AWD Differential Replacement

[Tanfoo]

I drive a 98 X AWD. Last June, my truck started to klunk very loudly when accelerating, so I took to a shop. This was before I was really becoming interested in all this, so I can't remember the exact piece that broke, but I do know that I am currently 2wd. I believe they said it was my front differential that was cracking. When they took it out, they gave me a piece.

I know this probably sounds ridicuously confusing, but please hear me out. I just want to find out what I need to do to get my AWD back. Thanks.

 

[Turdle]

The most common part to fail in this area is the front drive shaft.

The cv joint on the transfer case end will be damaged.
I'm not saying this is your problem, just trying to ring a bel in your head.

 

[Turdle]

The problem also might be in the transfer case-
I am assuming the mechanic removed the front drive shaft.

Can you get a picture of the remove pieces for us? put it on photobucket and then give us a link to it if you can.

 

[Tanfoo]

All right. So I called Patton Auto and Tire (my old shop) and they told me the noise was coming from the transfer case, so they removed the drive shaft.

Here are some pics of various things:

This is the drive shaft they took out.

This is a closer shot. The label if that helps.

This is where it went. This is right under the driver's seat. Doesn't matter now that I know what it is, but what the heck.

I've still got both my CV joints.

Last one's a little off topic. Can anyone tell me what type of torsion bars I have? Here is the label...

So it's probably the transfer case, and the rear transfer case sounds like it's going as well. Can anyone tell me the pricing of new transfer cases and installation. I hope this new info helps. Thanks again for bearing with me.

 

[Turdle]

There is also a cv joint on the drive shaft--
see the rubber inside there? is it torn at all?

In the "below the driver seat" picture is actually your front differential
The transfer case would be on the other end of the drive shaft. If the case is noisy-you might still have noise with the driveshaft removed.

 

[Turdle]

Inside this joint-is the rubber torn at all?-look very closely

 

[Turdle]

This one caused a wasted transfer case swap at my house-
The sound was like a can of marbles-I would still have thought it was the transfer case for sure from the sound of it.

 

[Tanfoo]

The rubber is fine as far as I can tell. From what I understand, they removed the drive shaft because the transfer case was making noise.

They offered $800 to fix the front. Is that a reasonable estimate?

 

[Turdle]

And BTW
That drive shaft part number crosses to the shorter 22 3/4" shaft.

 

[Tanfoo]

The sound was a large klunking, like someone was hitting my engine with a baseball bat. It happened when I turned and accelerated. It started popping once or twice a week, but eventually escalated to popping three or four times each time I accelerated or turned.

Around Thanksgiving, I noticed the popping again. Seeing as the front was not working, I'm afraid this is my rear starting to fail as well. Since then, it's slowly increased to several times week.

But back to my above question: is 800 a reasonable amount for fixing this situation?

 

[ziggyofthenorth]

Turning sounds like front axle cv joints. Acceleration sounds like t-case. I just bought one that does that under acceleration. The t-case is shot.

 

[rizzjc]

I would look at that CV joint on the driveshaft. Not replaceable. You would need a whole new driveshaft. I've replaced both, the the noise was similar when each went, but the noise was much worse, and even worse when trying to turn, when the driveshaft blew. Sounds weird, I know, that's what I thought. Getting a new driveshaft and installing it yourself (VERY EASY) would be WAY cheaper than risking replacement of the transfer case when you didn't really need it. I doubt it is anything in the differential. It's still turning, regardless of whether or not the driveshaft is there.

 

[ziggyofthenorth]

rizzjc,
My understanding is that it makes all the same noises without the driveshaft being installed, which would rule out the driveshaft being the culprit. Did I miss understand the situation???

 

[rizzjc]

rizzjc,
My understanding is that it makes all the same noises without the driveshaft being installed, which would rule out the driveshaft being the culprit. Did I miss understand the situation???

I can't say for sure. I think it might depend on how bad it is. If the chain in the transfer case is slipping, then it might not with the driveshaft out, IMO. My transfer case slipped under heavy load (taking off from stop, going up hill with load, etc.). If I took it nice and slow on acceleration, it didn't do it. When my CV went in the driveshaft, it was GONE, all the time.

My only thought is that with the driveshaft out, there might not be enough load on the transfer case for the chain to slip, so you still wouldn't know for sure. Again, I'm no expert. I might be wrong. Also, you could probably remove the driveshaft and move the CV joint around to see if it hangs up or moves smoothly.

 

[ericautopart]

The drive shaft you need is 23" weld to weld. The part # is XL2Z 4A 376BA. I have them for $298.00 and it could be done yourself in the driveway. Don't waste your time or money. If you'd like just PM or e-mail me and I'll get it out to you on Monday. I've also got the transfer case but hopefully you won't need one of those..then it gets expensive.

 

[Tanfoo]

Here's a little more info.

The drive shaft was removed, which got rid of the noise, which led me to believe that it was my transfer case. I got my assumption verified with a local shop.

I'm installing the transfer case sometime this week. Thanks for all the info!

 

[Dan Whitaker]

Here's a little more info.

The drive shaft was removed, which got rid of the noise, which led me to believe that it was my transfer case. I got my assumption verified with a local shop.

I'm installing the transfer case sometime this week. Thanks for all the info!

Then it's 99.9% probable it is the CV on the drive shaft. Try sticking your finger under the rubber boot and see if you can feel any grease in the CV The boot does not be torn much at all for the grease to be spun out causing the noise. I know. I have 208k on my AWD t-case with zero noise.

Or don't listen to all of us that have experienced a drive shaft CV failure and replace the t-case to still have the noise.

 

[ericautopart]

I don't think you understand the frequency of the prop shaft going bad on these things. I think you may be very upset if you don't do some more investigating on this one, your talking thousands vs. hundreds.

 

[JDraper]

Here's a little more info.

The drive shaft was removed, which got rid of the noise, which led me to believe that it was my transfer case. I got my assumption verified with a local shop.

I'm installing the transfer case sometime this week. Thanks for all the info!

I think you're barking up the wrong tree. In an AWD vehicle, your transfer case is still functioning as it did without the driveshaft in place, so if the problem is in the transfer case, it should still be making noise.

I'd put a bet on it being the drive shaft U-Joint.

 

[Turdle]

It's ok guys-
I sent him a transfer case to try-
if it isn't the case he can just send it back.