About an hour ago, I was driving home after finishing my paper route and the jeep started a horrific growling and banging. As I was stopping, it came to a screeching stop like I hit a solid object! I tried to move it a little and it just whined and growled. I put it in part time 4wd and it moved forward while clanking and banging. I got out and looked underneath to find both driveshafts were fine, universals looked good, and nothing appeared to be broken. I limped it home in 2nd gear with something banging like a broken differential or something. In the driveway, I put it back in 2wd and it moved quietly forward and backward normally with no noise. I backed up about 20 feet and gave it some throttle. it shot some gravel out from under the tires like nothing was wrong. I put her to bed, came in and poured myself a double scotch and am waiting for daylight to go investigate. Damn!

Not a bit of warning on this. Why me? Why now? Dear Lord, give me strength!

 

Mine developed a loud clicking not long ago, the inner parking brake shoe hold down had let go and the shoe or something was clicking the abs wheel.

 

Okay, the sun has come up and the scotch has worn off, so I jacked up the rear end. The driver's side wheel spins freely without the other side moving at all. The passenger's wheel spins with a rattling sound. Trans is in park. Time to open the diff.

 

limited slip in there? they like to come apart

 

ONe wheel turns and the other don't? sounds like spider gears blew up. I have an old set of D35's if you want but they were loose when I took em off.

 

It sounds to me the planetary cross shaft is broken and possible one or both of the side gears. If it's just the planetarys, I'll just take the broken pieces out and drive it on the front shaft until I can get some parts. I can't drive it without the side gears to hold the axles in place. Here's where a 242 comes in handy! If the ring and pinion is still good I won't have to pull the driveshaft out.

I've got about 1/2 of the cover bolts out and I'm taking a break. My back and knees need it. It took quite a lot out of me to get it up on jackstands on a gravel driveway. I figure I'll just strain the old fluid and put it back in. It shouldn't hurt anything for a couple of days. Now I've got to find a good axle man. This is going to max out my credit card!

I may just come and get these gears if you're serious. Worn planetarys are better than no planetarys. The problem is I don't want to drive it on 690 just on the front shaft.

 

I best go check if I really do have them . D35

 

I have all 4 gears, the 2 little half dish spacers, the pin and the little bolt

 

Latest on the odyssey! One bolt decided to round off even with my SK 6 point socket! It's one of the ones at the top, of course! I just spent 1/2 hour looking for my extractor sockets, but I found them. The last time I used them was 6 years ago! I'm incredibly lucky they're all still in the box! Once I get this draining and have a look see, I'm getting some sleep! At this point I could use a Percocet!

EXCELLENT!! PM me and we'll work something out! Thanks buddy!

 

Got the cover off and saw lots of chunks! Looks like the crosspin broke where the bolt is and it took out a chunk of the carrier assembly. One planet is in pieces, the other is chewed, and both side gears are toast but still whole. If I can find a spacer piece of some sort to hold the side gears in their bearings, I can at least move it. A nice chunk of hardwood is not out of the question. I've GOT to get some sleep! I've been up since 9 PM last night. Looks like it's the night shift for me tonight.

 

Dave I can deliver those parts I have if you want. I have them right here. Probly 150k on them, nothing wrong with them I replaced trying to cure a knock that turned out to be the pinion was just a bit loose.

However, the damaged carrier is a problem I have no answer for, other than to ...yes...buy one. They come with the gears. Hopefully the R&P are ok?

 

That you very much, but I spoke to my mechanic and he got me a used rear axle for $550 with a 30 day guarantee and $300 for installation. Now all I have to do is get it to him. The ring is a little chipped when a gear got caught in between it and the pinion. That must have been my sudden stoppage.

I wasn't aware the cover plate has a magnet clipped to it. It looks like a hairy monster. I just woke up at 11 PM and am trying to get the cobwebs out of my brain.

Thanks again for your offer, but this axle is toast! It probably can be saved, but all the internals need to be replaced.

This is the point where most people would junk the jeep and buy something else, but I can't afford to do that. My buying power is at it's limit. I can barely keep up with my credit payments right now. I'm going to need tires before the snow comes and I don't know how that's going to happen.

 

Yeah with that level of damage it's hard to imagine you wouldn't need the whole rear end. Ouch! Let me ask, was there any warning? Any previous service etc? Good old D35. pfft. NEVER had any issues with any GM car I owned. Makes me want to go change my rear end oil right now! Had you changed the fluid or did you have a leak, or anything? Recently I replaced that rubber plug. It stopped my lil leak but it wasn't so bad that the fluid was real low.

 

It had been whining a little at high speed and when I got it apart there was considerable backlash in the ring&pinion, but nothing else was wrong as far as I knew. I've serviced both diffs twice in 100K miles and used 75-140 Syn in them. BTW, I can't get that smell off my hands, probably not until I shower.

I may have hurt the t/case because it won't go into 2wd now, but all the other ranges seem to work. I'm using part time now and when I shift on the roll into 2wd, it drives like the front axle is still engaged. I'll worry about that after I get a rear diff!

Your not going to believe this, or maybe you will. I jammed a piece of 2x4 between the side gears and removed the rear shaft. I put the old fluid back in and I'm going to do my paper route tonight, then take it to the shop in the morning. I'm going to run Erie Blvd into the city to get my papers because I don't trust it on the highway.

The thing is, I've never spun the tires or used full throttle to any great extent. About a month ago, I was sitting waiting to make a left turn with oncoming traffic just close enough together where I couldn't turn, then there as a bigger break then most so I whipped the wheel and booted it. She "hound dogged" on me, lifting and spinning the inside rear wheel. I didn't hear anything so I put it out of my mind. I guess that's what did it.

 

[I'm going to do my paper route tonight, then take it to the shop in the morning. I'm going to run Erie Blvd into the city to get my papers because I don't trust it on the highway.[/QUOTE]

dude, don't be crazy. you dodged a bullet once, ....