Rear Ends

I've had a one go bad with a single axle drive. I had no warning. The ring gear separated, Same as an axle shaft that separates. Plenty noise after, with no forward movement. No warning noise that I remember.

 

I've had a power divider almost explode. Had massive chunks of gears come out when the oil was drained, only symptom was the front seal was leaking.

 

Had a power divider let go, no warning. Clunk clunk clunk..Loaded flatbed on level ground but it was very spongy, I could see the ground moving under the tandems as I backed into place. O'l K100 with Rockford rears, nice having parts at home. Fixed it in the driveway and rolled on.

 

You don't necessarily get a high temp reading. Back in 1981 I had a power divider literally explode in a White Road Boss with 38,000 lb Rockwells which were known to be a bit suspect in those days. I was starting on a steep hill and Bang!!! Gears and oil everywhere.

 

Luckily they seem less likely to go bang nowadays, either they're made better or people spec them heavier.

 

Not really any warning. You might get some whinning depending on whats about to fail but usually it just goes.

 

A loud bang and a free revving motor...does not sound like Heaven either!

 

Have lost three around here.

First was the truck we used to shunt. '95 T600. It went snap, snap intermittently for a while before it quit working entirely.

Second was a '05. The driver said he didn't do anything it just started making noise when he backed into the spot at the rest area loaded. Couldn't move. He made the last 30 miles with the power divider on.

Third was me. '98. Changed the diff oil and found filings. We think it was a bearing cage. No symptoms at all. Dodged a bullet there. Good reason to change your diff oil people.