So what broke in your diff?

Joined: 03 Apr 2006 Location: Melbourne

Ok we all know the diffs can be a little suspect on a jeep, but I'm interested to know what has actually broken in your diff.

What prompts me to do this is I had a big lock up of the rear end at 4am this morning at the bottom of my street on the way to work.

Got the money pit home and ripped off the cover to discover 3 crownwheel bolts destroyed, 1 completely out, 2 missing the heads. The leftover thread is what caused my lock up (it damaged the gears when I skidded to a stop).

Any tales of woe are appreciated. I just need to feel better.

Gonna add up the dollars and see if I should upgrade now for my future mods or wait the 4-5 months and do it all then. Confused

Joined: 21 May 2004

I busted an axle and teeth off two spider gears and the ring gear. Luckily I got a fully rebuilt diff installed the same day for a great price Smile

Otherwise it would have been a D44 for me (Mines an XJ with the D35).

Cheers
Steve

Joined: 28 Nov 2002 Location: Melbourne

I was getting new gears put in, and when I picked the heep up the guys mentioned that there were a few teeth missing on the old rear R&P, they'd started to make a nice gouge in the carrier too. Don't know why it hadn't gone bang, but it was certainly going to soon, so perfect timing for me.

Weird, I had no noises, no warning, and hadn't even wheeled for god knows how long, and it had only done 60,000kms.

Joined: 22 Apr 2007 Location: newcastle

broken crowm bolts sound like a install problem

Joined: 03 Apr 2006 Location: Melbourne

Got another diff but it appears to be a chrysler 8 1/4 with different axles. Hoping that if I can get some axles ( it didn't have them) I will bolt this in as it is a lot beefier than the old Dana 35.

Quote:

tjm_tj

broken crowm bolts sound like a install problem

Definately was an install problem (which was done by previous owner) because when I pulled apart the old center most of the crownwheel bolts came out way too easy. After disassembly and inspection I noticed that the bottom of most of the holes were filled with moly grease. Guessing the bolts hydraliced on this and didn't tightened properly.

Done a bit of a backyard job on the old diff to get me going again, got sick of driving a 1976 Celica. Used the Dremel to take the edges of the damaged teeth, cleaned and reassembled the old diff and threw it back in.

Makes a bit of noise (damn metal shavings) but hopefully will keep me going until I can source some axles for my 8 1/4. Any help in locating some second hand ones would be great.

Joined: 11 Jan 2006

You should use locktite on crown wheel bolts or they come out, as yours did.

Joined: 03 Apr 2006 Location: Melbourne

I used locktite on the rebuild that I did, but whoever did it previously didn't. (Along with too much silastic to seal the cover)

I must thank the boys at USA4x4 for the crownwheel bolts as it's got me on and off the road again.

Joined: 28 Jul 2006 Location: Riverton

My rear one's making some pretty bad sounds at the moment and i plan to upgrade it and air lock it as soon as i can afford to. It had a tyical ring and pinion whine and the LSD squeels when one wheel spins.

Is it safe to drive on it for a bit or is it likely to blow to bits and what will happen then? Axels fall out or anything?

Ben

Joined: 04 Feb 2005 Location: Mel-bourbon

rosie wrote:

My rear one's making some pretty bad sounds at the moment and i plan to upgrade it and air lock it as soon as i can afford to. It had a tyical ring and pinion whine and the LSD squeels when one wheel spins.

Is it safe to drive on it for a bit or is it likely to blow to bits and what will happen then? Axels fall out or anything?

Ben

axles will fall out only if c clips break. what kind of oil do you use in the diff - correct LSD oil? maybe only your bearings are worn?

Joined: 28 Jul 2006 Location: Riverton

Oil is fine and it has a typical Ring and pinion growl but my main concern is if it would be alright to keep driving on it till Christmas when its getting the rebuild and upgraded axels with locker and all. I was just worried about it going pop some time.

Ben