Safe-T-Track Clicking

Q: Safe-T-Track Clicking

I just installed a 3.23:1 safe-t-track (2-pinion) carrier into my firebird. The backlash is about .008″ and the pattern looks good. No howling at any speed. The problem is when I was pulling into my garage (tight right turn) that I noticed this “clicking” sound coming from my drivers side rear tire/axle.

Is this normal? Are the spider gears/cones disengaging as I make a slow turn? At higher speed turns (+15-20) I do not notice it. The center section was rebuilt with new machined and shimmed cone seats. It is very tight. Any old school mechanics out there? Thanks in advance.

A: Mine does it. The posi unit might be worn. I think the nosie comes from when one of the cone slips and then this sudden slip is translates to you drive shaft making a tinging noise. My friend 78 Z28 did the same thing. Check your transmission output shaft bushing too. If its a 4 speed car the bushing only last about 40,000 miles under hard use.

A: This is pretty common on GM posi units. If you add 2 bottles of GM posi additive( use GM not brand X) and it still does it , try changing the gear oil and add 2 more. You must do some sharp right and left turns, back up etc to get the additive circulated real good before giving up and changing lube again.

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