Front Differential Problem

[Robb]

*posting for mattlward*

Hi, I have a '97 XLT with Control Track that has developed a serious problem.

It ate it's front diff. It had as much brass as oil in it when I checked it. So, I found a used one and got it installed only to find that I am stuck in 4x4 and when I turn a corner I have horrible binding and strange groaning sounds.

I can't seem to make a performance difference by shifting from auto to 4 HI. If I could even make it 2WD until I could figure out what is wrong it would help a bunch. Can I disconnect the drive shaft going to the front and still drive the truck? My diff is the one without the vacumm hardware on the passenger side.

This started all at once. Will the brown wire mod get me out of 4x4 at this point? I would be happy to give it a cut or unplug it from the transfer case if possible.

Please let me know what you think, or what I can try. I must get this truck up and going in some fashion very soon.

Matt
mattw@wardfarms.com


Thanks Matt

 

[jasonb]

disconnect the front dshaft will help diagnose it at least. the front will spin whether its getting anything from the tcase or not. if it still does it after that, its in the diff or at least something up front. if it doesn't, it could be in the tcase. you could do the brown wire mod also to test it out. yes you can still drive with the front dshaft disconnected.

 

[Robert]

Before you do the brown wire mod, disconnect the connector going to the transfer case. Unless the transfer case is electronically locked up, unplugging the connector will force the transfer case in to 2WD mode. If it still binds, then either your transfer case is internally damaged or your front differential is bad.