Front differential assembly

[Blu Flu]

Just learned I need to source a complete front assembly. It snapped. Mechanic says the rear loox almost as bad but hasn’t yet broken.

Entertaining ideas how and where to source these parts. Owned the Jeep 2 days, axle snapped taking it through motor vehicle inspection lane. At least it wasn’t the highway.

 

[GATORB8]

Just learned I need to source a complete front assembly. It snapped. Mechanic says the rear loox almost as bad but hasn’t yet broken.

Entertaining ideas how and where to source these parts. Owned the Jeep 2 days, axle snapped taking it through motor vehicle inspection lane. At least it wasn’t the highway.

Dana 30? Find a takeoff on marketplace with the same gearing. Baseline4x4 in Michigan probably has one they can ship you, too. Car-part.com can search the local breaker yards.

Do you have a picture? What part snapped going through an inspection lane?

 

[Gilaguy23]

WTH, the inspectors doing 4wd burnouts er something?? Without more info I cant imaging you needing a entire new front diff, Just the axle which can be had at most any on line supplier or auto parts store. It will be a bit of labor to install, but nothing special. The rear lox?? explain. You cant have 2 wasted diffs but we all know some could F up a steel bar in a sandbox.

 

[Blu Flu]

I wasn’t present when they inspected for damage. As a result, I have no pictures. I’ll look into Baseline4x4, thanx.

 

[GATORB8]

I wasn’t present when they inspected for damage. As a result, I have no pictures. I’ll look into Baseline4x4, thanx.

What are they saying is bad with the rear?

Also, did you pass inspection? Wouldn't think the front axle would have to be operable looking at the DE checklist.

 

[sab]

Blu Flu, welcome to the forum! How mechanically-inclined, and how much mechanicin' experience do you have? With the information you've presented, you may be asking the wrong question. Before looking for parts, the question should be "which parts do I need to look for?" If you can post photos of your rig, you have many experienced people just waiting to assist you, but your inquiries don't provide enough detail.

 

[Duck Doctor]

What do you mean the axle snapped? Is this a broken axle shaft or is the axle housing broken? How rusted is the undercarriage? Post some pics of the front/rear axles and undercarriage. If this rig is a rusted out basket case then you may want to move on.

 

[Blu Flu]

What are they saying is bad with the rear?

Also, did you pass inspection? Wouldn't think the front axle would have to be operable looking at the DE checklist.

It broke at the brake test. When I got the paper work after the OMBD test, I pulled out of the bad with a bad vibration coming from the front. The phone call I got from the shop said (what I’m guessing is the carrier assembly) snapped off. They’re going to locate a used unit for a replacement. I don’t know anything else yet. Tomorrow I’ll try and take pictures and get more information. I’m dealing with a 99 yr old Father, this has to play second.

 

[Blu Flu]

What do you mean the axle snapped? Is this a broken axle shaft or is the axle housing broken? How rusted is the undercarriage? Post some pics of the front/rear axles and undercarriage. If this rig is a rusted out basket case then you may want to move on.

The Jeep was purchased, can’t at this point walk away. I’ll find out tomorrow but I believe the axle housing, what I’ve referred to as a carrier assembly, is what snapped due to rust. The entire undercarriage was coated with undercoating cleverly hiding the rust. Hopefully, I’ll learn more tomorrow.

 

[GATORB8]

It broke at the brake test. When I got the paper work after the OMBD test, I pulled out of the bad with a bad vibration coming from the front. The phone call I got from the shop said (what I’m guessing is the carrier assembly) snapped off. They’re going to locate a used unit for a replacement. I don’t know anything else yet. Tomorrow I’ll try and take pictures and get more information. I’m dealing with a 99 yr old Father, this has to play second.

Just to loop you in on terminology.

25 is the "axle shaft"
7 is the carrier, but pretty much the whole bottom left of the picture is what could be referred to as the gear/carrier assembly or differential.
The big chunk of cast iron with tubes that's not numbered is the housing.
I would expect you'd want to replace the whole kit at once with a used part, that's what would normally be called the front axle assembly, but the may be called a "Front Differential Assembly" by the part breakers.

The gear/carrier sits in a bath of gear lube, which normally is going to protect it from rust breakage and limit damage to that caused by abuse.
The outer portion of the front axle shaft is exposed though, right around where the U-Joint is, and that would be prone to potential rust damage and is a common failure spot.

 

[Blu Flu]

Yeah, my mistake. What snapped, as I understood him on the phone, would be the housing itself. I am, by no means, a qualified mechanic.

 

[KennethS]

Yeah, my mistake. What snapped, as I understood him on the phone, would be the housing itself. I am, by no means, a qualified mechanic.

Seems as that would result in a lot of gear oil leaking all over the place.

 

[Moglocker]

Yeah, my mistake. What snapped, as I understood him on the phone, would be the housing itself. I am, by no means, a qualified mechanic.

The housing tube could have rusted into?

 

[Duck Doctor]

I wouldn't pay for installation of a new axle until thoroughly assessing the frame. You could spend thousands replacing the front axle on a vehicle that also needs a frame and new body.

The Jeep was purchased, can’t at this point walk away. I’ll find out tomorrow but I believe the axle housing, what I’ve referred to as a carrier assembly, is what snapped due to rust. The entire undercarriage was coated with undercoating cleverly hiding the rust. Hopefully, I’ll learn more tomorrow.

I wouldn't replace the front axle until you thoroughly inspect the undercarriage for rot. It would be a bummer to pay for replacement axle install then find out you need a new frame and body.

 

[macleanflood]

Need pictures before we can give any advice other than speculation.

Dana 30s and 35s are cheap and plentiful.

What's your eventual build plans? If you're going big now might be the time for 44/60s or 60/60s.

-Mac

 

[Gilaguy23]

I wouldn't pay for installation of a new axle until thoroughly assessing the frame. You could spend thousands replacing the front axle on a vehicle that also needs a frame and new body.


I wouldn't replace the front axle until you thoroughly inspect the undercarriage for rot. It would be a bummer to pay for replacement axle install then find out you need a new frame and body.

Not to mention a potential death trap for you or somebody else if driven on the road. If the housing rusted in two, the rest of it is likely beyond use and unsafe.

 

[macleanflood]

 

[Blu Flu]

Need pictures before we can give any advice other than speculation.

Dana 30s and 35s are cheap and plentiful.

What's your eventual build plans? If you're going big now might be the time for 44/60s or 60/60s.

-Mac

I’m not doing the work, a local shop I’ve used for years has the job. He called this morning saying he found a yard in Philly with front and rear 3.07 units. They have over 100,000 miles but pickings appear slim. I’ll update when I can, funeral today for a buddy.

 

[Woodrow]

I’m not doing the work, a local shop I’ve used for years has the job. He called this morning saying he found a yard in Philly with front and rear 3.07 units. They have over 100,000 miles but pickings appear slim. I’ll update when I can, funeral today for a buddy.

Hold up. See below:

I wouldn't pay for installation of a new axle until thoroughly assessing the frame. You could spend thousands replacing the front axle on a vehicle that also needs a frame and new body.


I wouldn't replace the front axle until you thoroughly inspect the undercarriage for rot. It would be a bummer to pay for replacement axle install then find out you need a new frame and body.

Sounds like you have plenty of distractions right now. Get the important stuff done and then deal with the Jeep. When you have more time, get some good pictures of the axle issue and the frame. When you're ready, we can help.

 

[JMT]

Yeah, put the brakes on moving forward with the Jeep. Get what you need to get done. Then come back to the Jeep. It may not be road worthy even with a set of new axle assemblies.