Might have destroyed rear diff?

[D_Eclipse9916]

Alright I was doing an autocross on a very rough course using my launch setup for control off the line. I was doing completely fine until I started driving home. I could get this awful smell through the cabin and was wondering what happened? so I look under the vehicle and tell that the smell is coming from the rear differential. I am still 1.5 hours away from home so it would cost me more to tow it than a new rear diff. I try to get it home and about 35 minutes from home I see this lady looking over at me like this WTF . So I pull over and at about 5 mph I hear a pop and I stop the car immediately...mind you I already had it in neutral. Look under the vehicle and it is smoking and oil is all over my sway bars, exhaust and everything else under there.


Get it towed home and drain the oil, there is still almost a quart in it, but you can definitely tell there is a silvery metallic hint in the oil. And when I removed the drain plug 2 2mm pieces of plastic or metal (it was late at night I went to bed) came out with it. Will take out the diff tomorrow to take off the inspection plate, but what should I be looking for, and is it possible that it could be fine???

Thanks for your time. Also could I have ruined anything else?

 

[blackGSX2g]

Generally it would cost more to rebuild the rear diff rather than swap in a used replacement unit.

I'd be worried about strain on the center diff/transfer case if the rear end was becoming increasingly difficult to turn. Check the fluids in the TC/tranny for the little shavings you've seen in your rear diff.

If you are just replacing it, make sure you check to see if your unit is an LSD or non-LSD unit as the rear axle set-up is a bit different between the two.

 

[jtmcinder]

This matches the symptoms of a broken rear axle, followed by a very hot and angry rear VC. If I am correct, then you have not only cooked the rear VC, but also put a strain on your center VC, since, to the extrent the rear VC couldn't hold a lock, the center VC was what kept some power going to the front.

- Jtoby