I have a 98 TJ that I recently swapped 79 Ford 60's under with 5:38gears and 37's. I am putting in a new clutch kit tonight due to some bad chatter and shimmy coming from the drivetrain when I release clutch. As I was inspecting the whole drivetrain for anything else that may be contributing, I noticed I could grab my rear driveshaft and turn it a 1/4 rotation before the anyhting caught. This is with the tires on the ground. There would be a clicking sound then the Dshaft would catch. I removed diff plate to check gear mesh and backlash. They were both excellent. The pinion and the ring gear move 1/4 pinion turn back in fourth before the tires want to turn. The play is inside the Detroit? Normal? This is my first run at a Detroit and this is probably normal but I was going to pull it and inspect it tonight if not. Thanks.

It's normal. Lots of people ask it here, even detroit has said there are no problems. Detroits are naturally sloppy like that. Mine was a 1/4 turn as well before anything caught. Other then pulling into parking spots and the driveshaft wanting to slam back and forth if I didn't let the clutch out a little bit to put pressure on it, it was never an issue.

The first day I got my axles in (total rebuilt, regeared D44s) I damn near shit a brick because I thought the gear install was fucked up from all the slop in the rear diff because of the detroit.

10-4

Thanks!

It's normal. Lots of people ask it here, even detroit has said there are no problems. Detroits are naturally sloppy like that. Mine was a 1/4 turn as well before anything caught. Other then pulling into parking spots and the driveshaft wanting to slam back and forth if I didn't let the clutch out a little bit to put pressure on it, it was never an issue.

The first day I got my axles in (total rebuilt, regeared D44s) I damn near shit a brick because I thought the gear install was fucked up from all the slop in the rear diff because of the detroit.

Agreed! You will hear this from people with an auto tranny often because they put it in park and yet the rig may roll a bit because of the slop in the Detroit it freaks some out thinking theres a problem with the tranny or the locker.

Great info! Im getting ready to stuff my waggy 44's with detroits on both ends and would have probably freaked out a little as well. :grinpimp:

I have the same slop from the Detroit in my Rockwell and had it in my D60 as well.

I think my clutch issue is making it feel worse so hopefully after I put the new clutch kit in tonight it wont be bad at all.