1. Home
  2. Jeep and Willys (new and old)
  3. Jeep TJ Differential Problem

Jeep TJ Differential Problem

Hello all first post here.....

I have been having some issues with a whirring noise in the rear end of my TJ. I assumed that it was the transfer case so I tore that down and opened it up and found no issues. So upon further inspection I spun the rear axle shaft and it spun freely with the wheels on the ground?????

I proceeded to tear off the diff cover and noticed that the bolts have sheared off the ring gear. There were several bolts laying in the bottom of the differential case.

So my questions are... why would this happen? Can I just replace the ring and pinion and that will be the fix. I was not 4 wheeling or abusing the vehicle, but it does have 120000 miles on it.

Any response will be appreciated.

Reply to
jim9731
Loading thread data ...

I never use 4wd on dry pavement.... also never had any type of locking of the rear wheels as one would expect

Reply to
jim9731

Reply to
L.W. (Bill) Hughes III

Bill is right. You wouldn't get from here to there, whirring noise or no, with the ring gear bolts broken, unless the vehicle were in four wheel drive.

Your carrier (part that the ring gear bolts to) is likely damaged too. Replacing the ring and pinion is a job for a professional.

Earle

Reply to
Earle Horton

So it looks like there is minimal wear to the ring gear and pinion gears. Just a few minor nicks but not on the gears themselves, more on the body of the gear where it would not come in contact with another gear. Is it possible to just pull the ring gear and easy out the studs and install new bolts and be good as new? Or is this something I should leave this to the pros?

Reply to
jim9731

I wouldn't guarantee the job. You can't tell about wear to the ring and pinion unless you have looked at a lot of them, or when you hear the howls of protest at road speed. The bolts are hardened and many are left hand thread. Pay particular attention to the number and position of carrier bearing shims, and use high strength thread locker on the new bolts. What you are proposing is "possible" but a replacement open differential carrier probably wouldn't be expensive enough to justify the effort to drill out the old bolts.

I don't have much problem swapping in a new carrier, for example to get a locker or limited slip, but there is some expertise involved and I wouldn't recommend that an amateur attempt it if there is the possibility of existing damage.

The major part of the cost to get this done right is in the ring and pinion set up cost, which is best left to professionals or at least those with the proper special tools. 4x4 specialty shops? Heh, better go for a ring and pinion specialist.

Earle

Reply to
Earle Horton

Just an update....

I did the repair myself and all went well. Unbelievable that no gears were broken or chipped with the bolts laying in the diff case.

All is well and I am back on the road again.

I appreciate all the advice.

Reply to
jim9731

MotorsForum website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.