Front differential Issues?

[eblank]

So apparently its as simple as the 4wd staying engaged. I drive it around and, throwing it into and out of 4 lo, and it was really hard to get out of 4wd. It gets out of lo, but the 4wd would stay engaged until I went forward and backwards a few times. So this means I have 2 issues:

1: Its getting stuck in 4wd. Any suggestions for this?

2: My front diff is rotating under tension, allowing the back of it to go up. I jacked it up and looked around, and all the mounts appear to be tight. But I do have a question. Where the axle mounts mount to the frame there are rubber bushings on the front side. I'm wondering if this bushing is shot or if the bolt is not tight enough. Here is the one on the passenger side, the one on the driver side has more exposed thread, but it measures the same (2 in). This one looks like it could be tightened, but I couldn't get anywhere, and didn't want to get out a breaker bar until I knew if it is already tight.

[tom4bren]

The 2 issues could be related. If the front axle is rotating while in 4WD, I guess it could be putting the transfer case in a bind & not allow it to disengage. It's just a shot in the dark ... but possible.

I've not heard of those bushings going bad ... except during removal.

My first experience was when we were installing diff drops on a VX. The bolt was completely siezed inside the bushing. The bushing was completely destroyed by the time we got the bolt out.

My second experience was when somebody returned their diff brackets to me to be modified. One of the bushings was missing so I assumed the same thing happened.

The good news is that the bushings are available. I'll have to look up where I bought them from. IIRC they were about $10 each.

As far as how tight the bolts should be ... pretty friggin tight. I didn't look it up to see if there was a torque spec on those bolts but I just tightened them down as tight as I could. Schlep them down with penetrating oil real good before you start tightening them so that you aren't fighting against binding (just compression).

More bad news. If you do have to replace those bushings, you'll probably have to actually remove the bracket entirely. They don't exactly just slide in. You don't need a 2 ton press to get them in but you won't be able to push them in with just your fingers either.

If I were you, I'd just try tightening them up first. If the problem persists, then maybe look into replacing the bushings.

I've got a spare set of brackets sitting in my garage if you decide to go that route. I'd be happy to do a freebie swap with you.

BTW, have you changed your fluids lately. I'd make sure the transfer case & front diff have plenty of gear lube in them. Better yet, go ahead and drain them & replace with synthetic.

[Ldub]

BTW, have you changed your fluids lately. I'd make sure the transfer case & front diff have plenty of gear lube in them. Better yet, go ahead and drain them & replace with synthetic.

I think ATF would be a better choice for the transfer case.....

[tom4bren]

Sorry Doobster but last time I checked ATF was actually a type of gear lube. Even though your world revolves around correcting me ... no dice this time