Front Diff.

[Asaddman]

Hello all, I am a new user, although I have read in here plenty of times for other info.

I have a 1990 Bronco, and it was when driving ecspecially slower speeds making a clunking sound. So I crawled underneath it and grabbed the front driveline and twisted it a bit, sure enough the sound was coming from that direction. I thought it would the U-joints so went and bought some new ones.

After I dropped the driveline I spun the yoke and realized that the noise was inside there. I locked the hubs in and shifted to low 4 and crawled underneath and the yoke would spin clockwise with some force but not counter clockwise.

So my question is this

1)Is it because it might be a limited slip that it spins in only one direction?

2)Do you think that the axels are stripped or the pinion gear/bearings?

3)If either or all, is there anything special I might need to know before tackling this chore, because I don't like repair shops and won't buy one from a junk yard?

I have looked on www.broncograveyard.com and they have a master overhaul for all the bearins and seals, and also they have a new gear ring and pinion wich I don't know what size I would need.

Thanks for the help in advance

Adam

 

[BLADE262US]

I would leave the transfercase in 2 wheel drive while checking this out . When you engage the 4X4 you are now involving the transmission and the rear output shaft of the tranny does turn easier one way than the other , If you had it in park it should not have moved at all . If you try it in 2 wheel with the hubs locked in you should not be able to move the yoke either direction if you unlock one side you should be able to move either direction and you will see the unlocked side axle shaft move when you move the yoke . If it turns very hard at this time then it is possible you have a limited slip up front there were some from the factory that way . If you unlock both sides you will see both shafts move when you move the yoke . If the differential does end up being messed up and you have the pretty much standard 3:55 gear ration then you would really be better off getting one out a junkyard and replacing the entire unit , An install kit will cost ya around $100 then if the gears are messed up theres another $150 and if the diff is messed up too theres another couple hundred and you should be able to get an entire unit from a yard for around $100 and alot of times these trucks were bought by people who just wanted the 4X4 sticker so theres good possibility to get a front diff with little to no miles on it , /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

 

[Asaddman]

I was talking to a mechanic from where I work and he also had a Bronco, he was going to check it out tonight. But he recommended going with a straight axel swap if that's the case. Either way it looks like it is going to be a good size job and a mess. (

Oh well I guess that happens when you buy a vehicle without driving it, although I can't complain I only paid $1000 for it and it's an Eddie Bauer. Did have to have the tranny rebuilt (the reason I couldn't drive it) and that wasn't cheap for sure. I guess if the previous owner really didn't take care of that end of the vehicle.

Adam

 

[ocalabronco]

how about nailing down what the problem is before you decide to go SAS. im sure you trust your mechanic, but doing the SAS would run you way more than a gear install (worst case scenario), so methinks he has dollar signs in his eyes. I need you to do two things so i can better help ya out. first, i need some more specs on your bronco (lift, tires, yada yada). next, see if you can track down the clunk a little better. the front shaft will have a little bit of slop to it, so thats not THAT big of an issues