Front end issues

[BlackMagnum2000]

Alright guys so I'll start with a background. Truck is lifted on 37s with a Dana 44 front. So yeah there's a lot of stress on it.
About two years ago 5k miles I think I replaced everything in the front end except track bar, axle shafts, and diff components.
More recently we replaced the axle seals. Then I let my dad fill it with gear oil and it has sense blown them again. I was an idiot and have failed to check fluid level. But I know it was a slow leak.

I was driving tonight when I felt a sharp vibration in the front end. It changed with road speed. You could smell gear oil. It was dark and rainy so I couldn't see much but I saw nothing physically wrong.

I haven't done anything yet. Nursed it home and have gotten on here. Will most likely update tomorrow. Wanted to see if you guys have any good news for me before I go tearing apart my front end. Just to find metal in my diff.

 

[BlackMagnum2000]

Pulled it into the basement. Its bad. It's fighting me moving it all. Shaking the whole truck.

 

[BlackMagnum2000]

If I really need this truck to drive what is everything I will need to take out to ensure that I don't damage anything? Or can I even do anything like that? I'm a bit tired and worn out so I'm not thinking at my best right now

 

[Johnn123]

First thing you're gonna have to do is pop the cover and see whats going on.

Might be time for you to finally swap diffs.

 

[BlackMagnum2000]

First thing you're gonna have to do is pop the cover and see whats going on.

Might be time for you to finally swap diffs.

Yeah I'm about to get to that
And I haven't got the money for that. I'm worried I won't have the money to even fix it

 

[Johnn123]

Yeah I'm about to get to that
And I haven't got the money for that. I'm worried I won't have the money to even fix it

If somethings broken on the inside, gonna be way cheaper to buy a used 60 with the same ratio you have and swap axles than to rebuild the diff. Hope its just something minor man, remember keep an eye out for shavings in the diff fluid.

 

[BlackMagnum2000]

If somethings broken on the inside, gonna be way cheaper to buy a used 60 with the same ratio you have and swap axles than to rebuild the diff. Hope its just something minor man, remember keep an eye out for shavings in the diff fluid.

It would be more expensive to buy a used 60 and new rims and a rear, because I wouldn't have 8 lug front 5 lug rear.
And thanks, me too. Ill find out soon

 

[BlackMagnum2000]

Not much.. but some. Only visible on the magnet.

 

[BlackMagnum2000]

Do guys see anything wrong here? I'm not great with gears and such. My dad said he thinks the gears are messed up.

 

[dodge dude94]

Jack it up, pull the wheels off and start turning the hubs

 

[BlackMagnum2000]

I did. Didn't really do anything out of the ordinary. Pulling the axles out soon

 

[BlackMagnum2000]

Now he says he thinks it's the pinion. But if it was the pinion it wouldn't affect me driving right? Since when it's in 2wd it's disconnected

 

[Crocdocs]

If you don't feel anything when spinning the front axles or see any movement, wiggle the front driveshaft, feel the pinion besrings, feel axle bearings if they feel tight, and gears feel smooth when spinning and look clean (like they do) I would have to say it's not in the Carrie, check the 4x4 actuator on the passenger tube and see if anything looks bad in there, like if the shift fork broke and the collar was allowed to move around cause ong the front end to engage and disengage and if THAT looks ok, it will have to be like in the transfer case, or maybe just front end steering parts, like joints or so

 

[Crocdocs]

Now he says he thinks it's the pinion. But if it was the pinion it wouldn't affect me driving right? Since when it's in 2wd it's disconnected

And no it's would not be the pinion or ring gear becuase in 2wd just the spider gears spin UNLESS you shift fork got stuck in the 4x4 position on the passenger side axle tube

 

[BlackMagnum2000]

Well being that the smell of gear oil was strong and I saw those shavings I have a hard time believing the problem isn't in the axle somewhere.
Its not stuck in 4x4, being the front drive shaft can spin freely. I've dealt with it being stuck in 4x4 due to bad vacuum lines before.
I'm willing to bet it's something in the CAD housing. Whether it be the center axle (which I doubt) or the shift fork or something. I've already got the drive axle shaft out and the passenger outer shaft out. Just gotta remember how to take this apart now.

 

[BlackMagnum2000]

I appreciate the input by the way.

 

[Crocdocs]

Just pull the CAD cover off and see what she looks like, Cuz the carrier looked good many better then this lol

 

[Crocdocs]

Well being that the smell of gear oil was strong and I saw those shavings I have a hard time believing the problem isn't in the axle somewhere.
Its not stuck in 4x4, being the front drive shaft can spin freely. I've dealt with it being stuck in 4x4 due to bad vacuum lines before.
I'm willing to bet it's something in the CAD housing. Whether it be the center axle (which I doubt) or the shift fork or something. I've already got the drive axle shaft out and the passenger outer shaft out. Just gotta remember how to take this apart now.

all I can think of that could happened in the CAD housin is splines on inner axle sheared, teeth on the inner axle sheared due to shift collar moving around at highway speeds, bad inner bearing, or bad bushing causing extreme movement but ove driven with bad inner bearing and bad bushing, and it drove fine I hope your inner axle didn't break or something weord like that. And even so it's hard for shavings from the CAD housing to get into the carrier housing, it has to go up and over like 2-3inch wall and go thru the inner bearing which is pretty tight, then all the way down the axle tube and then thru the gears, gear oil always smells strong, did it smell like burnt?

 

[dodge dude94]

If you don't find anything wrong visibly with it I'd put it back together and drive it without the drive shaft and see what happens

 

[BlackMagnum2000]

all I can think of that could happened in the CAD housin is splines on inner axle sheared, teeth on the inner axle sheared due to shift collar moving around at highway speeds, bad inner bearing, or bad bushing causing extreme movement but ove driven with bad inner bearing and bad bushing, and it drove fine I hope your inner axle didn't break or something weord like that. And even so it's hard for shavings from the CAD housing to get into the carrier housing, it has to go up and over like 2-3inch wall and go thru the inner bearing which is pretty tight, then all the way down the axle tube and then thru the gears, gear oil always smells strong, did it smell like burnt?

I smelled gear oil when I got out of the truck after it started vibrating. Nothing was taken apart. And no it's not burnt.

If you don't find anything wrong visibly with it I'd put it back together and drive it without the drive shaft and see what happens

Well considering that the front DS wasn't connected and it was still causing me problems I assume that wouldn't change anything if I was to take it out