So a few days ago I finally got my Cruiser registered and insured so I could finally drive on the roads.
I drove for two days and I must say, it's a keeper. I really like the way this truck drives.
I played around a bit in fields, a lot of mud. low range, center diff locked revs about 1400-1600 and it just kept going.
Then I tried getting through a small ditch and got a bit stuck. Once again keeping the revs constant and rocking the car back & forth slowly.
I was stuck, got out and had nothing on me (recovery wise). Luckily I was only 10 mins from my house so I had a mate pick me up (dark already).
I first tried digging A LOT and I got a little bit of movement, but there just was no traction to get back up the ditch.
So I tried my mates van with a heavy loading strap, threw something heavy on the line and started pulling gently.
Again a little bit of movement, but not getting anywhere close.
My dad with his Hilux wasn't home yet, so I had to find another solution.
A mate of me had a Suzuki Jimny, that was not going to cut it either.
In the same building where the Jimny was there was a guy wrenching on his 4x4's, he had one ready to drive, and had a winch.
We drove to the site, did some more digging and the winch pulled me out with ease.
While backing up I kept the wheels turning slowly, but when the front wheels came up I heard a crack/click. And when I wanted to drive there was no movement at all. I engaged center diff lock and slowly drove towards a parking spot, i heard clicks/bangs in the front.
I drove home (in another car) and picked up my garage jack, drove to the Cruiser, jacked it up and found out that the front propshaft could rotate freely without the front wheels moving, so.... front differential busted.
I then drove (slower than stationary & center diff lock engaged) to a mates garage to store the car overnight. Yesterday I pulled the front differential out of the car.
I took out the driveshafts, propshaft and then the diff. Here's the diff out:
View attachment 1611096
Damage on the ring gear:
View attachment 1611097
Some pieces I fished out:
View attachment 1611098
The thing is, I don't really understand what caused this. There was no lifting wheels, no hard revving and no shock loads.
Just constant and slow rpm's, getting the wheels to a stop, reversing. No sudden or hard movement.
I only drove the Cruiser on the road for about 250km/155miles, drove very nice. But I do remember hearing a slight ticking noise, not loud at all. The differential was not making noise (except for maybe the silent "ticking") but not singing or anything. It sounded more like a stone in the tire thread and I could not hear it inside the vehicle.
I'm going to source a differential (or ring gear and pinion only) tomorrow or the day after that and install it as soon as possible.