Notices
1994.5 - 1997 7.3L Power Stroke Diesel  

Blew up the diff

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jul 9, 2012 | 05:12 PM
  #1  
Fullcrew7.3's Avatar
Fullcrew7.3
Thread Starter
|
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,129
Likes: 4
From: Brandon, MB
Club FTE Silver Member

Blew up the diff

Got about an hour away from home when there was a BANG! and smoke and no more go. Pinion shaft was laying on the road smoldering and there were flames coming out of the now open pinion hole. I was pulling our old 32' 5er, so there was a fire extinguisher handy. Pulled the driveshaft, locked the front hubs and got her too a parking area. Decided to try to make it home since I was still mobile. 500 yards later, what was left of my differential grabbed and left me skidding along the pavement. Pulled the axle shafts and slowly backed into somebody's lane. Got towed home (camper too) ending a fun filled day at midnight. Pulled my spare axle out from under my garbage trailer this morning and she's ready to hit the road again as soon as my fresh brake shoes arrive.
I'll try to get some pics. A small chunk out of the carrier, no missing teeth or even even gouges in the ring gear and spider gears. Hole in the bottom of the case and pinion shaft looks like somebody did a really sloppy job of cutting it in half with a plasma torch.
Still love my truck, but I'm just a little shaken.
 
Reply
Old Jul 9, 2012 | 05:42 PM
  #2  
fordman67's Avatar
fordman67
Hotshot
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 14,375
Likes: 604
From: evansville in
Wow! I got to see pics!
 
Reply
Old Jul 9, 2012 | 06:04 PM
  #3  
F350-6's Avatar
F350-6
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 26,966
Likes: 50
From: Texas
Did you get it hot enough to flash the oil on fire? Do you think it was low on fluid?

Might be worth installing a gauge to monitor rear diff temps just for peace of mind after this.
 
Reply
Old Jul 9, 2012 | 06:18 PM
  #4  
Fullcrew7.3's Avatar
Fullcrew7.3
Thread Starter
|
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,129
Likes: 4
From: Brandon, MB
Club FTE Silver Member

You might be right Chris. There was enough oil in it to produce a big flame and a fair patch on the road. That being said, it still may have been low. I did have a slow leak. I got some pics, but will have to wait until i can get better signal t upload them. I think I'll pull the carrier tomorrow (when it's cooler outside) and have a better look at the carnage.
 
Reply
Old Jul 9, 2012 | 06:42 PM
  #5  
DIYMechanic's Avatar
DIYMechanic
Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 10,121
Likes: 3
From: Orrville, Ohio
We need carnage pics! How many miles on this one? Any indication that something was wrong before it went?
 
Reply
Old Jul 9, 2012 | 06:43 PM
  #6  
Fullcrew7.3's Avatar
Fullcrew7.3
Thread Starter
|
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,129
Likes: 4
From: Brandon, MB
Club FTE Silver Member

carnage pics

[IMG][/IMG]




If I get the carrier out I'll get some more pics.
 
Reply
Old Jul 9, 2012 | 06:46 PM
  #7  
DIYMechanic's Avatar
DIYMechanic
Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 10,121
Likes: 3
From: Orrville, Ohio
Holy Schnikies!

That's some good carnage!
 
Reply
Old Jul 9, 2012 | 06:47 PM
  #8  
Fullcrew7.3's Avatar
Fullcrew7.3
Thread Starter
|
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,129
Likes: 4
From: Brandon, MB
Club FTE Silver Member

Nate, I have no idea how many miles on that axle. It came with the dually bed I bought when I first got my rig. The rest of the truck has 150K miles. I traded the original one off the truck for some fab work when I did the 4x4 conversion, 'cause I was too cheap to swap the gears in the front axle.
 
Reply
FTE Stories

Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

story-0

Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

 Brett Foote
story-3

2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-4

10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026

 Brett Foote
story-6

5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time

 Joe Kucinski
story-7

Ford Super Duty: 5 Things Owners LOVE, 5 Things They LOATHE!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

Every 2026 Ford Truck Engine RANKED from WORST to FIRST!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-9

The Best F-150 Deal of Every Trim Level (XL through Raptor)

 Joe Kucinski
Old Jul 9, 2012 | 06:48 PM
  #9  
Fullcrew7.3's Avatar
Fullcrew7.3
Thread Starter
|
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,129
Likes: 4
From: Brandon, MB
Club FTE Silver Member

That's some shaft, eh? Crazy part is, the ring gears is nearly spotless. spiders too??
 
Reply
Old Jul 9, 2012 | 06:57 PM
  #10  
DIYMechanic's Avatar
DIYMechanic
Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 10,121
Likes: 3
From: Orrville, Ohio
Looks to me like the pinion bearing went out then heated the pinion up red hot until it just let go. My guess is that if you could get that pinion gear out of there you could probably still spin the carrier.


Hey, you could probably fix that and sell it on Craig's List!!


(that's a joke folks....put down the stones!)
 
Reply
Old Jul 9, 2012 | 07:00 PM
  #11  
glovemeister's Avatar
glovemeister
Cargo Master
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 3,244
Likes: 40
Damn son! That is crazy.
 
Reply
Old Jul 9, 2012 | 08:23 PM
  #12  
Fullcrew7.3's Avatar
Fullcrew7.3
Thread Starter
|
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,129
Likes: 4
From: Brandon, MB
Club FTE Silver Member

You nailed it Nate. I pulled the carrier out and sure enough, everything points to the pinion bearing. I'll snap a few pics of the pinion gear tomorrow. It's pretty special.
Update: Wife got home with the new brake shoes, and other than bleeding the brakes, I'm back in business.
 
Reply
Old Jul 9, 2012 | 08:28 PM
  #13  
fordpride's Avatar
fordpride
Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 15,505
Likes: 18
From: Livoina,La
Throw some Lucas in there and it'll be ok
 
Reply
Old Jul 9, 2012 | 08:42 PM
  #14  
Fullcrew7.3's Avatar
Fullcrew7.3
Thread Starter
|
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,129
Likes: 4
From: Brandon, MB
Club FTE Silver Member

Nice. Thanks for the advice Mike. Maybe I'll paint it too! Oooo and 24" chrome rims with spinners!
 
Reply
Old Jul 9, 2012 | 08:45 PM
  #15  
Fullcrew7.3's Avatar
Fullcrew7.3
Thread Starter
|
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,129
Likes: 4
From: Brandon, MB
Club FTE Silver Member


There ya go. What's left of my pinion shaft. That's one heck of a chunk of steel to melt twist off like that. About a mile before it happened, I felt a slight shudder, like I was loosing an injector or something. No weird noises (that I heard anyway) until she blew.
 

Last edited by Fullcrew7.3; Jul 9, 2012 at 08:46 PM. Reason: wrong picture
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:02 AM.

story-0
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

Slideshow: Ford's bizarre fishing-themed Explorer concept has resurfaced after spending decades largely forgotten.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:07:46


VIEW MORE
story-1
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

Slideshow: The 10 best Ford truck engines we miss the most.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 13:09:47


VIEW MORE
story-2
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

Slideshow: first look at the 810 hp 2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road!

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-12 12:50:07


VIEW MORE
story-3
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!

Slideshow: Everything You Need to Know about the 2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-07 17:51:06


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!

Slideshow: 10 most surprising Ford truck options/features in 2026.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:17:22


VIEW MORE
story-5
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026

Slideshow: Here are the top 10 Fords coming to Mecum Indy 2026.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:49:49


VIEW MORE
story-6
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time

Slideshow: The 5 best and 5 worst Ford truck wheels of all time

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 16:49:01


VIEW MORE
story-7
Ford Super Duty: 5 Things Owners LOVE, 5 Things They LOATHE!

Slideshow: Ranking the 5 things owners love about their Super Duty and 5 things they don't

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 16:36:49


VIEW MORE
story-8
Every 2026 Ford Truck Engine RANKED from WORST to FIRST!

Slideshow: Ranking all 12 Ford truck engines available in 2026.

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-22 13:32:20


VIEW MORE
story-9
The Best F-150 Deal of Every Trim Level (XL through Raptor)

Slideshow: The best Ford F-150 deal for every trim level (XL through Raptor)

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-21 15:59:01


VIEW MORE