Gov-bomb Help

[noJeepshere]

Yes gentlemen, I have go the legendary gov-lock in my rear 10-bolt on my Yukon. I am changing out my outer wheel bearings tomorrow and need to take the diff cover off to get to the c-clips, and am changing the fluid while I'm at it.

My question is this: it doesn't seem to work (even with one tire on dirt and one on pavement) Is there anything I can do to help with this? I bought a bottle of friction additive to put in there. I have heard of people using brake parts cleaner to wash out all the gunk, is that safe?

The Yukon in question, btw, is the one in the sig, and is mostly a pavement pounder/light wheeling machine. I actually want to see how many miles I can get out of her before I need to rebuild the engine. Since the motor doesn't leak or burn a drop with 153k miles, and gets 17 solid on the highway, I think I have a long ways to go.

Sorry I ramble.

 

[496truck]

it doesn't seem to work (even with one tire on dirt and one on pavement)

Testing it like that is a good way to blow it up.

You don't need friction additive in a gov lock, return it and get your $ back. It's a mechanical system and that additive will do nothing in there.

IIRC the gov lock "locks" at low speed when it sees a difference between L and R wheel speeds. It needs to see a difference before it will activate. On the other hand it will not lock at wheel speeds over a certain speed (20 mph or something like that).

One way to test, rear end jacked up (and on stands). Trans in N, engine off. Spin one tire by hand in increasing speeds, at some point the locker should engage, with an audible clunk, and start spinning the other wheel.

 

[noJeepshere]

I know, I wasn't doing anything like brake stands or full throttle starts in the dirt, but just enough to get the tire spinning and seeing what the reaction was. Even in snow, one tire on ice one on pavement, and enough juice to get a tire moving, nothing.

 

[76zimmer]

maybe the friction discs are shot....is the fluid black?

The difference in wheel speed is what activates the govenor weights to open up, and pick up a pawl, and thats what activates the axle spider gear to ramp out, and lock up the clutch discs. But its like dumping the clutch....do it slowly at low rpm, or the inevitable bomb takes place, as suddenly your trying to turn a previously stationery tire.
if the discs are worn out then it is less likely to boom, as there isn't as much friction to overcome as when they are actually trying to turn the other tire.

 

[496truck]

Just learned something new, I love this site. I was unaware there were any clutch discs in a G80. Thought it was fully mechanical.

 

[manchildau65]

I'm pretty sure it is full mechanical if it is a true 'Gov-bomb'. I had the opportunity to look at one this past weekend and '496truck' had the best suggestion of putting it up on jack stands and spinning one wheel quickly by hand. There's a little spring/gear system that positively locks the diff. together.

 

[76zimmer]

OK, well all of em I've seen in a 10 bolt have clutch discs (like a posi-unit) to absorb some of the shock load from sudden engagement by the ramping side gear. My discs, are pretty much shot, but I figure that's ok, I won't have to worry about them breaking the govenor mechanism that way.

Just my .02

 

[noJeepshere]

I guess the wheel bearings aren't all that bad... how in the heck am I supposed to get the c-clips in that? I'll just hold on to what I have and save my money for a 14 bolt semi-float with disc brakes.

 

[76zimmer]

hmmm, are those clutch discs in there?

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

hmmm, are those clutch discs in there?

Yes, Gov-loks use clutches they just don't need additive.

As far as making it work better, there's nothing easy you can do. Figure out why it doesn't work and fix it or deal with it. Spraying the clutches won't help anything.

 

[noJeepshere]

Apparently changing the fluid helps. I got a lot more sideways action on my favorite twisty dirt road than before Easier to kick out, easier to maintain, and all around a lot more fun to drift.

 

[JDNobodi]

Apparently changing the fluid helps. I got a lot more sideways action on my favorite twisty dirt road than before Easier to kick out, easier to maintain, and all around a lot more fun to drift.

Keep that up and you're going to be walking. From what I understand, Gov-bombs don't like that kind of stuff.

 

[76zimmer]

Apparently changing the fluid helps. I got a lot more sideways action on my favorite twisty dirt road than before Easier to kick out, easier to maintain, and all around a lot more fun to drift.

Attaboy....you want a 14 in there don't ya?