Powerstrax No-Slip in the rear of a C8.25. While going around a residential corner I heard a pop from the locker unlocking. This happens ever once in a long while, but this time it completely disengaged like going into neutral and the engine reved out. After I released the gas it was fine again. I thought this was impossible. Has anybody ever heard of an auto-locker doing this?

 

That would be a transfer case/transmission problem. Only ways to "cut power" out of a diff is to spin splines either in the spiders or the pinion. Or you stripped the ring/pinion gears. All would have much much worse effects than what you listed.

 

I won't completely remove xfer case or trans from the list of options but the sound came from the rear with very little power being applied.

 

Noggin pokin is in order here.

 

That sounds like a CORRECTLY functioning locker to me.. It is designed to UNLOCK when going around corners, on the street. The AUTO part refers to the differential function of the Auto-locker.

 

I've run the powertrax in the 8.25 for 15 years, trail and street, no issue like you described. Occasional clicking on low speed corners or some tire chirp but nothing else. Agree with Cruiser, think it through, the way a diff works it wouldn't go out and come back. It would go out and become scrap metal and allow you plenty of immediate roadside time to inspect the damage. Sounds like maybe the t case slipped to neutral. Have you rolled it through 4h-4L etc just to see if they feel normal?

Jeep looks great by the way. Hey another thought too, did you do the SYE with the lift?

 

Thanks. Yep it has an SYE. I was planning to do a complete suspension inspection/rebuild this year so might as well do the drive-train too. The rig works flawlessly offroad but there's so many pops and rattles I feel like I'm running on borrowed time. Especially since this issue.

 

If you plan on redoing it you might plan on a better locker a full case like the Detroit Locker, much stronger and quieter.

 

A cracked carrier could separate enough to allow both sides of the drive cogs to slide out and not engage.

 

^ Yea, definitely pull the cover and have a close look.
I had an issue with an Aussie locker that would disengage while driving straight. Their tech dept suspected it was due to the stock 1996 cross pin being 'soft' and to replace it.