Calgary Jeep Association

4x4 Related Groups => Tech Talk => Topic started by: fug on January 24, 2009, 08:26:29 PM

Title: Another front diff hurt
Post by: fug on January 24, 2009, 08:26:29 PM
So this is the second front diff that's blown up on me in the past 6 months.  I got this one to replace the ARB I utterly destroyed this summer (my fault doing stuff I shouldn't have been).  This one was an Ox Locker with 4.88's that I picked up from a guy in RedDeer.  It supposedly worked well and had fairly low mileage on it.  I hauled it home and did some bracket work on it then got it installed in my Jeep.  Drove it about 5 km and my rear drive shaft let go (I knew I should have replaced that u-joint!!!).  Anyhow ... some more time went by while I scraped up some cash to rebuild the driveshaft.  Took it down to DSI, got a new rear shaft and the front one rebuilt.  On the way home from DSI there was a horrendous bang and something in the front diff exploded. 

I finally got around to pulling it apart today and found all the bolts in the locker had backed out and my R&P had eaten at least one.  It looks like my axle shafts survived and the locker should be OK with some new bolts and springs for the cap.  Ring and pinon are well and truly screwed tho.  Here's a few pics of the damage

(http://www3.telus.net/fug/OxLocker/P1010600%20(Large).JPG)
(http://www3.telus.net/fug/OxLocker/P1010605%20(Large).JPG)
(http://www3.telus.net/fug/OxLocker/P1010609%20(Large).JPG)
(http://www3.telus.net/fug/OxLocker/P1010611%20(Large).JPG)

What is it with the bolts backing out like that???  The same thing happened to my ARB.  Is it installer error (I didn't install this locker)? Is it because the locker was engaged when it shouldn't have been?  Bad luck? 

The other thing that I noticed after the diff grenaded ... it was red hot.  The oil was just cooked (man what a stench).  I wonder... was that a symptom of my issue or could it be that the R&P where to tight and cause everything to over heat?
Title: Re: Another front diff hurt
Post by: SwampSinger on January 24, 2009, 09:09:47 PM
Mother of Jeep God!... I almost cryied...looking very sad.

Robin... if you need a hand sometime let me know ... I'll drive up... NP!
Title: Re: Another front diff hurt
Post by: fug on January 24, 2009, 09:22:37 PM
Thanks man.  I have all the parts to build a HP D30 with 30 spline ARB, 4.88 gears and alloy axles.  I just have to dig up a HP30 case and then get to work.  I'll probably do most of the work at Bills cause I don't have the stuff to setup gears (press, clamshell bearing puller, dial indicators etc).  I'll let you know when I'm gonna set things up.
Title: Re: Another front diff hurt
Post by: SwampSinger on January 24, 2009, 09:23:40 PM
Deal!
Title: Re: Another front diff hurt
Post by: sylvrinvader on January 24, 2009, 10:23:49 PM
bill has my old d30 at his house that we pulled out of my tj if its what you need and it fits your jeep you can have it. ask bill for the details on the diff and let me know.
Title: Re: Another front diff hurt
Post by: fug on January 24, 2009, 10:30:51 PM
Thanks man... but I'm looking for an XJ front diff.  XJ's come with a high pinion 30 which is just a bit stronger and gives you a bit more clearance than a regular TJ dana30.  The gears I have are reverse cut for a HP dana30 so I can't even use one of the TJ ones even if I wanted too.  Thanks tho.
Title: Re: Another front diff hurt
Post by: Waytec on January 25, 2009, 01:50:44 AM
What’s in the XJs you have now?
Title: Re: Another front diff hurt
Post by: fug on January 25, 2009, 09:50:56 AM
Yes bot my 95 and 96 XJ's have HP30's I just don't know if I want to part them out or sell them off as runners.  Still working that out.  I guess maybe I should post up in the for sale forum and see if there's lots of interest in parting out an XJ.  I have an 88 too but I think its a vacuum disconnect axle so thats somewhat useless to me.

I had toyed with the idea of just grabbing a front axle from PnP cause once I pull one from one of my jeeps it's no longer a roller which means I gotta part it out and get it out of here ASAP.  The idea of completely stripping a jeep in -20 is not an overly thrilling one to me.
Title: Re: Another front diff hurt
Post by: calltrex on January 25, 2009, 11:17:26 AM
Shitty

should have bought my jeep!   ::)
Title: Re: Another front diff hurt
Post by: LEMON-AID JAY on January 25, 2009, 02:43:52 PM
I have a HP30
Title: Re: Another front diff hurt
Post by: Waytec on January 25, 2009, 09:04:08 PM
I have a suggestion that I am figuring you have thought about already but I am going to give it just in case. What if you pulled the HP 30 out and then put the LP from you rig back in the XJ and then sell it.
Title: Re: Another front diff hurt
Post by: hps4evr on January 25, 2009, 09:20:14 PM
just to be sure. when you re-build, use red lock tight thread locker on the ring and pinion bolts. i had one bolt back out on my dana 35 and it caused the end of that diff... 4 months later of course;) hard luck is all i can guess. maybe a hi-end dana 60 for the front is in order. some higher power is giving you a sign! the sign sais lose the D30 and get a D60!!!
Title: Re: Another front diff hurt
Post by: fug on January 25, 2009, 09:25:02 PM
I had thought of that but I would have to put the LP back together... which would mean buying a new R&P and install kit and setting the gears up.  
Title: Re: Another front diff hurt
Post by: rws on January 26, 2009, 08:58:23 AM
Man, that looks ugly.

NP has lots of high pinion D30s.   Watched a guy remove one in 5 minutes with a battery powered reciprocating saw, he just cut everything, links,control arms,etc. 
Title: Re: Another front diff hurt
Post by: rws on January 26, 2009, 08:59:47 AM
That should be PnP has lot's of high pinion D30s.
Title: Re: Another front diff hurt
Post by: BEZZ on January 27, 2009, 11:27:04 AM
Whenever you guys get around to building this diff I wouldn't mind hanging out for an education. You guys provide the knowledge and I'll provide the beverages!