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CV Axle Seperation

The differential is in its factory position. The 'lift' consisted of extended "A" arms, torsion keys, torsion bars, leaf springs etc. Lousy waste of $$ that one.
 
The differential is in its factory position. The 'lift' consisted of extended "A" arms, torsion keys, torsion bars, leaf springs etc. Lousy waste of $$ that one.

Please explain what you mean by "extended "A" arms"? That could be your problem right there.
 
Might need to lower diff then. It would make it so axles don't have to extend as far.
 
BDS lift kit consists of mounting hardware to drop the differential. Will work on that aspect once the frame is sorted out. Backing up and turning the right side is clacking like my old worn out knees. Frame shops are booked up for 14 days so it will be a while before anything good to report. Sorting out other stuff in the meantime.
 
The frame shop foreman said he'd happily take my money but it sounded like a suspension/driveline issue (duh) and a guy he works with wouldn't charge anything to look at it and give an estimate. They were slammed for work so I dropped it off on Friday and left town. Got a call on Monday and he says the front differential case is cracked wide open. "Now there's your problem!" I was under there and wasn't looking at the case as much as the mountings but he said it was fairly obvious....I'll ask them to send me a shot if they can but right now it is parked outside during the day and they wheel it into the bays at night for security.
I called Gears who sold me the differential and they said to bring it on in and they'd make things right, etc. So, once I get back to town next week and get the time to do the running around I'll let you know what we find out.

Thanks for staying tuned in.
 
There in lays the mystery between what was observed and explained by someone without the aid of photos over a phone.
No gear oil on driveway, under the vehicle (blown back) etc. Yeah, I'm mystified by the comment and the reality.
 
Something fishy there!.
Only way for that casing to crack is if the internals pile up.
Lack of oil will cause that for sure.
Before that axle piles up either trough lack of lubricant or a failing part i'm sure it would have let you know it by sound and feel and/or oil drips me thinks
 
Got the truck back and the got the definition of 'broken' etc. Funny how you notice things that aren't right once you realize what to look for and you can step back a couple of feet to look at them. They had the truck up on a rack over a pit so I could see things from further back and gain a better perspective.

Top Front Mount on the differential busted clean through. I never even looked up at the top of the case...
IMG_3256.jpg
IMG_3258.jpg
Explains the lack of leaking oil. No visible damage to the differential from any impacts to explain the break.

Passenger side mounting bracket is shifted out of position and, therefor, also causing issues such as not being able to center the differential.
IMG_3257.jpg

Passenger side Half Shaft is not in line with the differential axle tube which causes the racket when reversing while turning.

My guess is the stress on the case mount on the driver's side caused by the passenger side bracket being shifted to the outside finally got to the 'straw that broke the camel's back' point and it let go.

Will work with the guys at Gears to see what the next steps are:
- Exchange the differential under warranty? Can't see this as their fault except alignment issues with the differential should have been discovered at the time of install.
- Exchange differentials and leave out for repair of passenger side mounting brackets either by Gears or a frame shop
- Exchange differentials and leave out until lift is done with differential drop kit (BDS)
- Front axle swap out for Solid Front Diff kit....
 
I guess that explains it, must've been leftover legacy of the noted previous accident damage.
I have an axle in my parts pile just like it, only mine has both mountings broke off.
Semi did that and a lot more to my 95 a week after i bought it and i had just put a new differential under it.
 
Got the truck back today in 2WD configuration.
Differential is next door to tranny shop at Nationwide Trailers where they do welding on all kinds of stuff.
The owner said he'd do his best but to know and understand that cast aluminum tends to weaken on the outside of the welds. I said it was worth the effort rather than have to buy another front differential.
Of note, mount bushings were pushed about a half inch to the driver's side meaning the differential was forced to the passenger side with such force as do that. That explains the differences in clearance on either side for the half-shafts and why the second one let go.
20140320-bushing slide2.jpg 20140320-bushig slide.jpg

"This is why we can't have nice things!"

In the morning, the truck goes to the body shop to get the frame checked over anyway and that bracket straightened out.
 
Back in town.
Picked up the repaired/welded front differential. $70...not as much as I thought.

Body shop called and I went down to discuss findings. They thought there was a missing bracket that would throw off measurements so we worked out the misunderstanding and looked things over a bit. From an initial observation it would seem to be that the frame on the passenger side is twisted a bit but I'll wait for the data to come back before stating that as an issue.
 
Back in town again. Called the shop while I was in MS and they confirmed there was 'a bit of work to do.' That says $$$$ in so many ways I'm afraid but cheaper and easier to do than find a straight frame and make a swap over. They said it could be done today but more likely on Monday. I said the goal is to get it RIGHT and not to rush the job.

Fingernails are chewed to stubs though.
 
Got it back. Not as bad as I thought as far as price goes. Much less than anticipated (now I can use the unspent money to pay 'my fairer share' in Fed Tax).
12 total billed hours on the rack. Frame was definitely out on the right side and the fact that it's a 4x4 frame with all the other stuff in there gave them a challenge. After I got it aligned it feels a lot better too. I'll get the differential replaced this weekend and in the meantime, knock out a couple of things that the differential was blocking. Fortunately, I found the oil leak wasn't the pan or rear main seal and was an just an easy IP nut tightening item up top.
 
Truck is back with the differential in place. Looks like it should. Bushings were pushed back to where they were. The spacer is still in the driver side though. :???:

Guys said there was still some extra room there but the passenger side was better. I did some crawling around in the dirt and hills behind the house and no issues. We'll see I guess.:skep:

Fingers crossed.:skep::skep:
 
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