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Locker/4x4 slave cylinders

Posted: Sun Jan 14, 2018 11:38 am
by SAM. C.
Hi All

I have removed my 6 wheel drive and locker cylinders (4 of them), There were no leaks so I have cleaned them up a treat. Now I am re-installing the pistons and they seem really tight. I have smeared the barrels and pistons well with plenty of fluid so I am pretty sure it’s not that. I seem to remember taking them out they were nowhere near as tight. Should they slide freely? Or should they take a bit of pressure to make them move by hand?

Thanks

Sam

Re: Locker/4x4 slave cylinders

Posted: Sun Jan 14, 2018 5:44 pm
by undysworld
Sam,
Not sure of where you're describing the pressure, but they do have a spring assembly that preloads the engagement splines when you depress a lever. It allows you to drop the lever even if the splines aren't meshing yet. When they line up, the spring pushes the lock collar into the locked position.
Is it possible you are encountering some pressure from these springs? Seems like a long shot, but it's the only sort of intentional resistance I can recall.

Re: Locker/4x4 slave cylinders

Posted: Sun Jan 14, 2018 5:58 pm
by SAM. C.
Thanks for the reply. I have the slave cylinders off and I am trying to push the pistons back in the bores but they are really tight. I can get them in but they are really stiff to push in and out and I think this cant be right. I have just had a thought could the seals have swelled up? I have used DOT 4 for a while now and I am wondering if this could be the problem.

Re: Locker/4x4 slave cylinders

Posted: Sun Jan 14, 2018 7:06 pm
by undysworld
Some swelling may be normal, but...
What did you use to clean things up? Any mineral oil based stuff may well have contaminated them and caused them to swell, I'd think.

Re: Locker/4x4 slave cylinders

Posted: Tue Aug 17, 2021 5:08 pm
by MTPinz
Back from the dead.
I was looking in the manual today and there was mention of not mixing up the pistons and bores as they are a matched tolerance component. Could this have been the issue? Hopefully you're still not working on this 3 years later!