Front Differential Catastrophic Failure

Blue

Well-known member
Mar 26, 2004
10,043
856
AZ
Post up a photo of your current situation - where the truck is parked now, the driveway, and the garage where you want to get it moved to.

I'm sure we can figure out a way to get it into the garage. I'm local and I'll help push. The little wheels on tire dollies or floor jacks can be a bitch when you're trying to cross expansion joints and the seam between driveway and garage.
 

discostew

Well-known member
Sep 14, 2010
7,706
1,015
Northern Illinois
if he’s capable of doing the work himself, it’s a much better labor rate. A shop could get expensive pretty quickly. It can always go to a shop later if needed.

And depending on the damage, if he’s able to find the whole assembly for a good price, it will be an easy job.
Do you feel like thats the case?
 

Flyfish

Well-known member
Oct 29, 2004
1,402
212
52
St. Louis
Do you feel like thats the case?

He commented, “It’s a shame, the garage that I built the truck in is 10 feet behind it”. So he’s the only one that can answer that question, it’s not my place to say. His replies have been more focused on getting in the garage and seeing what happened, so I told him what worked for me.

It’s already messed up so may be a good learning experience even if it ends up at a shop.

But I will say, D2 axle/hub work can be very challenging.
 

ArizonaBasc

Active member
Jun 21, 2020
25
3
Phoenix, Arizona
Discostew, I feel like that's the case. I'm pretty young so I haven't been doing this stuff for as long as most members on here, but I think I'm capable of doing an axle swap. I've done all the engine stuff that you would normally have to fix on a Disco besides head gaskets (thank god) and a million other things on my Miata.

For all these nice AZ folks, I am out in Gilbert, but I am in Los Angeles for school right now. Planning on doing the job hopefully over Thanksgiving break, the latest winter break.

Edit: I will post a picture as soon as I get back to my computer.
 

ERover82

Well-known member
Nov 26, 2011
3,899
450
Darien Gap
If you have any concerns for safety or lack of time, have a shop do it. If you're confident you can get it done, go for it, safely. Use wheel chocks, don't stand downhill of it, never get underneath if its not supported properly with jack stands, and stay situationally aware.
 

ArizonaBasc

Active member
Jun 21, 2020
25
3
Phoenix, Arizona
ERover, that is my main concern and the main reason I made the post, I don't really want to be crushed by my 5000lb Rover, that would suck. Sounds like if I do everything the right way I should be in the clear.

Donnie, thank you, I really appreciate it. When I figure out exactly when I will be doing the job I will contact you and anyone else who would like to help. I can provide drinks/a good time/etc.

Would this be a good idea?
[ebay link]
Maybe just spending the $300 now for a good part that would solve my problem outright would be better than seeing what is actually damaged and wasting more time.
 

discostew

Well-known member
Sep 14, 2010
7,706
1,015
Northern Illinois
Discostew, I feel like that's the case. I'm pretty young so I haven't been doing this stuff for as long as most members on here, but I think I'm capable of doing an axle swap. I've done all the engine stuff that you would normally have to fix on a Disco besides head gaskets (thank god) and a million other things on my Miata.

For all these nice AZ folks, I am out in Gilbert, but I am in Los Angeles for school right now. Planning on doing the job hopefully over Thanksgiving break, the latest winter break.

Edit: I will post a picture as soon as I get back to my computer.
Get it in a safe flat surface and tear into it. Your going to have to get the front wheel bearings out of it to be able to slide the axles out of the housing. So those might not be worth a shit after you get them out. But that would be the case for anybody I think. Depends on how hard and how long you have to beat on them with a hammer. If the whole area is dry and not oil soaked then I would assume the pin didn't try to get out.
Like ERover mentioned. If you feel like you can do it safely, do it.
 
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ArizonaBasc

Active member
Jun 21, 2020
25
3
Phoenix, Arizona
Im trying to wrap my head around how the center diff would work in this situation. Front shafts are completely locked up, so would the center diff send power to the rear wheels instead of trying to turn the fronts? If that is the case I can get it up on dollies and just back it into the garage.
 

Flyfish

Well-known member
Oct 29, 2004
1,402
212
52
St. Louis
Im trying to wrap my head around how the center diff would work in this situation. Front shafts are completely locked up, so would the center diff send power to the rear wheels instead of trying to turn the fronts? If that is the case I can get it up on dollies and just back it into the garage.
If you have a locking tcase, yes. With front DS removed, lock the tcase and you have rear wheel drive.
 
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Flyfish

Well-known member
Oct 29, 2004
1,402
212
52
St. Louis
Unfortunately no locking case yet :( might be worth it to install one now.... but it's not really in the budget at the moment.
I was just explaining it to you because you were wondering how it would work. Yep, they’re not super cheap and why I previously suggested to push it vs buying a locking case.
 
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ArizonaBasc

Active member
Jun 21, 2020
25
3
Phoenix, Arizona
Ahh ok makes sense. Also here are some pictures of where the car is currently stuck, not a super harsh grade on the driveway but enough to get a car rolling in neutral:
0D77C427-8281-4239-8D05-2F2E415F5F8D_1_105_c.jpegBAA11281-4D20-4E8B-90E1-EEDD903403F9_1_201_a.jpeg
 

discostew

Well-known member
Sep 14, 2010
7,706
1,015
Northern Illinois
Im trying to wrap my head around how the center diff would work in this situation. Front shafts are completely locked up, so would the center diff send power to the rear wheels instead of trying to turn the fronts? If that is the case I can get it up on dollies and just back it into the garage.
If the front prop shaft was removed and you locked the center diff the truck would drive the rear wheels. If the front shaft was out of it and the center diff was not locked all the spin would leave out the front flange. With your front wheels locked up your best bet is to put the front wheels on skates like you saw above and get some friends to help push it. thats the safest way. Always support the vehicle with a good jack stand, don't trust just the jack to hold the vehicle.
 
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p m

Administrator
Staff member
Apr 19, 2004
15,617
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La Jolla, CA
www.3rj.org
It is a 2003, so likely it doesn't have CDL.
There's nothing to worry about at the driveway with this slope - put wheel chocks in front of the rear tires, and you'll be okay.

Also... WTF is the deal with hiding the license plates and street numbers on the house? Is anyone so mentally unfit to steal a D2 with a broken front axle?
 

ArizonaBasc

Active member
Jun 21, 2020
25
3
Phoenix, Arizona
Hahaha just overly cautious with plates and the like, maybe it's too much. Hopefully by Thanksgiving my catalytic converters will still be on the car though...
Thanks everyone for the help, much more confident about it now.

Edit: Any last opinions on this front axle before I buy it? I have a 2003 this one is from 02, I assume it will work.
 
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