Member Since: 05 Aug 2012
Location: Bisley, Surrey
Posts: 3
Seized front diff and snapped FNS half shaft...
Hi guys
Been lurking for a while now, but first post ever...
Had a bit of a moment in my D3 earlier today. Doing about 40mph on a local A road, suddenly both front wheels locked up, followed by lots of grinding noise on a horrible smell.
Now she is sat on the drive with front half shafts and diff removed. Diff was seized solid and front nearside half shaft snapped in half Opened up the diff on the work bench; looks like the input bearing failed spectacularly and seized the input pinion. I guess this then caused one half shaft to fail as the torque from a moving D3 had nowhere else to go.
Anyone else ever heard of this happening? Will try and post some photos if I get a chance tomorrow.
5th Aug 2012 2:56 am
amazing
Member Since: 05 Mar 2011
Location: chengdu
Posts: 1542
not good.
I had a bearing let go in an overdrive. ( fitted to a 101)bearings jammed between gears and casing burst into two. locked wheels or a while. then bang and a smell of oil.It is better to have and not need it then need and not have it.
5th Aug 2012 6:48 am
Gareth Site Moderator
Member Since: 07 Dec 2004
Location: Bramhall
Posts: 26749
Member Since: 20 Oct 2009
Location: London, UK
Posts: 1318
Scaelesen that's nasty, how many miles and have changed the diff oil before this? From Gareths reference it seem a rare problem.A few mods... and keeping it all running...Faultmate MSV2
MY09EGR's blanked Thanks Bellautos, BAS
5th Aug 2012 9:54 am
sclaesen
Member Since: 05 Aug 2012
Location: Bisley, Surrey
Posts: 3
90k miles....
As you say, it's not a common fault but specific to this car. I've not had it that long and can't confirm the history of the diff oil; it has been dealer serviced through it's life so far but I will never know for certain. All I can say is that about a pint of diff oil came out when I drained it, and there wasn't an unusual amount of metal on the magnetic plug.
I haven't taken the input shaft apart yet but probably will just for interest purposes as it's going to be a new diff anyway. I am expecting it to be a bearing but don't know that for absolute certain yet. The input shaft will not turn at all. The nearside output bearing is well worn but otherwise fine! The offside output bearing is fine. Only thing is that I have never known a bearing to seize,, just grind itself into fine dust.
Scary moment when you are not expecting it though so I can sympathise with Palyma
5th Aug 2012 11:16 am
Robbie
Member Since: 05 Feb 2006
Location: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Posts: 17932
Clearly diffs can fail, but it is very rare for them to seize in such a dramatic fashion. They are supposed to be designed in a way that a catastrophic failure does not lead to a (potentially) lethal outcome.
As with anything mechanical some residual risk remains but I am struggling to remember such a failure on any vehicle in recent times that did not come with some (usually ignored) warning symptoms.
It would be interesting to see pictures of the unit during disassembly to work out what gave way so suddenly.
Glad you are ok too!Land Rover - Turning Drivers into Mechanics Since 1948
Member Since: 05 Aug 2012
Location: Bisley, Surrey
Posts: 3
Hi Guys
Car all fixed now and been back on the road for a few weeks and so far all ok!
Replaced front diff, front half shafts and front propshaft (as a precaution)...
Upon opening off the diff, found that the pinion shaft bearing had completely seized, thereby locking the diff solid. Still no idea why as there was oil in the unit when it was initially drained, and there had been no knocking, shuddering or smell beforehand.
One little tip on there though, a blocked breather pipe caused a build up of pressure which forced oil away from the input bearing; it may be worth a quick to save yourself a nasty scare and a big bill...
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