Rear end problems?? - heard a pop and saw sparks

[PK]

Are you sure you didn't hit something metalic laying on the road, and saw sparks coming off that as it moved over the road surface??
There is absolutely nothing that could fail inside your diff, make sparks that you could see, and then still be drivable for more than a few feet. Nothing!!!!!
Believe me - I have rebuilt hundreds of diffs.

That said, if your diff ran out of oil, the ring gear and pinion could be toast, but you would have heard that howling, and there would not have been any sparks.

I really think you need to look back on this whole event, and not be misled by what might have been a hasty conclusion that has led you down the wrong path.
I would also take it to another mechanic for a second opinion.

PK

[Triathlete]

Are you sure you didn't hit something metalic laying on the road, and saw sparks coming off that as it moved over the road surface??
There is absolutely nothing that could fail inside your diff, make sparks that you could see, and then still be drivable for more than a few feet. Nothing!!!!!
Believe me - I have rebuilt hundreds of diffs.

That said, if your diff ran out of oil, the ring gear and pinion could be toast, but you would have heard that howling, and there would not have been any sparks.

I really think you need to look back on this whole event, and not be misled by what might have been a hasty conclusion that has led you down the wrong path.
I would also take it to another mechanic for a second opinion.

PK

X2 on the second opinion. Ring and pinion definately would not cause sparks.

[Dean68]

If it wasn't for the extreme smoking of the leaky axle oil arond the end of the rear end/brake area, I might have thought I just hit something on the road. It was smoking for a few minutes and I intially thought I might have to pull the fire extinguisher out. I wonder if it is possible that heat build up and bits of metal in the oil from the brakes just had a tiny explosion of some sort?

The shop had plenty of experience with rear ends. They were trying to find a used ring and pinion but could not find any. The last time I talked to the owner of the shop, he was looking for new parts. Is that even possible? I thought the Trooper had the same rear end and they are plentiful. Any suggestions?

thanks