Front rear/power divider/axle?

Discussion in 'Heavy Duty Diesel Truck Mechanics Forum' started by PSM379, Aug 30, 2022.

  1. PSM379

    PSM379 Heavy Load Member

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    Have discussed this with multiple knowledgeable friends. Unfortunately haven’t got far and still trying to figure out what to do. Being in a parking lot limited tools, considering having my wife drive out to me with my heavy tools and sockets, Im just looking for some advice here.

    yesterday morning I ease out of my parking spot where I slept. Come to stop sign at exit wait for traffic to clear, ease off clutch to pull out, grinding and truck won’t move now. Of course I thought trans or clutch right away, ruled out when truck was going into gear fine, then thought let me lock in power divider. Truck moves under power divider, slight grinding clunking there not as bad as when unlocked and truck wouldn’t move. Get in safe spot, pulled both drain plugs some star dust on magnets, no chunks at all. Drained some oil to see if anything come out the bottom, nothing not even a large shaving. Now I Jack up front drive axle drivers side, try to turn by hand it’s is binding up and clunking bad. Jack up pass side, with power divider engaged it is clunking and binding up like other side. Power divider off it spins freely. I did leave truck in lowest gear possible got out and main shaft is spinning into front rear, and you can see the intermediate shaft wanting to turn and the yoke/shaft is hopping in a way I guess. I do have videos if it would help. Now to get home I said let me pull intermediate shaft and I will run it home on power divider. Truck won’t move at all now. I am not a mechanic by any means, I guess this narrows it to front rear. Have not pulled axles yet that’s next, unfortunately don’t have a 15/16 socket yet. I should I used my head and not pulled intermediate shaft wasting time. I’m considering pulling the power divider if the axles are good. I just had the axle out on front pass side when we did a wheel seal it looked ok, again I don’t examine with a magnifying glass. Haven’t pulled the drivers side front axle in 1.5 years since we put these rears in. 140,000 miles on weller reman ds402 eatons. Any truly experienced guy can give any advice to what they think this could be. I’m leaning towards axle, which I doubt since that’s easiet or power divider. What has me stumped though is why the power divider was moving the truck when intermediate shaft was in and now it’s not. So the power divider was engaging unless I’m wrong. Again apologize for the long post, I’m just trying to explain to best of my ability and fix this myself without major help from a mobile mechanic. Thank you in advance.I will add this truck hasn’t shown any signs of a issue, was on smooth flat ground when this happened. No Big Bangs at all
     
    Bean Jr. Thanks this.
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  3. PSM379

    PSM379 Heavy Load Member

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    Axle is ruled out
     
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  4. AModelCat

    AModelCat Road Train Member

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    If the intermediate shaft wasn't turning when you got out to look, its a failure in the front diff most likely.
     
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  5. SmallPackage

    SmallPackage Road Train Member

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    Did you pull both axles out of front diff to check them?

    With the intermediate shaft completely removed you should be able to drive If power divider is good and no broke axle in front diff. with it “locked”.

    bad thing is there is no way to bypass a bad power divider. Only can bypass a bad rear drive diff or shaft in the set.
     
  6. PSM379

    PSM379 Heavy Load Member

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    Thank for reply guys, axles are good.
     
  7. AModelCat

    AModelCat Road Train Member

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    I just seen the part where you said it would not move with the intermediate shaft pulled. I assume it moved when it was in and power divider locked? If so, 100% front diff failure.

    You could drive it with the power divider locked in and intermediate shaft installed. May not be a terrible idea to leave the front axle shafts out too. Just no guarentees that a chunk could go through somewhere and cause even more carnage. Power divider locked you'd be spinning everything in that front diff up to the point where the broken part is even if the axle shafts are out.
     
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  8. baha

    baha Road Train Member

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    If the FT ring gear is missing a chunk of it's teeth flipping the power/div. will turn Power div.into a pile of broken parts in a short time?
     
    Bean Jr. Thanks this.
  9. PSM379

    PSM379 Heavy Load Member

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    Not going to risk it, brining it to a shop down the road.
     
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