front diff question
 

Hoping someone can help. What are a few symptoms of diff problems? I thought i had a bad wheel bearing and put in new ones both sides but still have kind of a noise like driving on a rough road. noise doesn't change pitch going faster it actually sounds louder a low speed (less road/tire noise?) when i put in new bearings i noticed the axle boots were in good shape,no tears/leaks. just started this summer. I can't seem to tell if it comes from one side or the other. rear bearings were replaced last year. Does this sound like tranny/diff problems? Thanks in advance. dennis

Re: front diff question
 

When I bought my SVX it had a bad front diff. I didn't get a chance to drive it much since it was a known condition and I did not want to risk damaging it further or locking up the diff completely.

I can tell you though that it was a very harsh binding coming from the front end. I don't believe it got any worse when I was turning or going straight. Also, the more throttle I gave, the worse it got.

When I took it into the shop the mechanic told me the fluid was completely missing from the front diff.

One thing to look out for when fixing this problem is if you replace the tranny, take the time to use the best parts from both. I unknowingly put a tranny in that had a bad solenoid C. I was so unfamiliar with the design that I did not know what was causing the rear diff to then lock up and eventually killed my rear diff. I spent a lot of money and time fixing nothing.

Re: front diff question
 

In my experience, a front broken diff CLUNKS every rotation, on the bad tooth. It doesn't last long before complete destruction, meaning, move the car around, on a trailer, off a trailer, etc., soon, you will go nowhere if you have a broken front diff. Car is undrivable with broken front gear, the noise would scare you off the road :eek:

Re: front diff question
 

thanks guys. i changed the diff and tranny fluids about 8k ago. i've checked both and they look/smell fine. no vibration or anything just sounds like i'm driving over rough asphalt. but not as bad as a steel deck bridge! cars in the garage for the winter we'll see what next year brings.

Re: front diff question
 

Yes, the differential will make a clicking noise that varies with the speed. It will be click click click until the tooth or whatever decides to completely break. Once it does that it wil make a very very load clunk and at that point you know you have broken something. I know because I have managed to break two front differentials.