Who knows the most about differentials?

[P&P]

I thought I blew out an auto hub this fall. So tonight I replaced them with locking hubs. And have the same issue as before. I checked both cvs and neither seem abnormal in any way. I'm thinking I have an internal diff issue. Spider gears maybe?

The diff is completely stock, unlocked 4.6 ratio. In 2wd both with the auto hubs and the manual hubs - when the hubs are unlocked the truck drives perfectly fine, no odd noises, vibrations, clunking or otherwise.

I have two videos for your listening pleasure.

This one is with the transfer case in 2wd and the hubs locked
http://youtu.be/kzWYlMj8Lqo

This one is with the hubs unlocked, starting with the transfer case in 4-hi and switching it it 2wd (YouTube is killing me. I'll link this one later)


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[robcarync]

I would suspect CV axles before a differential...for no reason other than it seems a lot more fragile to me.

If you unbolted the CV axles from the output flange of the front differential, and put the truck in 4WD, that will tell you the answer. The diff is spinning, but the axles are not...If noise is there, it is internal to diff ... If noise disappears, then you can alternate left to right and determine which CV axle.

If the noise is easily repeatable currently, you can just unbolt one side, and zip tie them out of the way of the diff flange and just drive down the driveway and back so you aren't driving around with unbolted CV axles.

If you need to tear down a front diff, may I recommend a great How-To for installing the front Lokka linked below in my signature...authored by yours truly

:kewl:

 

[P&P]

Visual inspection to the cvs and they are in good shape. No excessive play.

That method would pretty clearly define it though.

Unlocking the left and leaving the right locked created some Noise but drastically decreased. The incident was a lifted & spinning driver tire touching back down.

 

[P&P]

If you need to tear down a front diff, may I recommend a great How-To for installing the front Lokka linked below in my signature...authored by yours truly

:kewl:

If I have to tear down a diff I'm going to drink a beer and go to bed


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[robcarync]

Who knows what's going on inside the boot? A lifted and spinning tire dropping down has always been a blown stock auto hub for me...but as you know, the shock load could have jacked up anything in the drive line. I know CVs are prone to clunking noises, but I never had one fail, other than the rubber boots. I would still think CVs would fail before the spider gears.

:sure: BEER!

and bed...:schlaf:

 

[P&P]

I also naturally assumed auto hubs. That's why I replaced them with manuals tonight. No change in symptom though.

I've had someone with experience indicate the ring gear.

I'll drop the gear oil tomorrow. That should answer some questions. If its clean I'll unhook the axle and see what spins.


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[Silver dude]

As slow as the rotational clunk is occuring, to me it sounds like some teeth are missing from the ring gear. It has happened before to others doing exactly what you described.

 

[thecoalition]

So we had a similar issue at a small group run a couple months ago. The clunking was only happening in 4wd, not 2wd. The driver replaced both cvs, found it was still clunking. Brought it to the dealer, and it was his diff. Lucky for him they replaced it under warranty.

 

[P&P]

Wonder if they will do that for my 02 w137k lol. Fingers crossed!

Haha


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[granitex]

You could have also lost a few teeth on the spider and have them floating around in there eating up other stuff.

If it is the spiders, and not into the rp I would look long and hard at ARB for a front locker

 

[P&P]

You could have also lost a few teeth on the spider and have them floating around in there eating up other stuff.

If it is the spiders, and not into the rp I would look long and hard at ARB for a front locker

I have a spare front diff that will get swapped in to get it back up and running. The truck will then be for sale. Not because of this. I understand this is sometimes the consequence of playing around. But I have 4 Xterras in the stable. Need to thin it out and generate some revenue for other projects.

But, yeah, under other circumstances it would get an ARB if I wanted to stay IFS.


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[P&P]

Found it.

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[Muadeeb]

Ewwwww

 

[NMTerras]

Gross!

 

[Cruecible]

Thankfully this thread is vehicle related and not bodily related.... That's a terrible scenario to imagine.......

At least you figured it out for what's it worth

 

[P&P]

Yeah, the smell is pungent. It stings the nostrils.

 

[robcarync]

Gross.

 

[TheFauxFox]

Diff fluid is not meant to be that color, nor have chunks. :groggy:

 

[NMTerras]

threadjack: I swear to gosh Faux, when your avatar makes me have an epileptic seizure, I am suing you /endthreadjack

 

[P&P]

Ring gear is toast.

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[Muadeeb]

Time to lock it! (yes, I know you're not)

 

[P&P]

Yep. Truck is already back together. Thankfully. Because we got 12" of snow the next day.


But I do now have a core if anyone wants a geared, locked front diff.

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