While at work yesterday I was driving in the back country looking for an oil drillking rig to work on. I made a sharp right turn up a steep hill when I lost all forward motion. Coasted back down and let the clutch out again. The speedometer would go but the truck would not. Coasted back to a level clearing and called a tow truck.
When I got back to the shop, 3Hrs later, I jacked the rear end up and pulled the left axle out only to get a stub about 6 inches long. Pulling off the wheel assy revealed even more bad news. The inner bearing was completely fried! The bearing races were heaten so badly they had fused themselves to both the wheel hub and the axle tube. Not a drop of oil was seen!
I was able to torch and grind the old bearing race out of the wheel hub and I think it will be OK. The axle tube is much worse. I also removed the fused bearings with the torch and grinder. I hope I can salvage the axle tube, I sure don't want to replace the whole third member. My parts are due in today and I'll know more
After looking things over down there I see that the pinion seal is leaking. Thats probably where the oil went. This is my work truck! W/O it I don't work

 

Wow, what a bite in the butt. I think I'll go check my differential fluid! Hope it turns out for the better. In the meantime, have a cold one!

Max

 

Holy cow man. I felt sick just reading about your deal. Now you got me wanting to crawl under my truck and start checking fluids. Hope your whole week gets better.

 

How many miles on the truck?

 

In my ranting I forgot to post my truck specs. '02 F350 PSD XLT Service truck W/long bed 6sp. manual and DRW. & 4.10 gears. I have just shy of 100K miles and this is the first time it has let me down.

A side note about the dealer, yesterday I ordered the parts for next day delivery. Called them today and was told they didn't order the parts yesterday and will try and have them here tomorrow??????? In the meantime I have customers waiting for me.

Just another bump in the road of life.

 

dont the new trucks have warranty to 100k??????????????

 

My owners manual 97 f350 says 100k to change diff fluid. I went with syn plus a tube of anti slip additive.

 

Only on the Powerstroke engine and some related components. His axle was only covered to 3/36K under the bumper to bumper warranty.

Duncan

 

I just changed the rear diff cover on my 99 sd. It actually rotted through and was leaking in 2 places! Know another guy who had the same thing. Keep an eye open for damp spots on the diff cover!!

 

A long time ago I had a 78/f250 and twice the shaft from the trans to transfer case went out.Every time I took it apart there was no oil in ths splined end.So I put a whole quart more oil in it than normal and never had another one go bad.

 

one of the best lessons i learned turning a wrench for the army: always always always look for leaks on your truck... i always look at the ground where i park, i park in the same spot at work, and i look at the spot before i pull in to see if someone else's vehicle might have left a spot of oil. On a trip to Maine last summer, i had just changed my oil, so when i got there i checked the drain plug. Good thing i did...! the o-ring that helps lock down the plug is nylon, and it had craped out. my drain plug was within a thread or two of falling out...! i tightened it, kept checking it for the ENTIRE 5k miles till i changed the oil again, then replaced it with a metal washer..! I am SURE that i saved myself from cooking a perfectly good 7.3...!