Getting a truck home with a bad differential

Discussion in 'Heavy Duty Diesel Truck Mechanics Forum' started by DMAX66, Oct 18, 2018.

  1. DMAX66

    DMAX66 Light Load Member

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    I have a truck out on the road with a bad rear differential. I was wondering if I can pull the rear drive shaft and rear axles and just run it on the front differential to get the truck home. Obviously use something to cover the hubs so I don’t loose fluid.
     
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  3. Heavyd

    Heavyd Road Train Member

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    Yes, you can do that.
     
  4. DMAX66

    DMAX66 Light Load Member

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    Awesome, thanks
     
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  5. Oldironfan

    Oldironfan Road Train Member

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    Are you sure the rear diff is bad? And not the front diff?
    Being the front diff is the main diff, and is used the most.
     
  6. DMAX66

    DMAX66 Light Load Member

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    No it’s definitely
    no it’s definitely the rear. A bearing failed and slightly cracked the case
     
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  7. wore out

    wore out Numbered Classic

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    That is a myth that one diff is used more than the other. They pull equal.

    I have pulled axles and locked the power divider in and ran 750 miles home before wasn't a real big deal
     
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  8. windsmith

    windsmith Road Train Member

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    The rear diff is the driven diff when the power divider isn't locked in.
     
  9. AModelCat

    AModelCat Road Train Member

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    That statement will go over the heads of 95% of the people who read it unfortunately.
     
  10. swaan

    swaan Road Train Member

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    Wrong.

    It can be any one of the 4 wheels on a tandem application. People always thing it's the rear diff that drives.

    It's what ever tire has the least amount of traction that is going to spin. Could be left,right,front or back. You actually have 3 differentials in a tandem setup with a power divider.
     
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  11. Lyle H

    Lyle H Road Train Member

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    If you really want to get them scratching their heads, tell them that when one wheels spins, all the power goes to the spinning wheel.
    And when it’s spinning, it’s actually spinning 4 times faster than normal.
     
    AModelCat, KVB, Oxbow and 1 other person Thank this.
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