Play in the front diff?!

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

04-13-2016, 05:08 PM

jedg

Super Moderator

Thread Starter

Join Date: Feb 2012

Location: Bunnlevel, NC

Posts: 3,068

Likes: 44

Received 114 Likes on 108 Posts

Play in the front diff?!

So I'm doing some maintenance and noticed this play in my front drive shaft... is this normal?! This is with the tires on the ground.

https://youtu.be/RlMsU04U9TI

Reply Like

04-13-2016, 05:11 PM

PsychoCupcake

JK Freak

Join Date: Jul 2012

Location: Lexington Park, MD

Posts: 710

Likes: 0

Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts

I could be wrong but I thought some amount of play was normal as it would correspond with the backlash in the gears. I don't know how much is normal though.

Reply Like

04-13-2016, 05:12 PM

jedg

Super Moderator

Thread Starter

Join Date: Feb 2012

Location: Bunnlevel, NC

Posts: 3,068

Likes: 44

Received 114 Likes on 108 Posts

Quote:

Originally Posted by PsychoCupcake

I could be wrong but I thought some amount of play was normal as it would correspond with the backlash in the gears. I don't know how much is normal though.

Yeah, I'm hoping that is the case... HOPING.

Reply Like

04-13-2016, 05:58 PM

ronjenx

JK Jedi Master

Join Date: Feb 2008

Location: Maine

Posts: 12,871

Likes: 0

Received 163 Likes on 141 Posts

As mentioned, there is some required play between the ring and pinion. Most of the slack you see in the video is the play between the differential pinion gears (spider gears) and the side gears they mesh with. Add to that some play in the side gear and axle shaft splines.

Edit to add:
Even though it's 28°F here tonight, I went out and checked my 2008 JK's front drive shaft for the same play you demonstrated in your video.
Mine is about the same.

Last edited by ronjenx; 04-13-2016 at 06:23 PM.