Rear Diff Locker Actuator Pin Shredded

[ChrisJLUR21]

2021 Rubicon. Last week I got the flashing rear locker light on the dash and ordered the sensor kit thinking the sensor went bad. When I pulled the diff cover i noticed the actuator pin was sheared and the actuator bracket was damaged. For what its worth, none of the sensors fixed the light, so i'm assuming the locker actuator is shot and keeping the light on. The rear locker does not actuate at all.

Has anybody experienced this before? I can't think of what would cause the actuator to rock back and forth so hard that it wears the pin and shears. Any help would be appreciated, but it looks like i'm going to need a new locker at a minimum. I've read that you can't order the rear locker from Dana or Jeep, can anyone confirm? I'm still barely under powertrain warranty, I have about 1 month 3K miles left I just don't know if the dealer will cover this because of the lift and 37's.

Pics for fun...

At least I found the pin when it sheared off...

Thanks,
Chris

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[croppz]

You’re still within the threshold of what Jeep considers acceptable under warranty with that tire size. I would still pursue getting it warrantied.

 

[Terrymo]

3.5 inch lift and 37s. Radiator left the chat while off road. I got towed by another Jeep off the mountain and then by a rollback tow truck to the dealer. Jeep is very dirty from that day and the aftermarket skids are gouged up because I pick bad lines. Up on the rollback the skids and aftermarket driveshafts are clearly visible.

Service manager says, Cool Jeep, were you offroad?
Yep, I reply
Looks like you just put on that lift and bigger tires.
Yep, I reply.
Well you still have a month left on the warranty so let’s get the radiator swapped out.
Ok, I say, finally exhaling.

The Jeep had never been to a dealer. This dealership does not have a great reputation. So you never know. The worst they can do is tell you No right? Then you go from there.

 

[wibornz]

Let's hope the dealer will warranty it. Just know 99% of the parts in the locker are NOT sold separately. For example, you can not buy the factory locker from the Mopar. They make you buy the entire rear axle assembly. Ask me how I know after buying two, yes two complete Dana 44 rear axles.

 

[Lofty]

2021 Rubicon. Last week I got the flashing rear locker light on the dash and ordered the sensor kit thinking the sensor went bad. When I pulled the diff cover i noticed the actuator pin was sheared and the actuator bracket was damaged. For what its worth, none of the sensors fixed the light, so i'm assuming the locker actuator is shot and keeping the light on. The rear locker does not actuate at all.

Has anybody experienced this before? I can't think of what would cause the actuator to rock back and forth so hard that it wears the pin and shears. Any help would be appreciated, but it looks like i'm going to need a new locker at a minimum. I've read that you can't order the rear locker from Dana or Jeep, can anyone confirm? I'd rather not go down the aftermarket locker and axles road. I'm still barely under powertrain warranty, I have about 1 month 3K miles left I just don't know if the dealer will cover this because of the lift and 37's.

Pics for fun...

At least I found the pin when it sheared off...

Thanks,
Chris

.

Odds are you have a spalled flange side diff bearing or pinion (head or tail). This bearing failure caused your pictured failure

 

[ChrisJLUR21]

You’re still within the threshold of what Jeep considers acceptable under warranty with that tire size. I would still pursue getting it warrantied.

After doing some research, I'm starting to believe that the "37's on stock axles" sentiment is bad advice. Maybe its fine for daily driving, but I think at this point it's best if I look into something a little bit beefier for what I do. Unfortunately, I can't justify doing D60's just yet lol

 

[ChrisJLUR21]

3.5 inch lift and 37s. Radiator left the chat while off road. I got towed by another Jeep off the mountain and then by a rollback tow truck to the dealer. Jeep is very dirty from that day and the aftermarket skids are gouged up because I pick bad lines. Up on the rollback the skids and aftermarket driveshafts are clearly visible.

Service manager says, Cool Jeep, were you offroad?
Yep, I reply
Looks like you just put on that lift and bigger tires.
Yep, I reply.
Well you still have a month left on the warranty so let’s get the radiator swapped out.
Ok, I say, finally exhaling.

The Jeep had never been to a dealer. This dealership does not have a great reputation. So you never know. The worst they can do is tell you No right? Then you go from there.

I'm glad the dealer took care of you, I haven't brought my Jeep to the dealer since I bought it (knock on wood) because of the reputation. I edited my first post to reflect that I think going aftermarket with some beefier components would suite my use case better than another stock axle.

 

[ChrisJLUR21]

Let's hope the dealer will warranty it. Just know 99% of the parts in the locker are NOT sold separately. For example, you can not buy the factory locker from the Mopar. They make you buy the entire rear axle assembly. Ask me how I know after buying two, yes two complete Dana 44 rear axles.

I'm glad you responded here actually, I was just reading through your thread on your axle issues. One thing I did notice in your first post, in this picture it looks like you were getting the same rocking on the locker actuator as me, as the pin started to wear away on the bracket. I guess you got fed up with your issues that you tore everything out before yours broke off like mine, just glad to see I'm not the only one with this weird issue. I think the 37's are just too much for the stock internals.

 

[ChrisJLUR21]

.

Odd are you have a spalled flange side diff bearing or pinion (head or tail). This bearing failure caused your pictured failure

I appreciate your insight! I'll be interested to see what the shop says whenever they tear the axles down.

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