but im just wondering if people have had this happen to them before and this is what to expect after putting another one in or did I just get a fluke. Since if they are really that easy to break ill just sell the replacement and buy something stronger.

 

I have heard nothing but good reports about Aussies's products. Could be a fluke.

 

Well I mean im pretty hard on axles I think, I dont mind letting the wheels hop, but from what I understood the Aussie were supposed to be the strongest point in the whole setup. I think ill install the replacement and see how that holds up.

 

Just wondering, did you use new correct thickness thrust washers behind the axle gears?

 

Yeah, I cleared tolerance by like a hair. The gap was toleranced between like 0.145-0.170 and I had like 0.147, but the thrust washers were stock thickness, not really any wear and they weren't oversized.