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8 3/4 powr-lok too tight? #3052452
06/22/22 04:18 PM
06/22/22 04:18 PM
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NW Illinois
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MoonshineMattK Offline OP
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NW Illinois
Hello,

Last year we installed a powr-lok in a customers 8 3/4. He is complaining it is too tight and doesn't slip enough in tight turns - Gas stations, parking lots, etc. He hears a clunking sound.

Is anyone familiar with this? I have powr-loks in both my chargers and have noticed the inside wheel slide when turning sharp but nothing I thought was a problem. My customers car has a street lynx rear suspension and I'm wondering if the rod ends on the 4 link amplify when the tire drags at slow speed and cause a clunk?

Thanks, Matt

Re: 8 3/4 powr-lok too tight? [Re: MoonshineMattK] #3052455
06/22/22 04:26 PM
06/22/22 04:26 PM
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Posts: 17,838
S.E. Michigan
ZIPPY Offline
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Mine was crazy tight after I rebuilt it. I had to use a little extra additive and go out and drive some figure 8s to make it stop banging around turns.


Rich H.

Esse Quam Videri




Re: 8 3/4 powr-lok too tight? [Re: ZIPPY] #3052458
06/22/22 04:31 PM
06/22/22 04:31 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
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Marion, South Carolina [><]
an8sec70cuda Offline
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Originally Posted by ZIPPY
Mine was crazy tight after I rebuilt it. I had to use a little extra additive and go out and drive some figure 8s to make it stop banging around turns.

I've only rebuilt one powr-lok for a Dana 60, but had the same result. Had to use the Ford friction additive Dr. Diff recommended and drive it some. It's fine now.


CHIP
'70 hemicuda, 575" Hemi, 727, Dana 60
'69 road runner, 440-6, 18 spline 4 speed, Dana 60
'71 Demon, 340, low gear 904, 8.75
'73 Chrysler New Yorker, 440, 727, 8.75
'90 Chevy 454SS Silverado, 476" BBC, TH400, 14 bolt
'06 GMC 2500HD LBZ Duramax
Re: 8 3/4 powr-lok too tight? [Re: an8sec70cuda] #3052459
06/22/22 04:33 PM
06/22/22 04:33 PM
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Posts: 287
NW Illinois
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MoonshineMattK Offline OP
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Thanks. We used the ford lube Dr Diff recommended.

I'll have him run some figure 8s too. Good idea.

Re: 8 3/4 powr-lok too tight? [Re: MoonshineMattK] #3052557
06/22/22 09:51 PM
06/22/22 09:51 PM
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Posts: 10,551
Rittman Ohio
fourgearsavoy Offline
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Some of the rebuild kits out there use all thick plates and that would be too tight and the plates don't slip like they should. I usually re-use a few of the old thin plates when I rebuild one and it works perfectly.
Gus beer


64 Plymouth Savoy
493 Indy EZ's by Nick at Compu-Flow
5-Speed Richmond faceplate Liberty box
Dana 60
Re: 8 3/4 powr-lok too tight? [Re: fourgearsavoy] #3052924
06/24/22 11:06 AM
06/24/22 11:06 AM
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Posts: 287
NW Illinois
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MoonshineMattK Offline OP
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Originally Posted by fourgearsavoy
Some of the rebuild kits out there use all thick plates and that would be too tight and the plates don't slip like they should. I usually re-use a few of the old thin plates when I rebuild one and it works perfectly.
Gus beer


This unit was from Dr Diff
Does he use thicker plates you describe?

Re: 8 3/4 powr-lok too tight? [Re: MoonshineMattK] #3052968
06/24/22 12:52 PM
06/24/22 12:52 PM
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Rio Linda, CA
John_Kunkel Offline
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Dr Diff sells two clutch kits, one for factory and another for aftermarket. If you're not sure which one you had.................


The INTERNET, the MISinformation superhighway
Re: 8 3/4 powr-lok too tight? [Re: John_Kunkel] #3053664
06/26/22 10:13 PM
06/26/22 10:13 PM
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NW Illinois
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MoonshineMattK Offline OP
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Originally Posted by John_Kunkel
Dr Diff sells two clutch kits, one for factory and another for aftermarket. If you're not sure which one you had.................


did not buy a rebuild kit. Bought a whole new power-lok

Re: 8 3/4 powr-lok too tight? [Re: John_Kunkel] #3053669
06/26/22 10:19 PM
06/26/22 10:19 PM
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NW Illinois
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MoonshineMattK Offline OP
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Been a couple years but I believe this is the unit

https://www.doctordiff.com/8-3-4-clutch-type-sure-grip-powr-lok.html

My question is:

He hears a clunk in short turns. I don't think its the power-lok. I think its the street lynx suspension. Because the suspension is 4link with rod ends there is not the usual thick rubber insulation. The only thing I can think is that the inside tire drags when he turns sharp. If that tire bounces a bit and unloads/loads the suspension it might make the bang/clunk he's hearing.

Both my cars with power-lok 8 3/4 axles drag the tire on tight turns. But they never bang or clunk.

Re: 8 3/4 powr-lok too tight? [Re: MoonshineMattK] #3053670
06/26/22 10:20 PM
06/26/22 10:20 PM
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NW Illinois
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MoonshineMattK Offline OP
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I just don't see how the power-lok could make a clunk sound. There's nothing in it to clunk.

Re: 8 3/4 powr-lok too tight? [Re: MoonshineMattK] #3053677
06/26/22 10:48 PM
06/26/22 10:48 PM
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Kirkland, Washington
Pacnorthcuda Offline
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Originally Posted by MoonshineMattK
I just don't see how the power-lok could make a clunk sound. There's nothing in it to clunk.


They clunk when the clutch packs bind up until the force applied overcomes the bind and then they release, somewhat violently. Rather than a smooth ‘limited slip’.

Re: 8 3/4 powr-lok too tight? [Re: MoonshineMattK] #3053739
06/27/22 08:57 AM
06/27/22 08:57 AM
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Posts: 10,551
Rittman Ohio
fourgearsavoy Offline
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Originally Posted by MoonshineMattK
Originally Posted by John_Kunkel
Dr Diff sells two clutch kits, one for factory and another for aftermarket. If you're not sure which one you had.................


did not buy a rebuild kit. Bought a whole new power-lok


Not the first time I've heard of this condition with a "new" Power-Lock unit. They are simply set up too tight from the factory IMHO twocents

Gus beer


64 Plymouth Savoy
493 Indy EZ's by Nick at Compu-Flow
5-Speed Richmond faceplate Liberty box
Dana 60
Re: 8 3/4 powr-lok too tight? [Re: fourgearsavoy] #3053794
06/27/22 12:46 PM
06/27/22 12:46 PM
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Bend,OR USA
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Cab_Burge Offline
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Originally Posted by fourgearsavoy
Originally Posted by MoonshineMattK
Originally Posted by John_Kunkel
Dr Diff sells two clutch kits, one for factory and another for aftermarket. If you're not sure which one you had.................


did not buy a rebuild kit. Bought a whole new power-lok


Not the first time I've heard of this condition with a "new" Power-Lock unit. They are simply set up too tight from the factory IMHO twocents

Gus beer
iagree
I sold one to a customer of mine that is a lawyer, he had it removed and replaced with gear type posi due to it almost making his 1967 Plymouth 440 powered GTX convertible go into the ditch across the street turning at a corner making a 90-degree right hand turn at or slower than 5 MPH:: puke: shruggy
I'm wondering if doing several hard burn outs might loosen them up some to make them like the stock clutch type posi are? work

Last edited by Cab_Burge; 06/27/22 12:48 PM.

Mr.Cab Racing and winning with Mopars since 1964. (Old F--t, Huh)
Re: 8 3/4 powr-lok too tight? [Re: Cab_Burge] #3055558
07/03/22 03:53 PM
07/03/22 03:53 PM
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Posts: 1,798
McGregor,Iowa 52157
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500ciDuster Offline
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I used to run dana 44 clutches so they would act that way, they were a tad thicker







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