Is my front axle going to blow up

[1993Saturn]

Last winter, when the roads became basically dry after a 3ft snow, I went through a Sonic drive up. When I came around the corner of the building into the continual shadow area of the building I was right on top of a 6" thick 'mountain range' of ice. Too slick and I couldn't move. Guess what. I stupidly hit 4x4 button. It clanked, banged and thunked trying to get out. I couldn't get it to disengage completely after that. It popped and banged and ratcheted for a long time after that. Now I have had an increasing clunk in the the hubs (maybe the diff too), when a bump, turn or stop and a light sound like a bearing. I know turning the forward driveshaft, the right axle turns but doesn't engage the hub. The left axle doesn't turn at all. I haven't pulled hubs off yet.
SO, Doctor, will it live or do I need to do an immediate transplant?

 

[RangerX]

Probably just the hubs. I’ll guess you have the automatic hubs?

 

[1993Saturn]

Yes, automatic hubs. You feel that they are the only things making noise? If they are, then they could be spreading the pot metal cams?
Also, there is still the problem of the left half shaft not engaging in the differential. What would have broken?

 

[410Fortune]

Your front differential is "open" meaning when power is sent through the diff from the driveshaft the power will only go to one wheel, the one with the least amount of resistance.
It sounds like your diff is fine, the hubs are toast and you may need to exercise your 4x4 shift motor more often

 

[RangerX]

Check this thread List of Useful Threads - 4x4 Troubleshooting guide

 

[1993Saturn]

Your front differential is "open" meaning when power is sent through the diff from the driveshaft the power will only go to one wheel, the one with the least amount of resistance. (410Fortune)
"More on Automatic HUB engagement:
When you engage 4x4 the front drive shaft will spin and send power to the diff and then to the axle shafts.. The axle shafts will begin rotating within each autohub; after a few revolutions the engagement cam will have idle up within the autohub and caused the autohub to lock. Once this occurs on both hubs the wheel with the least traction will get power and begin to rotate."
This copy from the troubleshooting guide seems to say that the front differential at first receiving rotation input from the forward driveshaft, will immediately begin to rotate both half shafts at the same time until they are both engaged to the hubs, then it sends power to the weak wheel. So both shafts should rotate right at startup. My left shaft doesn't do that, so that specific actiion isn't hub related but differential related?

 

[RangerX]

Since hubs are the most common issue, the first step is to either determine if the hubs are bad or rule them out as the problem, before looking at the diff as a possible problem.
Did you do this?
“To test for a blown Auto Hub;
1) Put T-case in 4x2 (disengage 4x4)
2) Crawl under the truck and rotate the axle shaft (any direction). After several revolutions the autohub should click and lock. If you can still rotate the axle shaft the hub is blown..
3) Repeat #2 on the opposite axle shaft..

2nd test for blown Auto hub
1) Put T-Case in 4x4 (engage 4x4 for 20' while going forward to give autohubs a chance to lock)
2) Put Transmission in park
3) Jack up the Left (driver's side) front tire and try and rotate the whole wheel (Counter clockwise).
5) Jack up the Right (passenger side) and try and rotate the whole wheel (Clockwise).
4) If you can move either wheel it indicates the autohub Failed to lock and is bad.
*Do not reverse direction in this test as an autohub could be unlocked. Also pay attention to the direction of the rotation (if you rotate the wheel the wrong direction it will unlock and invalidate the test.“

 

[1993Saturn]

OK. I'll give that a whirl. Take a while to get to it, Too many fires to put out since I spent a week+ during a few of the least scorching hours of each day, taking out my A4LD for shop to rebuild and my reinstalling. Chose to make new cooler lines. DON'T! 3/8" tube is hard to work with, you can't get it perfect and it just ain't worth trying to save a few $ - just buy the new lines. Anyway, now I'm behind on all the other stuff that was to be done...
Say, is that your gal on the hood of the truck in your avitar? Would be good shot for making a 'Mudder Trucker's" calendar.You ought to get the guys together in your club and drum one up.

 

[gmanpaint]

Your differential has an open carrier. To understand how the axles are turning with this carrier, I suggest learning exactly how they work.

Your hubs are the axles fuse. They save your axles from breaking under power.

With both hubs working properly...
If you had both front wheels off the ground, and applied power to them, both would spin. If you dropped one to the ground, the wheel in the air would spin, as it has the least resistance.

If one hub was broken, no power would be sent to either wheel, because of the open carrier. The axle on the side of the broken hub, would just spin, as it has least resistance.

Hubs are simple to inspect for damage. They are also the first item to inspect for failure. If they are good, then you work your way inward. U joints, axle shafts, then diff internals last.

Best of luck to you!!

 

[1993Saturn]

Thank you for the added insight. If there was a class about that in University while I was there, that would have put some fun into it. I shall ponder upon your pontification.

 

[RangerX]

Say, is that your gal on the hood of the truck in your avitar? Would be good shot for making a 'Mudder Trucker's" calendar.You ought to get the guys together in your club and drum one up

Hah, I wish!
Back maybe 8-10 years ago, a bunch of members here were changing their avatars to pics like that, adding hot girls to their trucks, I think I’m the only one that never changed it back!

 

[1993Saturn]

Tiny pic for Elton John's Tiny Dancer.
Is your island covered with a lot of red dirt? I hated that stuff when I was a kid in East Texas. It was slimy and no traction when wet and it wouldn't wash off very easily, but it made great dirt clods for dirt clod fights. You'd probably need knobbies or paddle tires to drive through it.

 

[RangerX]

Lots of red dirt, yes. Tends to stain everything!