I'm gonna tackle servicing my front diff, have a service manual for it and have been looking the procedure over. to get it out you have to remove the front axles which they suggest using a slide hammer. Have had to remove those before w/out this tool and it was not fun. anyone know where I can find this tool w/out overpaying for it? Also was hoping someone else has undertook servicing their front diff and might be able to give me a heads-up on any other tool I might want to invest in or perhaps any tips that might help me get through this! Not exactly sure whats going on inside there but can see the front shaft that goes into the diff is way loose and can be pulled an inch or two. Hoping its just some bad bearings or perhaps seal. Any tips would be greatly appreciated, thanks all!

 

By shaft, do you mean the half shaft(axle) or the drive shaft? If its a half shaft then my guess would be that the clip on the end of the half shaft that is on the inside of the diff. probably came off and is allowing it to slide in and out. In this case i would think it would be leaking fluid. Maybe not though. If its your drive shaft,then i have no idea because mine and yours are different. Mine has a hollow end on the shaft with a spring on it keeping pressure on the drive shaft so it dont get slop in it. My front drive shaft on my 700 is at an angle where as yours it straight,i think. So its a different design.

 

Yes it would be the drive shaft running from the engine into the diff! My bad Mudslinger, mechanic's terminology is still something I need improvements on! And u r correct, it's straight and not at an angle. There probably is less than an inch of play. I guess I'll find out more in a few days when i have it out and torn apart.

 

well, im wondering if yours has a spring also and maybe the spring broke or is wore out then. the spring is there to keep it from slopping around,back and forth. At least on mine,but mud and crud can get in there and possibly cause it to break. this is just a guess based on what i seen with mine. oh and if you give the axles a few good tugs,they may just pop right out without the slide hammer.