Need Help on Differential
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Mountain Pass
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 201
Likes: 1
From: El Paso, TX
Need Help on Differential
I have a 1989 Ford F150 2wd XLT Lariat that I just had the transmission rebuilt in. Since installing the tranny, I have noticed that the truck is hesitant to go from a stop. My thoughts are the problem lies in the differential. I had it opened up tonight and nothing seemed worn or broken. However, I did notice that I can turn the input on the differential about 1/2 inch in either dirrection and I have a feeling this could be the problem. Am I right? If so, what are costs associated with repairing and/or replacing the differential? If I do need to replace it, I would like to do so with a limited slip differential. How much does these cost and where should I look to buy one? Sorry for so many questions,I have just not had any experience with differentials. Thanks for the help.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,299
Likes: 2
From: The Vieux Ford, Kansas
The rear diff will not cause hesitation, they clunk, grind, and pop. They may get noisy before the go but they go from normal forward movement to no movement at all the majority of the time. I would say a 1/2 of slop isn't that bad. I think your tranny shop needs to try again because what you describe sounds like a goofed up automatic to me, you didn't say if you had auto or manual, if its a manual sounds like mabey the clutch is slipping a little.
-Johnboy
-Johnboy
FTE Legend
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 31,930
Likes: 1,499
From: Ottawa, Ontario
What tranny do you have?
When you say the truck is hesitant to move, describe what it's doing.
Does it rev but not move?
Does it bog some and then release and go?
Does it shudder?
Have you tried manually shifting to 1st at a stop. Does it act the same if you do this?
New User
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Hi guys,
I'm new here and have what may be a similar problem with my '88 F-150 Lariat XLT. It is an automatic tranny, 4WD with the 5.0 L engine and Ford 8.8 rear diff. I thought the E brake was dragging but, I've pulled the drums and everything looks good there. The drums were even MUCH easier to pull off than I expected, since I KNOW they haven't been off in nearly two years. Brake pads are even fine.
Mine started occasionally (two or three weeks ago) not wanting to pull out in forward gear but would back up. This was the reason I suspected the E brake. It would also "pop" when it finally did go forward and has begun to shudder a little at low speed. When parked on the grass, the driver's rear wheel slid and the passenger's side was spinning, trying to pull forward. It even slid once on pavement at about 2 MPH.
Today, I checked the diff fluid, and it was about a pint low. I added that but a short test drive afterward didn't show much change in the situation. The fact that one wheel is spinning while the other slides makes me think it is the rear end rather than the tranny. Any ideas? Sorry for hi-jacking the thread but it MAY be a related problem so....(shrug).
I'm new here and have what may be a similar problem with my '88 F-150 Lariat XLT. It is an automatic tranny, 4WD with the 5.0 L engine and Ford 8.8 rear diff. I thought the E brake was dragging but, I've pulled the drums and everything looks good there. The drums were even MUCH easier to pull off than I expected, since I KNOW they haven't been off in nearly two years. Brake pads are even fine.
Mine started occasionally (two or three weeks ago) not wanting to pull out in forward gear but would back up. This was the reason I suspected the E brake. It would also "pop" when it finally did go forward and has begun to shudder a little at low speed. When parked on the grass, the driver's rear wheel slid and the passenger's side was spinning, trying to pull forward. It even slid once on pavement at about 2 MPH.
Today, I checked the diff fluid, and it was about a pint low. I added that but a short test drive afterward didn't show much change in the situation. The fact that one wheel is spinning while the other slides makes me think it is the rear end rather than the tranny. Any ideas? Sorry for hi-jacking the thread but it MAY be a related problem so....(shrug).
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,713
Likes: 2
From: In my House
grzlbear
grzlbear, do you have a limited slip rear end? Whats the door code in the door jam say? it will be under the axle section
Rich
Rich
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FTE Legend
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 31,930
Likes: 1,499
From: Ottawa, Ontario
So you are saying the tire remained stationary and slid while the other wheel was spinning trying to move the vehicle. If so this is definitely a differential problem, you should remove the rear cover immediately and inspect everything. The pinion shaft may be falling out or the differential gears may be damaged and binding. You may also have a piece of one of the clutch disks lodged in the gears..if this is an LS diff. It's common for the ears of these disks to break off, if they get caught up in the gears they could eventually cause serious damage, if you get to it soon enough you may avoid this.
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New User
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Looks like "19" or maybe "I9". How do I find out what the code means?
New User
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
So you are saying the tire remained stationary and slid while the other wheel was spinning trying to move the vehicle. If so this is definitely a differential problem, you should remove the rear cover immediately and inspect everything. The pinion shaft may be falling out or the differential gears may be damaged and binding. You may also have a piece of one of the clutch disks lodged in the gears..if this is an LS diff. It's common for the ears of these disks to break off, if they get caught up in the gears they could eventually cause serious damage, if you get to it soon enough you may avoid this.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,324
Likes: 4
From: Michigan
Axle code 19 would mean you have a factory installed open differential. Not to say that a previous owner didn't install a limited slip. If you have a open diff, one wheel will spin if it has less traction than the other. If the other wheel, not the one spinning, is skidding(not moving), I would think this is a brake problem.
New User
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
OK, the cover is off and I'm letting it drain while I type. The Tag says:
"S814P" then below it says "3 55 8 8 7M21"
I assume the S is Spicer, 3:55 ratio, 8.8" ford and the rest are production numbers.
It is definitely an "open" differential. I don't see or feel any chunks of metal in the bottom, and haven't rotated the gears to look for missing teeth or anything like that but, none are apparent in the position it is in right now.
alz... I'm not ruling out a brake problem but, the drums pulled off VERY easily and I would think that if the brake was dragging, I would have to fight to get it off and that there would be a lot more heat generated by the side that was dragging. The brake hardware (retainer springs and cups) are pretty old, rusty and probably need replacing... they could even be bent a little. Do you think the brake shoes could be shifting enough to exert THAT much pressure on the drum?
I was expecting to find something in the hog head that was binding the gears but so far, nothing. I'm going back out now to spin it and look closer.
"S814P" then below it says "3 55 8 8 7M21"
I assume the S is Spicer, 3:55 ratio, 8.8" ford and the rest are production numbers.
It is definitely an "open" differential. I don't see or feel any chunks of metal in the bottom, and haven't rotated the gears to look for missing teeth or anything like that but, none are apparent in the position it is in right now.
alz... I'm not ruling out a brake problem but, the drums pulled off VERY easily and I would think that if the brake was dragging, I would have to fight to get it off and that there would be a lot more heat generated by the side that was dragging. The brake hardware (retainer springs and cups) are pretty old, rusty and probably need replacing... they could even be bent a little. Do you think the brake shoes could be shifting enough to exert THAT much pressure on the drum?
I was expecting to find something in the hog head that was binding the gears but so far, nothing. I'm going back out now to spin it and look closer.
New User
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
After looking the differential over, numerous times, and spinning it and looking MORE, and pulling the drums to check brakes and hardware and looking yet again at the differential, I have come to the conclusion that......
I DON"T KNOW WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON!
Unless I get some other suggestions from here, I guess it will go to the shop. I HATE to admit defeat, and hate even MORE to pay someone to figure out something that I should be able to do. I'm a pretty fair "shade-tree" mechanic but, this one has me stumped.
While I'm at it, what differential do I have in the front? The tag says
"3 54 E87 10" (10 could be L0, I guess. Hard to read)
610 309 3 as far as I can tell.
Thanks for your help. I'll let you know when I find out what is happening.
I DON"T KNOW WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON!
Unless I get some other suggestions from here, I guess it will go to the shop. I HATE to admit defeat, and hate even MORE to pay someone to figure out something that I should be able to do. I'm a pretty fair "shade-tree" mechanic but, this one has me stumped.
While I'm at it, what differential do I have in the front? The tag says
"3 54 E87 10" (10 could be L0, I guess. Hard to read)
610 309 3 as far as I can tell.
Thanks for your help. I'll let you know when I find out what is happening.
Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 5,670
Likes: 12
From: Sand Lake, MI
Adjust up the rear shoes up to the drum like they should be and take it for a test ride.
If the drums came off as easy as you say, you didn't have to back off the self adjusters to get the drums off the shoes may have way to much play in there and grab if the drums have some wear. If the drums have ridges and groves in them to get caught in that is.
If the drums are nice, nearly true, no ridge and or recently turned then that's probably not the problem.
It does have the right shoes in it right?
The "Leading" shoe on each side has the shorter piece of lining material on it? Should have one shoe with a long lining and one with a short lining on it on each side, the one with the smaller lining goes in front on each side.
If the drums came off as easy as you say, you didn't have to back off the self adjusters to get the drums off the shoes may have way to much play in there and grab if the drums have some wear. If the drums have ridges and groves in them to get caught in that is.
If the drums are nice, nearly true, no ridge and or recently turned then that's probably not the problem.
It does have the right shoes in it right?
The "Leading" shoe on each side has the shorter piece of lining material on it? Should have one shoe with a long lining and one with a short lining on it on each side, the one with the smaller lining goes in front on each side.
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