Uh Oh, I think my front diff has gone!

Submitted: Sunday, May 16, 2010 at 21:28

ThreadID: 78525 Views:2999 Replies:5 FollowUps:1

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Member - Barnesy

Two violent, crunching bangs came from the front left of the GQ today when in high range 4wd on a muddy track (yes we had rain in SA today)! That was preceded by the vehicle pulling to the right, and then several seconds of a very unhealthy grinding from the front diff.

I now cannot drive the vehicle with the hubs locked, although in 2wd it still seems to drive well.

I'm not looking forward to the quote to repair either a complete front diff or lockable hub. The vehicle has done over 300 000km and I've done over 100 000km in it and this is the first problem. Can't complain I suppose.

Barnesy

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Reply By: Injected - Monday, May 17, 2010 at 01:11

Monday, May 17, 2010 at 01:11

Barnesy
Could be just a uni joint letting go, no major drama.
Cheers

AnswerID: 416966

Reply By: Member - Nick (TAS) - Monday, May 17, 2010 at 08:00

Monday, May 17, 2010 at 08:00

CV/Axle or FWH ??

AnswerID: 416972

Reply By: Members Paul and Melissa (VIC) - Monday, May 17, 2010 at 09:48

Monday, May 17, 2010 at 09:48

sounds like a CV

AnswerID: 416984

Reply By: Member - Roachie (SA) - Monday, May 17, 2010 at 10:14

Monday, May 17, 2010 at 10:14

Barnsey, not sure if you're much of a mechanic? (I'm NOT).... hahahaha..... But if it was mine, I'd start by removing the hubs and seeing if there is anything in there that is obviously broken. If so, then it is reasonably easy to buy and fit a new one yourself; thus saving several hundred $$$$ in labour. Beyond that, I would be getting a mechanic to do the fix as my knowledge, physical ability/agility and tool chest would preclude me from delving any further into the drive train......unless, as been suggested already, it is just a uni joint...(worth checking that too).

Do you have auto locking hubs, or Nissan manual hubs or something like AVM manual hubs? I have the AVMs and everybody tells me they are weak-as-water. Well, I've had mine for many years and haven't managed to break one yet (although I am not a real hard core type operator). My theory is that I would rather have the manual hub as the weakest link as then I can fix it myself in the bush (I carry a spare one).

Good luck

Roachie

PS: Where was it raining in SA over the weekend???? certainly not here on the upper YP.!!!!! hahaha

AnswerID: 416987

Follow Up By: Member - Barnesy - Monday, May 17, 2010 at 21:15

Monday, May 17, 2010 at 21:15

We had 9.6mm in here in Pt Augusta Sunday. That is a lot for us here. Visibility this morning driving to work at 06:30 was less than 20 metres due to thick fog.

FollowupID: 687168