There's a giant hole on the front of my front diff case. Nothing else on the outside of the diff is damaged just the cover. Can I just unbolt the cover and bolt a new one on. I had to drive about 100 miles in 2wd. Am I damaging the front diff by driving in 2wd with no diff oil? It seemed fine but I'm not a mechanic. Tell me what to do.

 

If you want a good answer, include the truck model.

 

2002 f150 with 8.8 front and rear diff. 3.55 open gear ratio

 

I'm not a 4x4 expert but I think on our vintage trucks the front diff and axles turn all the time. So, you may have damaged it.

 

There is an axle disconnect inside the front diff, so the axles do turn. You do not have locking hubs at the wheels.

 

Well, it does say DRAIN...

 

I have called at least 20 shops with this question and gotten about 5 different answers. For the record, I guarantee you that my front drive shaft is not spinning. I checked, because everyone said it was. What are differential bearings and what are they connected to? Tell me why a front end would seize up. Does anyone know of this happening to anyone they know?

 

The front driveshaft will not spin because the axles are disconnected. The axles WILL spin.

 

You might get lucky with only a cover replacement needed.

 

I think just to side on "to be safe". I would replace the whole axle. Being that you don't know what else might be damaged inside. AND considering the fact that it was driven like this. How in the world did this break?? wheeling hard?

 

Snapped my front driver side shock up at table Mesa and I was bottoming out on everything. Hit a good rock and I smelled diff fluid. I jumped out and this is what I saw. I was still 3 miles deep on the trail and had to drive out in 2wd.

 

So there was plenty of time for dust to get up into the front differential. Ideally, you probably should disassemble it, clean it and reassemble with a new cover. You might could get by with cleaning it without taking it apart but there may be some dirt left in the beaings. I'd probably spray it with some cleaner, possibly even gasoline until I thought it was as clean as it could be and replace the cover and fill it with lube.