Blown. Front. Diff.
- Thread starter LINY4Runner
- Start date
brian2sun
Elite Member
Usually the spider gears bust first (weakest part of the diff) and then the chunks from those go flying around loosely in there and destroy everything else like the bearings and r&p.
Usually yes, but if the diff goes before the CVs, it probably means it didn't have enough gear oil in there (or totally dry) and the heat and lack of lube did it in.
techno
New member
Yeah, I've seen plenty of spider gears explode, but I've seen ring gears virtually stripped with no detectable damage to the diff. The least expensive failure to fix, but I suspect LINY will drop in a locker no matter the damage.
topdown4runner
New member
Throw a locker in there and *then* you'll see the weak links known as CV's...
SAS is the answer...
Or just keep it parked all the time... lol...
Are you locked in the front of your IFS?
How is the power with the larger tires? Do you have the 4.3 axle ratio?
Have you blown many CV's locked up front ( if you have it )?
LINY4Runner
New member
there was definitely enough gear oil in there...I changed it the day before
it was crazy wheel spin and then immediate traction that did it...i'm guessing spider gears because it makes noise even in 2WD
LINY4Runner
New member
and i'm doing a Detroit Tru-Trac LSD in the front over a locker so I don't sh!t as many CVs
Mr. Leary
New member
I'd be willing to bet money that if your front was locked and you had crawled slowly up the hill, you would never have blown your front diff. Depends on your driving preference. If you like the skinny pedal, as you have indicated, then your choice for a Detroit Tru Track is probably the correct one!
Bummer... but hopefully a good excuse to improve...
Bummer... but hopefully a good excuse to improve...
I think that with just a little bit of work, you could have the same ride or even better with leaf springs as with the OME springs/shocks.
LINY4Runner
New member
My gear ratios aren't low enough to crawl with a front locker. I'm an automatic with stock t-case. Maybe if I had a 4.7:1 tcase or dual cases, a locker would be the better choice, but with my drivetrain setup, skinny pedal and slipping front differential is the way to go!
jsmarine
New member
No way! Front and rear lockers and you are Golden! Even with your stock gear ratio of whatever it is for your runner! You would be amazed when driving a fully locked vehicle at what it can do! I had lockers in my Jeep, but not in my 4runner. I wish I had ARB lockers in my runner! And really, I should invest in some!
But no offense, I'm open-open like you and use momentum and the skinny pedal!
It works, no doubt about it...but lockers work better and safer.
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LINY4Runner
New member
No way! Front and rear lockers and you are Golden! Even with your stock gear ratio of whatever it is for your runner! You would be amazed when driving a fully locked vehicle at what it can do! I had lockers in my Jeep, but not in my 4runner. I wish I had ARB lockers in my runner! And really, I should invest in some!
But no offense, I'm like you and use momentum and the skinny pedal!
but the Jeep is a solid front axle...i'm worried about the CV shafts, that's why I'm going with a LSD.
Honestly the truck has made it through everything I've asked it to do even on open diffs, I doubt I'll regret going LSD over locker...it's better than open and safer than locker...best of both worlds as far as I'm conscerned
steezemcqueen
Moderator
you will blow up way more CV's with the skinny pedal than you will with a front locker. if you put in a lunch box locker, i could understand. but a selectable locker is boss.
and you are auto...your gear ratio is as low as you want it to be
CJ3Flyr
Super Moderator
:iagree: and you have Gen 1 ATRAC, right? A Torsen with an occasional nudge from ATRAC should be awesome!
Mr. Leary
New member
Think about it... LSD requires spinning... that can hook up all of a sudden an break stuff. Doing the same with a locker will break stuff as well, but you are much less likely to have uncontrolled wheel spin in the first place. If rocky terrain is what you normally traverse, then fully locked might be a better solution, whereas you may be more protected against drive train damage with an LSD in the mud where spinning is required. Your truck and your call... but be sure to conduct exhaustive research. Replacing a CV takes 20 minutes on the trail, and you can get one with a lifetime warranty from O' Reillys
Replacing a front diff is very difficult on the trail and quite expensive, comparatively.OTOH, an LSD in front with a selectable rear locker will get you through anything reasonable, and you wil find that 1st gear is plenty low to crawl up the tough stuff. The slush box makes this quite an easy process, just be sure to learn your truck and "listen" to its ques... don't go too fast... it will not want to... don't go too slow... your tranny will get hot a bothered.
you will blow up way more CV's with the skinny pedal than you will with a front locker. if you put in a lunch box locker, i could understand. but a selectable locker is boss.
and you are auto...your gear ratio is as low as you want it to be
I agree.
LINY4Runner
New member
No A-Trac on third gens...it has TRAC but I turn it off, it only gets in the way
CJ3Flyr
Super Moderator
Ah... So even in 4lo the throttle cuts, that's a damn shame.