diff locks
hi can anyone give me some advise, the rear diff on my 1989 g 300 is slow to engage and the front will not engage at all i have only had the car for a short time, thanks
Hi
Moisture in the brake fluid ( that is used in the difffock reservoir) will collect in the difflock rams on the axles and corrode the ram inside ..try bleeding both of them... if the old fluid comes out black or cloudy chances are the rams will require replacing....use DOT 4 + hydraulic fluid
Have you tried bleeding the front
Hi, is that an easy job for a non mechanic type of person?
Hi Spike, are you trying to engage the difflocks while stationary ? Sometimes you have to drive the vehicle a short distance before the lock will fully engage.
Hi i have tryed staionary and also moving, thanks
Hi Spike
If you have not already tried this engage front diff lock and drive slowly forward turning the steering left to right. you will know when it engages even if the warning light does not work as steering will become very heavy.
I would certainly( as advised) check the hoses, change the fluid and bleed the system if the car has not been used for some time.
Only consolation is that the offroading has to be pretty tough to need the front locker engaged.
Hi Panzar
Yes have tried all of the above, but now i think i will have to book her in to local merc garage as i have just noticed the front diff lever actualy opperates the rear diff! with no response from the rear diff lever when pulled, the rear diff warning light come on and goes out when you pull the front diff lever, on a small plus the rear diff opperates now with ease just the wrong lever! or are right hand drive G wagon diffs meant to be the wrong way round? Help! Any thoughts would be greatly received. Many thanks
Hi Spike
the lights only operate if the the difflock ram moves to fully engage the pawl in the axle....if your levers ( front for the front difflock and rear for the rear difflock ) "ignoring the lights" operate the wrong difflock then the hoses at the bottom of the levers need switching...if the front lever operates the front difflock but the rear difflock light comes on remove the instrument cluster cover ( small screw at each side) and swop the bulb positions to correspond with the engaged difflock...if either difflock does not put the light on or engage the pawl in the axle undo the bleed nipple on the difflock ram and bleed until clear fluid flows ( and no air ) then try the appropriate lever .....
Hi fixwin
Many thanks for that can you tell me is the bleed nipple a screw or hex key, thanks again
Hi
Bleed nipple is 8 or 10mm socket fitting...soak well with WD 40 twice at least before attempting to open.have a jar and tube handy as fluid will run out if you turn it too far....I can Email you the schematic if needed ...
Hi
email would be great paul.garley@sky.com, thanks again
Hi
Bleed nipples opened and clear fluid came out, no air but i only let a small amount of fluid to flow about half an egg cup
as was wary of draining the tank,
Hi all
Thanks for your replies, it turns out that the cable to the rear diff had snapped and the bulbs on the dash were the wrong way round, after a trip to a local merc specalist all is well!
Hi, I'm curious as to which 'cable' snapped, as the diff locks are not controlled by cables. Cheers Scott
Hi Scott
I will ask the question as it has to go back in as the rev counter is now playing up! I will let you know as soon as i find out, he said he tried to solder it but it would not take so he replaced it, they are now working fine and the correct lights are working also, thanks Paul
Maybe he just meant the wiring cable then, the actual lock may have been working. Regards
Not too sure but it was quite a simple fix, I will find out and let you know.
Not too sure but it was quite a simple fix, I will find out and let you know.
Interesting topic this one, mines are not engaging either, light comes on for transfer box diff, but not the axle diffs, I’ll try and bleed them this weekend! The down side is I believe from the previous owner they have never been used as it was never taken off road, nightmare as I’ll need them!!
It can happen that the small peg that engages with the dog clutch can snap, Fairly easy job to unbolt the diff-lock mechanism from the axle to check it is operating correctly.
Good news is mines are fixed with abit bleeding! weehaa!!
pressed the button twice!! DOH!
I’ve also had some engaging issues for a while now (463). I have bled the system more than once, cleaned everything, checked all the vacuum pipes, but no cigar. It turned out to be the switch. The auto spark took the switch apart, springs ball bearings and all, cleaned it and managed to get it together again. Problem solved for the price of a few pints.
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Hi
Thanks for that, i had another try today and the rear diff was much better but still no joy with the front, could it be lack of use causing the problem? thanks