Help dead Diff?

[LowBrau]

So a while back I went to Aamco to have my clutch replaced. A little while afterwards, I noticed a slight leak, however at the time I knew that I had a bad bushing on my steering rack and figured it was from that. Later, after the steering rack was fixed, the leak eventually got worse. Ends up I had a bad rear seal. Aamco replaced the rear seal. This was done right before I headed to the Outerbanks and drove on the beach. Upon driving on the beach, I realized I had no 4 High and only had 4 Lo.

When I returned to Aamco, they suspected it was because they forgot to install a retainer. So they ordered the part and installed it a little while later. I picked it up earlier this week, and still no 4 High. So I took it to another Aamco (wanted to get it fixed under warranty rather than pay) and now that one is saying that the drive shaft was really loose and the diff had some play. They believe that this may have caused some damage to the diff and that I need to replace it.

So I'm sharing this story now, hoping that you guys may be able to shed some light on this. I have a few options, and my first is considering taking it to another shop for input. Some of my club members believe it may be a transfer case issue and not a diff issue. So any help here would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[csp]

Put it on jackstands on all four corners. Put it in 4WD and the trans in gear. If the front driveshaft turns you do not have a transfer case problem.

And stop going to Aamco in the future.

 

[Konkordmusk]

Your first problem was taking it to AAMCO.
Your second problem is I don't trust anything any AAMCO says as far as I can throw my truck. Which isn't very far.
You're gonna need to find a reputable shop to diagnose your issue, if you can't, are unable, or are unsure of how to diagnose it yourself.

 

[alumarine]

You're talking about the front drive shaft and front diff right?

In any case, if you have 4 lo it's not your diff.

 

[LowBrau]

Thanks.

I took it initially because the clutch, and since it was under warranty was hoping they would fix the issue.

I plan on taking it to another shop. Not many I feel I can trust though. I had one, but they brutalized the runner the last Timemail I brought it to them. Thinking about the stealership, as at least they know the runner.

Thoughts?

 

[JWaldz]

Sounds like they did something that's causing the issue. If 4-lo is working it's not the diff and the driveshaft really has nothing to do with how the transfer case works. I don't know what year you drive so I don't know if you have ADD or not. If the electronics or actuator are unplugged it will definitely give you troubles.

 

[csp]

The OP could be assuming that 4lo works just because it's going into the lower gearset. That doesn't necessarily mean that it's transferring power to the front driveshaft.

 

[LowBrau]

4 Lo definitely works, as I was driving on the beach that way for a few days. No problems.

They said it was front diff. Picked it up today.

I read in this forum that it could be electrical. Coincidently, I had it at another shop around the same time and noticed my ditch lights didn't work afterward. So I'm diving in under the dash, checking fuses and other wiring to make sure that isn't the issue. Don't want to spend a bunch of loot if that's the issue.

 

[LowBrau]

Sounds like they did something that's causing the issue. If 4-lo is working it's not the diff and the driveshaft really has nothing to do with how the transfer case works. I don't know what year you drive so I don't know if you have ADD or not. If the electronics or actuator are unplugged it will definitely give you troubles.

I have a 99 SR5.