Rear wheels locked!
 

I need a little help. My rear differential got locked up, I'm going to try and open it up and see if the gears broke or something. Here's the story, and where my stupidity comes in, my buddy and I tow it on a dolly, the transmission was in neutral (engine was missing), drive shaft in. We decide to get off at the next exit to eat and piss. While we were stopping, we heard a clunk noise and then screeching noise. His truck would not go over 5 MPH. The drive shaft popped off, and the rear wheels locked up. Anyone got any ideas? So I change the whole rear differential? If so, where is a good place to find one, I've searched everywhere online and found no good website. Thanks.

BTW, it only goes in reverse. I think I chipped a spider gear in the differential. Any easy way to fix it? What would I need, thanks again.

it acually sounds like the trans isnt even connected to the drive shaft....

trying getting the back on jacks and seeing if the tires spin at all.... forward that is

Buy a good one from the forum classifieds.

Hopefully you didn't toast the tranny as well. Towing in neutral w/ the driveshaft in spins stuff in the tranny, and can overheat it or starve the bearings of oil.

Dave

What DOES the factory recommend for towing? A dolly only, or CAN they be towed with the rears on the ground? Guess I can go check the manual.....

The only cars that require special attention to when towing are cars with auto transmissions. Their drive shafts have to be taken out (rear drive) if towed with the driven wheels on the ground. The reason is that the engine has to be running to pump fluids throuh the trans to lubricate the parts. Otherwise the trans gets hosed.

For auto trans and front drive, the front wheels will have to be off the ground or on a dolly.

No such requirements are needed for manual trans cars. But then you can not have a loose drive shaft flopping around, common sense.