front diff cooked?
04-30-2010, 08:43 PM
#1
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front diff cooked?
my truck has been making a growling/howling noise for a while now, sounded like a wheel bearing but i changed the front diff oil and found this on the drain plug. i've read a bit of metal is normal but this much? maybe carrier or pinion bearing?
04-30-2010, 08:57 PM
#2
Unfortunately the front differentials are not the most durable in GM 1/2 tons. Usually it's the carrier bearing lock plates that fail (lock tabs break off) and let the bearings loosen up and they start to eat themselves. I believe any time you rebuild an 8.25" front diff you should replace the carrier bearing adjuster lock plates. As easily as they fail, bending the lock tab back and forth just seems like a recipe for disaster.
05-01-2010, 12:27 PM
#3
Mine looked worse than that last time I changed it, and it was noisy too...I actually diagnosed the noise from the front end the day that the trans blew. Add front diff to the list...I've heard of the carrier bearing retainers breaking...does the ring and pinion get eaten also, or can they survive the carnage. I'd think that with the carrier rocking around the ring and pinion would be wiped out too...
