Front Differential Not Responding

[Drewgar]

Winter has finally come to North Dakota and I decided to test the 4X4 and check the diff fluid in the front. All I herd after engaging the 4x4 and lockouts is and awful clanking sound. I checked the front drivshaft is getting power but the front wheels are not responding. I checked the hubs the hubs are fine. I have to assume somthing is wrong with the differential but I have absolutly no idea what it could be. Anyone have any ideas where I should start looking before the snow gets any worse? Also last winter had to change the hubs from auto to manual warn lockouts. Also had to replace the transfer case shift motor. When 4x4 was working I could tell when I would make turns and backing up I would recieve feedback in the steering wheel which is normal now I feel nothng.

 

[MrShorty]

The Dana 35 in these is a pretty stout unit -- we don't hear of many failures inside the differential. I guess that, IMO, the differential itself seems like the least likely, and most expensive component to blame 4x4 problems on, so it pays to eliminate all other possibilities first.

Double check the hubs - the manual hubs are better than the autos, but we usually like the hubs to be weaker than the diff because they are easier to replace.

If I wanted to check for a catastrophic failure in the diff, I'd probably
1) put the tcase in 2H - hubs in free
2) climb under and rotate the front driveshaft. It should spin easily and at least one of the axleshafts should spin with it
3) put the hubs in lock, then rotate the driveshaft again. You should not be able to turn it. If you can turn the driveshaft while both axleshafts remain stationary, then something catastrophic has failed in the diff and it is time to pull it.

 

[Drewgar]

Okay so I had the transfer case in 2 h and the hubs were not locked but I could not physically turn the front driveshaft. Not sure what that means, knowing my luck its also a bad sign.

 

[Maniak]

Pick up the front end so the front tires can spin. If you try to turn the front drive shaft and a tire turns, then the hubs are stuck, or locked..

BUT, if you try to turn it and it still won't turn (put something in the u-joint to get more oomph on it) or the frond diff makes all kinds of noises then you either have a frozen u-joint on one of the front axles or it could be in the front diff, But that is very rare.

~Mark

 

[Drewgar]

Thats deffinetly reassuring to hear that differential failure is rare. My dads car is in our shop right now so I'll have to wait to use his jack stands, I really hope its the hubs because they have a liftime warranty. Thanks for the fast replies!

 

[Drewgar]

It ended up being the front right wheel bearing, had me sweatin bullets though.