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Rear Wheels locking and sometimes front wheels too...

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sho_pow

20+ Year Contributor
50
0
Sep 19, 2002
Gilbert, Arizona
Hello everyone! Sorry if this is too long. I want to be as clear as possible....

I replaced my rear differential about 1000 miles ago with a 4bolt with about 37,000 miles on it. I had no problems after that. The yoke seal was also replaced on my transfer case at the same time from the dealer. I toped off all fluids on the tranny, transfer case, and rear diff about a month ago.

Just about a week ago I noticed some vibrations while on the freeway and when i would coast to a stop I can feel a slight occasional "thud". Well, last night on the way home on the freeway the car began to shake while I was doing 65 mph. It got even worse and I started to hear a whine or humming noise inside and outside of the car. So I pulled off the freeway and the vibration became worse. I noticed the rear of the car "hopping slightly" and when I would take a slow turn onto the next street the rear inside wheel would begin to hop and lock up. The front wheels would occasionally lock up as well and turn my sterring wheel left and right. I also noticed after stopping the car that it was difficult to move. The smell of burnt rubber or fluid was there too. Luckily I made it home safely.

Well this morning I raised the vehicle up and drained all the drivetrain fluids. The trasfer case had a very little amount of metal shavings on the drain plug, but the fluid seemed cleaned. There is a leak in the yoke again because I can see traces of red line around the driveshaft and underbody, but the transfer case still had a significant amount of lube. The transmission fluid seemed clean and I didn't notice any metal shavings. The rear diff however had about a 1/4 teaspoon of black gunk and shavings at the tip of the drain plug and the red line gear lube, which was red obviously, had some traces of the same black gunk.

I know the car begins to shake only after I drive for about 15 mins. Thats when the humming noise begins, the wheels begin to lock, and the smell of something burning is present. Its most likely that whatever the problem is its seizing as it heats up because if I move the car after it hasn't been running for awhile and it cools off it seems to move freely. This may be a possible center diff problem correct?

I was wondering if there are any other "tests" I can do to diagnose the problem. I spun the front wheels individually and the other wheels spin as well. I spun each rear wheel independantly and it wouldn't spin the other rear wheel, but it does spin the driveshaft.. I have an lsd rear diff btw, so that is ok for those rear wheels to spin idependantly correct?

I hope its not the rear diff since I just replaced it and I know its hard for those to just crap out. I don't know if the transfer case seized because there was enough fluids and no evidence of metal shavings, but there is a yoke seal leak. I don't know how to check if the center diff is gone without opening up the tranny.

Please help! Thanks for the replys and space!

-Louie
 
Have you made any hard launches or done any burnouts lately? I dont think its the rear because it shouldnt affect the front tirs unless you have other problems. I would pull the side cove off of the tranny and check the vc and center diff for problems.
 
Nope, no hard launches or dumping the clutch recently since I baby the car ever since replacing the rear diff. I am in the process of checking if the vc and front diff is gone. Thanks for the suggestion.
 
What do you have in place of the front diff? Spool or welded? If so, you need to remove the vc or you will burn it up. When I got my spool from tre, it came with a aluminum coupler to remove the vc and keep the output shaft in place.
 
From what I know the tranny is stock. I'm going to open up the tranny this weekend and take a look at everything. I haven't worked on tranny's before so everything will be new to me. I'll give an update on what I find as soon as I open her up.

Again thanks for the suggestions and keep them coming!

Louie
 
Well I removed the center diff and opened her up. Turns out the spacer on the output flange side was blown. Luckily, nothing was thrashed inside. I just need to dremel and smooth out the areas where the spacer melted and get a new spacer.

Anyone have any other suggestions while I have the center diff opened? I don't want to upgrade anything, but do I have to replace any parts that aren't reusable? Thanks again for everyones help. This fix could have been worse. :rolleyes:
 
I was wondering on the compatibility of center diffs for my car. I have a 1990 center diff. What other stock center diffs will fit without having to make any modifications? Thanks!
 
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