broken detroit?

[LostInBoston]

i am installing HD rear axles. the driver side install went fine but the pass side is a problem. when i try to tighten the nut down, the axle spins freely, but oinly when trying to tighen it. it is locked when trying to loosen it. The parking brake is on and the drive shaft is not spinning, neither is the driver side axle.
Did i break by detroit? or is it unlocked?
my amature diagnostic is that if it isn't broken, tightenign the driver side nut would have put resistance on the locker and opened it up. since detroits are supposed to open when sense resistance in turning. does that make any sense? if thats the case can i just drive back and forth untill it locks then tighen it? with the axle not being tighened down enough matter?

thanks
-Rick

its amazing how many questions i have anfer working on my truck for a few hours. I've spent as much time here as in my garage.

 

[D Chapman]

Thats common

 

[LostInBoston]

Thanks,
i was worried there for a few minutes. I jacked up the other wheel and rotated it foward. then the other side locked up. so im guessing everything is fine. once i get my brake pads in ill drive it around to make sure.

 

[marc olivares]

yep your fine.
flip through the trac-tech manual, it gives you a step by step procedure for checking the locker. (takes two people though)
if you don't have a manual, email me, i'll send you a copy of the section.

 

[Steve Rupp]

If both wheels are up in the air, you shouldn't be able to unlock it yourself. You need 2 people. One to keep pressure on the pinion, and the other to unlock it. If it is spinning and not clicking, you may have a problem. With both wheels up, one shouldn't spin freely.