Good afternoon. On my way to Moab in the middle of nowhere at speed when suddenly I lost drive- like I was in neutral. Coasted to safe place and found my axle has come out of the front diff. I considered getting a new axle and roadside fixing it but it’s Sunday, parts are very far and I don’t know what else could be damaged. I’m at a hotel at the mercy of a mechanic to work on it tomorrow. Here is a picture. Besides replacing my axle, what else could be damaged by that occurring at hwy speed? Can it just be wear to cause that? Nervous about continuing another 2000 miles including some off road. Thoughts? Thanks. Picture under my truck.
Broken down traveling- front axle
- Thread starter filsfj62
- Start date
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You can pull the front drive shaft (and lock Center Diff), but then you need to find a way for the axles to stay stationary while the front wheels turn. People bore out the drive plates for this very reason as spares. You technically could just run it without the plates, but you will get lots of dirt into the wheel bearings and kill them quickly.
As far as potentially damage, I’m guessing your CV axle is toast. There’s a retaining ring at the end that goes into the diff which keeps the axle held in. So unless that wasn’t inserted properly, either it broke or the diff grenaded and broke the mating component. Your diff could be fine or it could be kaput. If it’s dead your best option is to install a aftermarket locker carrier for basically the same cost as a new stock carrier. If the CV is the problem, replace it and fill the diff back up with fluid and you’re golden.
As far as potentially damage, I’m guessing your CV axle is toast. There’s a retaining ring at the end that goes into the diff which keeps the axle held in. So unless that wasn’t inserted properly, either it broke or the diff grenaded and broke the mating component. Your diff could be fine or it could be kaput. If it’s dead your best option is to install a aftermarket locker carrier for basically the same cost as a new stock carrier. If the CV is the problem, replace it and fill the diff back up with fluid and you’re golden.
I've found that these work shockingly well for mating with the front bearing seals and the front differential seal:
You can find variants of them at many automotive stores.
Remove the CVs on both sides
Remove the front drive shaft
lock center differential
Use the cap things to seal the toyota oem gaskets on the front diff and the front wheel bearings. Drive off! Check periodically . . .
You're trying to avoid dirt getting into the wheel bearings and prevent the front diff from turning and also leaking all of its oil
You can find variants of them at many automotive stores.
Remove the CVs on both sides
Remove the front drive shaft
lock center differential
Use the cap things to seal the toyota oem gaskets on the front diff and the front wheel bearings. Drive off! Check periodically . . .
You're trying to avoid dirt getting into the wheel bearings and prevent the front diff from turning and also leaking all of its oil
Mauser
Supporting Vendor
Middle of nowhere? Everywhere is somewhere. Sometimes if you post the location there are folks close by who are happy to help.
I'm hoping an expert can chime in but have you taken the hub cap off and the grease cap to look at that circlip? I wonder if you can get back on the road by simply re-sliding the axle back in and finding a circlip to keep it in place. I know my truck came with a harbor freight snap ring that did the job for a long time. Must be something you can rig up to retain that axle to avoid messing up the trip.
How often does it happen that the circlip pops off? Seems like a weak point.
How often does it happen that the circlip pops off? Seems like a weak point.
My guess is it was just in enough to hold the axle snug for a hand- test at install, but the clip was just a hair too fat to properly click in.
Another possibility, the axle wasn't placed in totally smooth, and part of the dust cap kinked at the diff end, causing the axle to sit proud by a fraction of an inch. If it eventually crushed the dust shield enough to sit flat, it would have slacked the clip. I only consider this option as I had a similar issue installing one of my own eventually. Took a buddy's eye to spot the issue.
Hmmm makes me wonder. I just replaced the bearings on mine two days ago. Got the circlip installed but there was zero space for any feeler gage. I don't have one of those makeshift axel puller outer things that I've seen on some threads, but I figured after driving, some slack will be created and the gap will appear... I'm guessing I should go back into it and make sure there is a gap now...
No special tool needed! You can thread a bolt in to the end of the axle once it's been placed through the hub, and put a big set of channel locks on it to leverage the axle further outward. I don't know the bolt size/ thread offhand but I'm sure it's here on mud somewhere.
Ah great tip. Thanks.
C-clip popping off backs the CV out of the hub, not the diff. Having it pop out of the diff end is a new one, haven't seen that before.
Pull the CV and send pics of the inboard end!
- Thread starter
- #13
Thanks- I’m about 50 miles south of Lubbock Tax right now. A super nice shop owner is helping me out, I would have done a roadside but he took me there and hotel so I’m just hoping he’s able to fix it with no problems.
- Thread starter
- #14
Thanks all, there is some great information here. Very valuable for searches on emergency repair and how to turn it Into a 2wd. Not long after I broke down the owner of a little shop in Post tx hooked me up and got me to his shop and hotel. He’s waiting on an axle and hope to be back on the road by 3 PM. I will be bookmarking this in case it happens to me or anyone I know. I’m praying it’s not the Diff, I’ll know soon and will report
Was the CV aftermarket? Looks like it just popped out and the splines disengaged. Replacing with another aftermarket CV might be money wasted. If the CV is not broken, I would just pop it back in, drive home and replace with an OE one at earliest convenience.
I've seen the FDS (AKA CV) pop out of differential side tube for a few reason.
1) FDS Not fully seated last time it was out of diff..
2) Not replacing inner axle snap ring. This is not the same as hub flange snap ring, on outer axle of FDS. This snap ring (C-clips) comes with new FDS and is on inner axle of FDS. It is also sold separately.
Note: Excessive lift, without a Slee diff drop, can be a factor.
I try reseating the axle.
Spin inner FDS, to get spline of inner axle lined up with splines of diff and pound back in.
Pictures show knocking FDS out of side diff tube. Place brass dowel on opposite side of FDS tulip lip, to seat back in.
1) FDS Not fully seated last time it was out of diff..
2) Not replacing inner axle snap ring. This is not the same as hub flange snap ring, on outer axle of FDS. This snap ring (C-clips) comes with new FDS and is on inner axle of FDS. It is also sold separately.
Note: Excessive lift, without a Slee diff drop, can be a factor.
I try reseating the axle.
Spin inner FDS, to get spline of inner axle lined up with splines of diff and pound back in.
Pictures show knocking FDS out of side diff tube. Place brass dowel on opposite side of FDS tulip lip, to seat back in.
Mauser
Supporting Vendor
Well if you are needing any help around central NM let me know
Not sure how you long will be stuck, but I'll be going through Lubbock TX on Thursday and I have a full set of 100 series CVs (OEM) and diff drop in my parts collection. It wouldn't be a big deal to throw them in the truck.
- Thread starter
- #20
Thanks all! Update: axle came in and putting it all together. I’m bowing out of the major trail runs I was going to go on fearing damage to the front diff far from home. But I’m thinking it still worth going up there and riding my bike, seeing the parks like I’d planned. Thoughts?
