Bent front diff

[2oyo2a]

New Member Intro: Female. Mid 30's. Canada.

I have a 1992 80 series that took a hard front end hit. How do I get those spings off safely? Has anyone straightend a front diff housing? How did you do it? Were you happy with the results? Would you recommend it? Is there a site on the Net that provides a detailed step by step do-it-yourself guide that I could use? . . . . . . . Thanx

 

[Advent]

Might be better in the '80 section where they're a little more used to coils...

Anyways, don't bother trying to straighten it. If it's not bent *much*, the shafts might still be usable. Then you'd just need a replacement housing.

 

[KLF]

When my brother bent his housing in a wreck, he had to get a new one. I wouldn't bother trying to fix it, just get another one.

 

[e9999]

Welcome to the forum!


now, what exactly is it that's bent?

 

[PHAEDRUS]

If I am reading this correctly, You have a bent from diff housing??
as far as retaining the springs, once you disconnect the shocks you can lower the axle and pull the springs out, they are not loaded like a strut spring.

As far as straightening the front diff, I would not try it. I have seen dana style (read pumpkin with stub shafts) repaired and it works ok, these are boxed units and once bent are pretty well done.

This leads me to the next question, Are you sure that is waht is bent?? It is more likely you bent either a bracket for the lower contol arm.
JMHO.
Dave
oh and welcome.

 

[IdahoDoug]

Welcome! Lots of talented folks here that can be helpful in about any situation. I think you might benefit from providing a full description of things. For instance, my first reaction was that the vehicle was being driven offroad and the front axle housing took a hard hit from a stump, or rock. After reading your inquiry again, I am not so sure. So, do your best to describe what's happened and it would be helpful to know what (or who) makes you feel the diff housing is bent? Those things are pretty stout.

DougM

 

[lahar50]

Welcome

 

[concretejungle]

cruiser larry,

i'm offended by your avatar.

 

[GXO]

I think I am too, I need an email with a full high resolution example to conclude that though

 

[IdahoDoug]

Might I suggest we stay on topic? The avatar discussion is in Chat where it belongs and I really don't want to see that issue begin popping up in Tech. These kind of comments make it seem like those who want sexually charged avatars want to rub it in the noses of those of us who do not. Thanks!

DougM

 

[concretejungle]

Yea, sorry Doug.

I have never heard of anyone actually hammering out or fixing a dented pumpkin. I guess you could be the first.

 

[Beowulf]

I have a 1992 80 series that took a hard front end hit.

2oyo2a,
Any chance you could post up a couple of pics. I don't think the forum SW will let you post pics until you get a few posts under your belt or buy a silver star. If that is the case then let me know and I'll give you an e-mail address and host the pics for you.

-B-

 

[IdahoDoug]

Concrete,

That was very cool - thanks.

I think we may have lost our thread starter completely. Later, all.

DougM

 

[2oyo2a]

Sorry it took so long to reply, but this is a whole new world to me. I'm still having a difficult time navigating this forum thing. As to the 'bent' front diff, I guess I won't know for sure until I get it out of the truck. At this point, I'm just concerned about how to get it out safely. Can anyone walk me through it? And, if it turns out the diff is bent, can anyone direct me to a good used one? They tell me locally that a complete front diff is 2 thou Canadian. Thanks again for your help.

 

[e9999]

Sorry it took so long to reply, but this is a whole new world to me. I'm still having a difficult time navigating this forum thing. As to the 'bent' front diff, I guess I won't know for sure until I get it out of the truck. At this point, I'm just concerned about how to get it out safely. Can anyone walk me through it? And, if it turns out the diff is bent, can anyone direct me to a good used one? They tell me locally that a complete front diff is 2 thou Canadian. Thanks again for your help.

I guess I'm having some difficulty with the terminology you're using. The diff is the set of gears gizmo that sits inside the inflated bubble in the middle of the front and rear axle housings. So you can't really "bend" it very readily. So what is it that's bent? The axle housing itself?

 

[Romer]

Is it your front axle housing or the diff thats bent?

Jack up truck and place jack stand under frame near front.

Remove Tires

Remove Brake calipers, try and tie them off or set safley rather than disconnect.

Remove ABS sensor (not sure on a 92) from top of the knuckles

Remove Swaybar

Disconnect diff breather

Remove Shocks

Use bottle jack to push axe down from frame

Remove springs

Put jack stand under srping.

Disconnect steering bolts to knuckle (4 on bottom)

There are probably a few little things I am missing, but thats the simple view of how to disconnect and remove your axle

 

[2oyo2a]

Hi again. Sorry about the terminology. I should have said front axle housing. I don't really know if the housing is bent; the mechanic seemed to think it was but it's pretty hard to tell since it presently sits crooked in the truck. (Passenger wheel sits about 6 inches further back than the driver's.) I do know that the springs and trailing arms are damaged. I'm going to try to remove the housing this Sunday. Someone told me I need spring compressors to safely contain the springs; is that true? And, how difficult is it to remove the trailing arms? Thanks for your help, everybody.

 

[e9999]

Hi again. Sorry about the terminology. I should have said front axle housing. I don't really know if the housing is bent; the mechanic seemed to think it was but it's pretty hard to tell since it presently sits crooked in the truck. (Passenger wheel sits about 6 inches further back than the driver's.) I do know that the springs and trailing arms are damaged. I'm going to try to remove the housing this Sunday. Someone told me I need spring compressors to safely contain the springs; is that true? And, how difficult is it to remove the trailing arms? Thanks for your help, everybody.

if you raise the body and let the axle hang, the springs will be fully extended. They can be removed by hand if you just unbolt the bottom of the shocks, let alone if you remove the sway bar and control arms. So no, no need for spring compressors. You'd want to put the body on stands and hold the axle housing with a jack so it doesn't fall off when you start unbolting things....

 

[Beowulf]

Someone told me I need spring compressors to safely contain the springs; is that true?

Without pictures I am not going to try to guess as to the damage on the vehicle. e999999 is describing what you would do to remove the axle from an undamaged vehicle.

If the "someone" that told you to use a spring compressor was a mechanic or a knowledgeable person that has seen the damage then you should heed his advice over anything we tell you sight unseen.

Either of those springs could be severely bound or twisted (you said they are damaged) and you need to release the tension in a controlled manner.

It would also be polite if you would tell us what you are trying to accomplish. All we know is that you're trying to remove the axle from a severely front-end damaged vehicle. Are you planning to replace the axle with one from another 80 if it is bent? Are you planning to use this axle in a non-80 vehicle if it is straight. Are you parting out the 80 and planning to sell the axle if it is straight?

Post pics please.

-B-

 

[e9999]

Without pictures I am not going to try to guess as to the damage on the vehicle. e999999 is describing what you would do to remove the axle from an undamaged vehicle.

If the "someone" that told you to use a spring compressor was a mechanic or a knowledgeable person that has seen the damage then you should heed his advice over anything we tell you sight unseen.

Either of those springs could be severely bound or twisted (you said they are damaged) and you need to release the tension in a controlled manner.

snip

-B-

BW is right. If the springs are indeed somehow in a weird contorted state, it may be advisable to use a compressor if you can't simply release the tension by lowering the axle. Then again these compressors are nasty affairs with potential for injury too... A good look will tell.