Hi i am changing my front differential to one from a junk yard as I broke my current one. I have it almost out but how do I get the two top bolts out? They are too close to the oil pan to really get anything in. It looks like it might be easier to remove the engine mount and the brace that goes to the starter and drop all of it out. Is that a good idea? Any helpful hints?

Cdndodgeman

 

What truck is it?

 

sorry i forgot that part, 2008 quad cab long box 1500

 

ok I got the diff out but it seems to be nothing wrong with it! Could it have been the transfer case all along? I could still drive in two wheel drive no problem. is there a way to check the t-case or do I have to take that out now?

 

What was the symptom?

 

i got stuck and put it in 4wd and there was grinding and pinging noise so I thought the ring and pinion had broken and the guy who pulled me out with his front end loader thought the same thing. You could spin the front driveshaft and it wouldn't turn the front end at all. we had it up in the air with the loader so we tested the front end and it wouldn't turn the front at all. I drove it home in 2wd and around town for a while with no problem

 

Ok I got everything back together and as far as I can tell the problem was the output stub shafts from the diff. I put one of the driveshafts on the old stub shaft and it just spun without engaging. I will probably have to rebuild the driveshafts and put new inner ends on them at some point. It's driving and there's no noise but we'll see what happens in the snow when that happens.