Should this be taken out ASAP?

[ohe_boy]

Hey fellow Explorers,

I recently broke the ring and pinion in my D35 up front and now I'm hearing all those gears banging around while driving, usually on bumpy roads. Should I remove these ASAP in order to prevent them from getting caught on something???

 

[davidmmm69]

yes i believe you could do alot more damage to other key parts anywhere from your driveshaft to transfer case if thins bound up to the axle shafts and more..

Very important that you move on this asap...
Years ago i had the same thing and drove it home and had things coming out of the differential cover but this was not on a explorer.

 

[ohe_boy]

ok thanks, i thought so but wasn't too sure. would you know if its a hard process? or can I just follow the chilton procedures?

 

[DeRocha]

I don't see why you can't drive around until you find time to get it fixed. On a first gen if the hubs are unlocked (4x4 off) the ring and pinion shouldn't be moving (obviously you can't engeage 4x4).

 

[Creager]

if the ring and pinion broke then your gonna end up having to replace all the bearings and possibly the spider gears anyway. it might be damaging to the axle shafts, but it shouldnt be. if you are worried about it, discconect the front drive shaft (even if its not in 4x4, the hubs shouldnt be locked but that stuff still rotates with a little/no torque to it; i think!)

 

[ohe_boy]

I was planning on doing a d44 SAS or just keep the ttb and regear to 4.56. IN the mean time though, I don't want to be driving down the road one day and the gears get bound up on something and puts me to a screaching halt because my front tires aren't spinning anymore.
Also, is the front drive shaft spinning even though I'm in 2WD?

 

[Doug]

If you're going to rebuild the diff I'd pull out the 3rd member. Nothing is going to lock up as long as the hubs aren't locked but it is possible something is getting where it shouldn't and is doing damage to the case. If you're not going to be fixing it soon I'd just pull the 3rd member and the axle shafts up front.

 

[ohe_boy]

sorry, don't know what 3rd member is?

 

[Arnie897]

I'd just clean the scrap metal out of there and throw some diff fluid in.

 

[ohe_boy]

is it hard to open the front diff and remove the gears?

 

[ohe_boy]

Had a problem with trying to remove the R&P gears... behind the wheel, there is a electrical connector, which seems to be the ABS sensor(?), theres a small bolt that holds a metal block (seen only when the rotor is off). I'm not sure exactly, but it seems like a 12 point, 6mm size bolt head. Is this correct?

 

[DeRocha]

Here is a link to a Ball Joint Thread. It shows how to remove the rotor, spindle, and ball joints... The ABS sensor (Aluminum cylinder pressed through the spindle) is very sensitive so don't abuse it or you'll be paying $50 for a new one. In post #20 the photo shows the Steering knuckle with the ABS sensor support bracket (Red), as well as the 2 bolts holding it on and their location. The smaller bolt is 6mm 12pt 1/4"drive. 3/8" drive sockets are too wide and will not fit.

 

[ohe_boy]

thought so... thanks man! helped out alot!!