Front Differential problem? - Diesel Forum

johnny_munyak · 10-11-2005, 10:53 AM

Just purchased a 94' F250 Extended cab longbox 4x4 with the 7.3 turbo and an auto. I was crawling around under the truck checking things over and I noticed the axle shafts on the front differential have some movement in them. I compared them to the front diff on our 93' F250 7.3 diesel and there is very little, if ANY, movement in those shafts at all? Should I be concerned? There isn't any oil leaking but it seems to me like there are some bearings or seals that may need replacement.

Is this normal? Is this an expensive fix??

I've contact the dealer I bought the truck from and they are avoiding my calls......8(

ClassicFordGuy · 10-11-2005, 07:26 PM

I don't think there should be too much movement in them, how much is there, 1/16 turn?

I also just bought a 94' F250 Extended cab 8' bed 4x4 with the 7.3 turbo and and auto trans, and ironicaly I was crawling around under it and started messing with the front diff. Mine is completely shot somehow. I can turn each front drive axle independently of each other and the driveshaft with clunking and binding. I'm pretty sure the spider gears are completely shot/broken to pieces. I haven't had the time to take it appart yet. I don't know if thats common with these trucks, I think the chunk is a Dana 50, does yours say D50 on the top of the case above the yoke?

-Rob

johnny_munyak · 10-12-2005, 01:21 PM

I believe it does. What I noticed was that I can wiggle the shafts up and down a little. The front diff still pulls when put into 4x4 and will throw gravel when you stomp on it, but the one axle shaft(the short one that is on the drivers side) has some sweat of oil where the axle shaft yoke meets the hub. It smells like 80/90 gear oil so I'm assuming it is coming from the axle houseing due to some weak seals and bearings. Our 93' F250 has almost NO play at all in the axle shafts and no oil or nothing leaking from anywhere. I'm concerned and kind of in a hurry because the dealer I bought it from is obligated to fix anything major that I find wrond with it, and told me that after 1 week....and up to a month, would go 50/50 on any major component failure in regards to repairs. If this is a problem...or could be the start of a major one, I'd like to get it fixed as soon as possible so I don't have to shell out a pile of money from my pocket. He did give me the option to bring the truck back in 1 week and he would nulify the deal....no questions asked. I don't really want to do that because I really like the truck.

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johnny_munyak · 10-12-2005, 01:38 PM

Just to be clear....the play doesn't seem to be in the U-joints. U-joints seem tight. The play seems to be in the axle shafts themselves when you wiggle them up and down or side to side. Doesn't seem right...at least in comparison to our 93' F250.

ClassicFordGuy · 10-12-2005, 11:17 PM

I'm no expert but if you can move the axle shafts where they enter the chunk I would asume the oil seal and or bearing is shot in addition to whatever else is wrong and there probably isnt any or not enough gear oil in there. Also the dried gear oil resedue on the imput yoke means oil was comming out there and isn't now, meaning it could be empty? Theres a plug on the front you can look in there, I'm not sure if you can see any oil from there but maybe you could look inside with a light and see the gears. I would guess your gears are on their way to catasrophic failure like mine have already had. I would look up a driveline shop, a place that sets up diffs and balances drivelines and stuff, call them and ask about it, they would definately know.

-Rob

ClassicFordGuy · 10-13-2005, 12:29 AM

If you live in florida or even if you don't I guess, you can call advance driveline 407-299-1100. I think they specialize is 9"diffs but I think they do everything.

-Rob

John Wood · 10-19-2005, 05:07 AM

Hi,

Just a thought that it might be the torrington bearing in the wheel hub. I recently had my front end bearings checked out as the driver side shaft was floppying around. It turned out to be the torrington bearing. When it was replaced everything was fine. The cost was about three hundred dollars Canadian.

Don't know if this applies in your case, but thought it was worth mentioning.

Let us know how you made out.

Good luck,

John

Greg77 · 10-19-2005, 07:23 AM

You don't say in your signature where your from, but if your from some place cold your truck may have had a plow on.Plows are hard on front differential's. The only way you'll find out is to take it apart. If it hasn't been run out of oil it may just be a combination, of needing seals, greasing wheel bearings and putting every thing back together. You may also be getting some play from normal wear in the ujoints, they are more than 10 years old and probably oem. When I take one apart now I drill a hole in the bottom and tap a plug in that way you can drain the oil and check for metal shavings.

Greg