maguirre

Hi all,

I've been having some issues with my front-end and I'm in desperate need of some advice.
About 12 months ago I changed both my front axles (OEM parts) as one of my boots was busted. Then this past winter we had a light coating of snow and I engaged my 4x4 (4H). After 10-20 mins of driving I noticed weird sounds and smell in the car. I pulled over and noticed smoke coming from the front-end of the car. My 4x4 was stuck and would not disengage when I shifted to (2H). I let it cool down for a few minutes and then the 4x4 disengaged.
I thought one of my seals inside the front differential was damaged (driver side) when the CV joint was replaced, as I noticed oil leaking from where they connect.
I bought a new seal to have it replaced and my mechanic told me today that the front differential is the problem. He showed me that there's too much play where the axle inserts in the differential. He said that if we put in a new seal it will likely get chew up by the loose axle and oil will leak again. He recommended I get a new front differential.

What has me very concerned is that when I drove home today my truck started making very loud clicking sounds from inside the car, along with my green (4x4) light flashing on the dash and with very loud grinding sounds coming from the front differential. It feels like I'm grinding through the gears and every now and then I will get a loud clanking sound where my truck literally jumps as if going over a large rock or something. The grinding is so loud and strong that I feel it in my steering wheel and my pedals.
Please see the video I took today while driving let me know if my front differential was damaged beyond repair during my incident this past winter.
I was looking at prices for a new differential (OEM) and they're going for approx. $1,100.

Thanks in advanced.

Marcelo

aowRS

Marcelo,
I have a spare 120,000-mile front differential that I purchased a few years ago while buying axles from a donor truck. The differential has 4.10 gears and is ready to install if you’re interested in it.

The looseness where the halfshaft stub axles go into the differential is pretty normal. The factory seal has quite a bit of stretch to it, so a leaking seal after an axle replacement typically points to an incorrect install that damaged the seal.



Andreas

Michael83883

I am have the same exact issue. What did you find out was the issue?