Front Differential

mongo · Post by **mongo** » Sun Jan 02, 2005 3:48 pm

Ok on my way back from kragen (new fuel pump) put it in to first (in 2wd) let out the clutch and WHAM nothing happens coast down the road and pull off look underneath and its just dumping gear oil from the front diff area, put it in 4WD and babied it back to my friends house, were im at now.

What happened? what can i do, how much damage will i do driving it as RWD?

HELP Asap.

3A-C Power · Post by **3A-C Power** » Sun Jan 02, 2005 6:12 pm

It sounds like you cracked the front differential case. I don't know why, this does not usually happen. The housing can be replaced with one from any 83-86 Tercel hatchback or 83-88 wagon. The 85 and newer 4WD wagons have a different ring and pinion gear so you will need to use the same kind so it matches the rear differential. If yours is 83 or 84 then you can just change the front differential case. It is attached to the bell housing and you have to take the transmission off of the engine to change it. It would normally be okay to drive in RWD but you can't drive it without any gear oil. The oil in the differential is shared with the transmission so if there's one hole you lose all the oil.

mongo · Post by **mongo** » Sun Jan 02, 2005 6:58 pm

Well I got under and looked but I couldn't see any cracks. or even where the oil came through at. I'm wondering if maybe it's where the axles come out...if it broke would that cause it to dump the gear oil out?

Thereminator · Post by **Thereminator** » Mon Jan 03, 2005 12:01 am

Mongo,why dont you dump some more oil in(fill plugs on the high/side of the tranny,on the back half).If you first find-the-leak...Then you can determin the cause.

takza · Post by **takza** » Mon Jan 03, 2005 6:40 am

If you are lucky...an axle end might have popped out enough to lose the oil and not drive the front?