Rear end locks up? WHY?

[86MCSS]

Ok so my talon TSI AWD rear end is locking up at weird times that seems like for no reason. I was coming to a stop and the passenger rear side tire locks up? I though maybe at first I blew the tire so I stopped jumped out the car and checked it and it was fine. I started the car again and took off and it was still doing it then suddenly went away? It was driving normal for maybe 10 miles and then it did it again all of a sudden I pulled over checked my tires and under the car again and nothing. I started the car and took off and it was doing it again and then stopped again. I got home and had my dad go for a ride and it did it after like 2 miles of driving. The passenger side rear tire locked up? Why only that side and no other? What is causing this? I think it might be the brakes acting up but wouldnt they all do it if this is the case? I tried a search and came up empty handed can anyone offer any help?

I am taking the day off work tomarrow to fix it because I do not want to be on the freeway doing 70 when this happens Thanks guys I hope I can get some responses before the morning.

 

[86MCSS]

Ok I checked my transfer case and it was a little low on fluid so I replaced it with a good transfer case and replaced and filled the fluid on that just to be safe. I also checked out the rear axles and everything seemed fine. I drove around for a couple hours and it did it again. What would cause this? I need some help here.

Thanks...

 

[byebyev8]

I was just gonna post this my car is doing almost the exact same thing I was driving then all of a sudden it would make this wierd noise then the rear tires seemed to just lock up not really lock up but like slow the car down so I put it in reverse it was fine put it back in drive got to the exact same spot that I was the first time it did the same thing so I gave it a little gas and it like made a clunck n rode fine for about 10mins.

I noticed taht it would only do it at really low speeds

I'm thinkin that the Xcase is taking a dump

 

[86MCSS]

Well I tried a completely different transfer case and I thought it was fixed after driving about an hour but it suddenly did it again. I am going to replace the rear end tomarrow to see if that fix's it but im worried it might still happen.
I did a search and found a couple other threads like this but most of them had no answer of how the problem was fixed other than it happened to be the transfer case. If you find a solution please post your findings, as I will as soon as I fix mine.

 

[jasonlee]

it sounds to me that you could have a broken center diff. or something else inside the trans.

because the rear end is an open differential, if the center diff locks up, it will stop the t-case in turn stopping the drive shaft... making 1 wheel lock and the other could either free wheel or lock up depending on if you have the limited slip diff rear or not

thats my understanding of it anyways... J

 

[86MCSS]

Thanks for the reply jason, I have an extra 3 bolt rear laying around im going to throw in tomarrow to see if it fixes it. I hope thats what it is if it is ill just have my 4 bolt fixed and swap it back in later. I sure hope its not the transmission cause that would blow, but luckily I have another one of those as well

 

[4pistons]

WHOA!! Check the simple stuff first. If your rearend or center diff or transfer case was locking up it probably wouldn't just "suddenly go away."

It sounds to me like you have a sticking brake caliper on that wheel. If the piston cannot return freely then every time you hit the brakes it clamps the disc a little harder until it locks up. After taking your car for a ride when things are acting normally, immediately check the temperature of the disc and caliper but be carefull so you don't get burned. It can get hot enough to give you blisters. Touch the wheel first to see if it's hot, then work your way to the disc. Compare that one with the other side. If it is significantly hotter then it's dragging and needs to be changed. It's much easier to change than the rear end.

Rick - '91 GSX

 

[86MCSS]

I didnt think of checking the breaks but my father did. It was the first thing he checked. He said it was all normal.

Today me and my father took the rear end out and he tore it apart and went through it. He said the fluid in it was not limited slip fluid. So he completely took it a part and cleaned and inspected it all and reassembled it. We use limited slip additive from chrysler along with limited slip fluid after he put it all back together. He told the same thing happend to his jeep cherokee 4x4[99], he re-did the rear end and use plain old limited slip and the cluthes were grabbing eachother at the wrong times. He was told to use the chrylser limited slip additive and the locking up in his rear diff. went away. So thats what I used today as well. After 4 hours of driving and some hard pulls nothing has happened. I hope the problem has gone away. If not I guess its time for a new transmission.

Thanks for the reply RICK.

WHOA!! Check the simple stuff first. If your rearend or center diff or transfer case was locking up it probably wouldn't just "suddenly go away."

It sounds to me like you have a sticking brake caliper on that wheel. If the piston cannot return freely then every time you hit the brakes it clamps the disc a little harder until it locks up. After taking your car for a ride when things are acting normally, immediately check the temperature of the disc and caliper but be carefull so you don't get burned. It can get hot enough to give you blisters. Touch the wheel first to see if it's hot, then work your way to the disc. Compare that one with the other side. If it is significantly hotter then it's dragging and needs to be changed. It's much easier to change than the rear end.

Rick - '91 GSX

 

[4pistons]

DSM's do not have clutches in the Limited Slip Differential. They use a Viscous Coupling which is a sealed unit filled with silicone oil and plates that rotate separate from the hub. "Limited Slip Fluid" has no effect on it.

If your transmission or transfer case or center diff were "seizing up", and you have a rear LSD, then both wheels would be locking up. If you are having reoccuring trouble with just one side it is pointing towards brakes.

Rick - '91 GSX

 

[hocky2k1]

i have a ? as for i had posted earlier... i have a chace to get a 91 tsi. it was driving fine the kid said and his driver side brake locked up/ wont move he said he will sell it for like 1000 bucks or cheaper would it just be the caliper assembly? rotor looks like it was scorn... do u think i should get it?

thanks for the replies