GVR-4 Center diff failing?

[thomcasey]

Recently my carrier bearings started to fail. As a result, when reversing/turning at the same time, the drive-shaft would smack the exhaust and the car would bind-up unless I kept the power on. I recently rebuilt the drive-shaft, but still having the binding.

I noticed it will come to a stop when turning in either direction, forward or reverse. Also, with the power on, the inside tires will break free some times. Now, to me this sounds like the center diff is welded. Is it possible that it is bad and is locked in a 50/50 state? Or did the car have a welded diff all along and I just didn't notice it until I started having drive-shaft issues?

I have never heard of a differential going bad in this way, but I suppose it is possible.

 

[Lofty]

I can't give any advice asides from pulling a transmission apart. My center diff had failed and I really didn't have any weird driving symptoms.

Tear apart, inspect, and replace as necessary.

 

[twicks69]

Personally, I would inspect the transmission and transfer case for proper function.

It could easily be one of these two things failing (center diff or transfer case). If anything, pull the transfer case and inspect the input splines and output splines, as well as the transmission output shaft splines for wear or damage. These are good indicators as to which part is failing.

More than likely, your center differential pinion gear shims are shot, causing microwelding and binding of the upper or lower pinion gear. It will also shred the spider gears, gall up the cross-shaft, trash the center diff cover, and potentially the center diff case. If it is this, it will be a pricey fix, as it will also normally cause a damaged output shaft at the splines that engage the transfer case wearing them out prematurely.