How do I know I have a bad differential?
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Veteran
Joined: Nov 2010
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From: Chicago
How do I know I have a bad differential?
Please help me diagnose this problem:
When I drive my truck, its perfectly fine at all speeds, city, highway, everything is fine, no vibration, shaking, NOTHING, BUT when im at a red light and I creep forward at idle speed, ill feel the rear end or the rear of the truck jerk side to side a little, HOWEVER, I cant remember if that happens only when im about turn or it happens when I go forward at a red light, actually the more I think about it, I actually do feel it when im about to make a turn, the feel is kind of like trying to turn with 4WD ON just not that aggressive of a jerk
When I drive my truck, its perfectly fine at all speeds, city, highway, everything is fine, no vibration, shaking, NOTHING, BUT when im at a red light and I creep forward at idle speed, ill feel the rear end or the rear of the truck jerk side to side a little, HOWEVER, I cant remember if that happens only when im about turn or it happens when I go forward at a red light, actually the more I think about it, I actually do feel it when im about to make a turn, the feel is kind of like trying to turn with 4WD ON just not that aggressive of a jerk
Administrator
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 87,468
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From: Clayton MI
Is your truck an offroad edition?
If it is, you have a limited slip. If it isn't, you STILL might have one... to check, block your front wheels, put trans in neutral, and raise both rear tires off the ground. Turn one of the tires, and see which way the other tire turns. Same direction? You have a limited slip. Opposite direction? maybe or maybe not.
One sure fire way to tell, is pull the cover off the rear, and look.
If it is, you have a limited slip. If it isn't, you STILL might have one... to check, block your front wheels, put trans in neutral, and raise both rear tires off the ground. Turn one of the tires, and see which way the other tire turns. Same direction? You have a limited slip. Opposite direction? maybe or maybe not.
One sure fire way to tell, is pull the cover off the rear, and look.
Hall Of Fame
Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Gainesville, Ga.
^ while you have the truck jacked up and trans in neutral, rotate the tires and see/hear how it feels. if in doubt, remove the drive shaft to isolate the rear. try to duplicate what you are feeling.
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 492
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From: Brownsburg, IN
When my LSD let go it seemed to have the same symptoms. I tried to diagnose the problem by jacking up the truck and rotating tires and listening for problems, couldn't hear or feel anything strange. Removed the diff cover and there was no question what was bad.
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Joined: Nov 2010
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From: Chicago
yes I do have LSD, I checked today while at dodge getting an oil change, they checked my DIFF fluid and it was BEYOND dirty, they said dirty oil could be the problem and putting new diff fluid would help my problem, true?
