Toasted rear diff, anyone go long distance on only front

K

kc15842

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I'm running out of options. Something let loose in my rear diff and it feels ratchety and whines above 15 MPH. If I pull the rear driveshaft can I pull my way home on my front diff?
To complicate things I have a true trac up front and if it would work I can only lock I axle. $1100 to tow it home or I have a Uhaul truck and trailer. Advice???
 
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Odd, so I pulled out the diff and really can't find an obvious reason why the pinion is no longer set. The nut was crimped and doesn't appear to have backed out but something changed. I installed a Detroit locker about 12K miles ago in 2014 and to date never an issue. Ill clean the bearings and races in the morning and buy another crush sleeve and seal and set this thing up again.
Anyone ever have the pinion setup change and when I say change it was a drastic change to the point of nice quiet driving to the point it couldn't be driven?
Thanks
 
So your plan is to slap a new crush sleeve in and just tighten it? You have all the stuff to check pattern etc?
Diff set up is an art.
I sort of know how to do it but I am still paying a shop to set up a new 5.29 diff for my 94.
 
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If you're going to do it, I'd just get a solid spacer instead of using a crush s;eeve. I regeared my truck and it was pretty easy IMO. I can probably do it in an hour or two now. Easier than doing it on jeeps anyways. I wouldn't worry about driving it home in FWD. Ive done it a few times when I toasted my rear driveshaft and it drives a lil differently, but seemed ok. Keep in mind your rear diff is still spinning, but there wont be a load on it. So depending on how out your pinion is, you might lock up the diff and break gears.
 
Where is home? Do you have a friend that has premium AAA. It offers free tow 200 miles. 2nd, get on craigslist offering to pay $200 or more to use the service. Beats paying $1100
 
I got a uhaul trailer and towed it home. It was 247 miles so I figures before I do more damage lets get it home in one piece.
As far as setting up the dif I'll start from scratch and set it up per the book. I just find it odd that it was perfect for 12k miles and then all of a sudden my pinion setup is gone.
 
Pattern doesnt look too bad. It looks a touch shallow on the drive side of the gear though. I'd run it with that pattern. Did you happen to smack your pinion at any point? A hard smack may have crushed the sleeve further jacking up your pattern. Thats one of the reasons I said to run a solid spacer.
 
That was the pattern when I put in the new gears and locker back in 2014. In my opinion it drove excellent, very quiet for 12k miles. The exact moment when it went out is somewhat of a mystery as I was driving on the freeway with the stereo and a/c. I didn't hear or feel anything until we got off the freeway. I don't think I jared the yoke. I'll look into the solid spacer.
Thanks
 
I can only find the outer pinion bearing appears to have spun in the housing. The bearing also has some pits but that's it. Now that I'm' in this far I'll use a V6 housing instead of the 4 cyl. Its beefier and requires bigger carrier and pinion bearings and the housing is perfect especially in the area of the outer pinion race. I will plug the speed sensor port with a 3/4" freeze plug. I also think I'll need longer studs as the case is about .200 thicker.
I ordered the install kit which should be here on Thursday and I'll order the solid spacer later today. This is absolutely not what I wanted to be doing this week especially the $$ but it will be a stronger dif when done. Also looks like time to replace the axle bearings.
 
I've driven 5+ hours home more than once in front wheel drive after breaking the rear driveshaft in two. It's a little sketchy when you have a loc-rite up front, but she crused along at 60, 65 mph w/ no problem.
 
not really the same situation, since our rigs would still have a rear diff in play, even if its not powered.


but, some dude on facebook grafted a tandem axle TRAILER onto the rear of his truck, and got it licensed. it still has the t-case, and is now a FWD car hauler. pretty cool.
 
nevada said:
not really the same situation, since our rigs would still have a rear diff in play, even if its not powered.


but, some dude on facebook grafted a tandem axle TRAILER onto the rear of his truck, and got it licensed. it still has the t-case, and is now a FWD car hauler. pretty cool.
Click to expand...

got a picture?
 

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