Possible broken axle or front diff?

[DallasSVX92]

My poor svx has been sitting in my garage for nearly a year. The last time it drove, I was going about 40mph. I felt/heard a slight vibrating noise for about 10 seconds, followed by a big repeating banging coming from the front end. You can roll the car forward about 6 inches but somthing (which seems to be from the front end) makes a clunking noise and will stop the car from moving forward. Any suggestions will help, Thanks

[Blacky]

Have a look underneath. A broken axle is hard to miss.

[DallasSVX92]

Originally Posted by Blacky

Have a look underneath. A broken axle is hard to miss.

That's what I was thinking. I haven't seen anything that looks damaged or loose.

[fasteract7]

Put the front end of your car on jack stands or equivalent. With trans in N, see if you can turn the front tires/axles...probably not from your decription which would suggest your transfer cae (where the two axles enter) has failed, Draining the transfer case oil will probably reveal metal pieces in this case.

Both axles should not turn easily with a TC failure..if only one is locked, could be a catastrophic wheel bearing "let go" ...but this usually doesn't cause the "big banging sound" you mentioned.

[92 SVX]

Originally Posted by fasteract7

Put the front end of your car on jack stands or equivalent. With trans in N, see if you can turn the front tires/axles...probably not from your decription which would suggest your transfer cae (where the two axles enter) has failed, Draining the transfer case oil will probably reveal metal pieces in this case.

Both axles should not turn easily with a TC failure..if only one is locked, could be a catastrophic wheel bearing "let go" ...but this usually doesn't cause the "big banging sound" you mentioned.

He is going to need all 4 wheels in the air. and not to be that guy but I believe you mean front diff, The spider gears or possible even the ring gear broke and pieces are jamming up other gears when the wheels turn.

[DallasSVX92]

Tomorrow I'll have to jack the car up and check it out. Thanks for the feed back.

[DallasSVX92]

So I got all four tires off of the ground, when I push the front tires to rotate them, they move just fine with no extra noises. BUT the rear wheels are harder to turn, maybe because it's been sitting so long? Once I get the fuel pump back in, im going to try starting the car while its lifted off the ground, put it in drive and very slowly let off the brakes and see what happens. Is this a bad idea?

[Blacky]

That should work as long as it doesn't fall off the stands with the wheels spinning quickly and launch itself through the garage wall.
The back wheels are likely harder to turn because there's more stuff to rotate, diff, drive shaft, transfer clutch etc.

[DallasSVX92]

Haha well just in case, the car is backed into my garage and with nothing in front of it. But will still take extra precautions