in big trouble 4x4

[jp50662]

ok havnt been online in a while so hello everyone. my problem seems to be in the front end somewhere. i have a 92 xlt 4x4 with manual hubs and a 5 speed trans. up until today my 4x4 worked great. made a bearing type noise that seemed to be coming form the passenger side front. i have checked to see that the hubs do lock and i cannot turn the axles when locked. the transfer case engages in 4x4 high and low but the front wheels do not turn. is my front diff bad or what else could it be? any help is greatly appreciated. oh yeah here in iowa we have 8-12 inches of snow coming tonight so i NEED my 4x4 to work if possible. thanks

 

[SPORTEXP]

Have you checked your wheel bearings? Sounds to me like they are locked up.

 

[jp50662]

cant be locked up because it drives fine in 2wd. idk im just getting nervous about the snow...and i have to drive to cedar falls tomorrow and i live in oelwein i have no idea what it could be because if it was the bearings it would do it all the time in 4x4 or not

 

[SPORTEXP]

Gotcha next would be the U-joints in the axle. But when those failed on me the wheel would still turn. So I think you might be on the right track with the differential. Make sure you are in 2wd and the hubs are unlocked and try to turn the front drive shaft. If you can't then chances are the differential.

 

[jp50662]

ok just tried that i can turn the driveshaft with the hubs locked and unlocked any ideas?

 

[SPORTEXP]

Sorry to hear that. The shaft should not turn with the hubs locked in. Next would be to remove the oil filler plug on the differential and check for oil and possible metal shavings. Then you would know the rest of the story.

 

[jp50662]

thats what i was afraid of... how hard is it to swap out the diff for a new one?

 

[SPORTEXP]

If anything check the half shafts going out to the wheels to make sure the U-joints going to the wheels aren't broke. This may cause binding in the wheels also.

 

[SPORTEXP]

Fortunately, I've never been into one that far. But the half shafts are'nt very difficult to remove, so I believe once those are out I don't think the rest would be very difficult to remove.

 

[Pollarican]

If it came down to it,it would be cheaper than you might think to buy a new front diff from the junkyard ($200?) and replace it. There are step by step walkthroughs, many with pictures, on this site of how to tear your front end down that far, and if you have some decent mechanical knowledge it is definitely within your ability.

 

[SPORTEXP]

Good point Pollarican, just make sure the axle ratio matches what you have for the swap.

 

[Willard]

I wondering what you broke and how. The differential itself is the strongest part of the front end.

Does it look like it might have been leaking? Are you sure you didn't completely lose a u-joint? And is the passenger shaft still all the way in the diff? I guess it would be possible for the c-clip to come out and for the shaft splines to disengage just enough to make it not work.

 

[jp50662]

doesnt look like it was leaking or ever was. previous owner was a doctor and had it serviced rigorously. the truck only has 65k on it and he told me its the original mileage. the body has rust due to the rough winters though. im not sure but if it was a u joint wouldnt the axle shaft turn when the hubs are engaged?

 

[SPORTEXP]

It's supposed to turn, unless you have a hub that is not engaging. I think the best way to tell if the differential is goofed is to see if the half shafts coming out of the differential to the wheels turn when you turn the front axle and the hubs are unlocked.

How's the blizzard there?

 

[jp50662]

the blizzard sucks i cant find my crx thats parked in front of my house its completely buried, might dig it out tomorrow

 

[SPORTEXP]

Do you have a warm place to work on this thing?

 

[jp50662]

yea i have a halfway decent 1 stall garage and a 275k btu forced air heater i bought at work

 

[SPORTEXP]

Good deal, you're in business. It's hard for me to tell without being there. But from what I gather and what others saying here. You can turn the axle going from the transfer case regardless of whether or not the hubs are locked in. If you can see if the half shafts going from the differential to the wheels turn, either one or both will turn. Let me know if one or both turn, or if they don't turn at all.

That's as you turn the axle from the transfer case.

 

[jp50662]

i can turn the front driveshaft with the transfer case in 2wd and 4x4 with the hubs locked or unlocked. i unlocked the hubs and the halfshafts dont turn but the driveshaft does.

 

[SPORTEXP]

I wondering what you broke and how. The differential itself is the strongest part of the front end.

Does it look like it might have been leaking? Are you sure you didn't completely lose a u-joint? And is the passenger shaft still all the way in the diff? I guess it would be possible for the c-clip to come out and for the shaft splines to disengage just enough to make it not work.

Either one or both half shafts should turn with hubs unlocked. This guy might have the right idea with the c-clip. If this is the case. It's located inside the differential.