Yesterday I was helping a bud do some yard work. He was trying to pull out a small stump from his front yard with no luck. He has an 05 Dodge Ram 2wd. As you could imagine he was just spinning his tires. I offered to help him out since I got 4x4 and started to pull the stump. I had it in 4lo and as soon as the tension pulled tight I gave it some gas and POP, grind, grind. I hear my buddy say uh oh as he was looking under my truck. I get out to find a large peice of the diff housing on the ground, and diff fluid pouring out. I could not believe how it busted so easy. I never had time to even spin the tires or anything. :crying:
Front diff shattered (pics)
Burly
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Hey... I am no rocket surgeon...... :jester: In this day and age we should be able to drive our trucks forward and backward! Hell, I was supposed to by living on the moon, and flying around in my own personal rocket by the year 2000 right???
I think the weakest link theory applies... I was using a Harbor Freight 12.00 tow strap when my diff EXPLODED...... WHAT THE F#&k? OVER. That is not right, PERIOD.
Love,
Callyer
I think the weakest link theory applies... I was using a Harbor Freight 12.00 tow strap when my diff EXPLODED...... WHAT THE F#&k? OVER. That is not right, PERIOD.
Love,
Callyer
GLad you pointed and talked about this before I. I am a meber of 4 off road clubs and pulling in reverse would be talked abotu and laughed at later. NEVER pull in reverse. The stress on the gears is over 15 times greater then pulling forward.FuzzyLogic said:
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68 Posts
In the past, many people pulled in reverse because that was the highest gear ratio.
But in 4x4's, you can pull forward in lo.
10 years ago I was pulling a stump out in forward. Used a tow strap about 30ft long. Dumb move. The stump snapped out, the tow strap was like a rubber band and shot the stump through my back window. Good thing was only broke glass. No paint damage.
But in 4x4's, you can pull forward in lo.
10 years ago I was pulling a stump out in forward. Used a tow strap about 30ft long. Dumb move. The stump snapped out, the tow strap was like a rubber band and shot the stump through my back window. Good thing was only broke glass. No paint damage.
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1,057 Posts
That is why you should always tie some wet towels to the rope/chain every foot and a half or so. The towels will keep the slingshot effect from happining. The heavier the towels the better. If you look at one of the first pics you can see the red towel I used.andy said:
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12,515 Posts
I never use those stupid straps. I allways use heavy chains with hooks. Never fails ya. Glad to see your truck got fixed.
Helinut1970 said:
This is equally stupid...most of the time.
Chains with hooks are designed to secure a load at CONSTANT PRESSURE.
The elasticity of a strap is there for a reason.
The damage done during a chain recovery to BOTH VEHICLES can be traumatic and expensive.
Show up at Moab and try to pull someone out in reverse...with a chain no less...and you will be escorted from the area and banned.
Google 'recovery', 'hook', 'chain', and 'mishap' and see what you get.
Using a chain and hooks under varying tension is a recipe for decapitation.
Also, reason that some axles are HIGH PINION, or REVERSE CUT is to run in the front of a 4x4.
Using the 'coast' side of a ring and pinion set under load is just stupid, and you are lucky the service manager was equally stupid to replace it.
Harsh...I know...but learn proper recovery tactics before you blame the design/equipment.
HTH.
Holy crap! That really sux man, sorry to hear that.Burly said:
After reading this whole thread I thought I'd comment on pulling from the front....I'd be most worried that the chain/rope or what I'm pulling out will come flying at the front of the truck(windshield!) when it pops loose.
Attn: Sgt. Dumasayuh said:
Travel across state lines is no longer prohibited.
I live in WI, but wheel all over the place.
Rock-crawling is my main game, and I have taken several classes from Warn Winch in recovery, towing, and load-hazard prevention.
Don't flame, I am just trying to help.
not to beat a shattered diff but....we lived on 2 lakes in minn and owned a hunting and fishing resort where we pulled out boats of all sizes, ice houses, trailers, fire wood, other stuck trucks and a couple great lessons here (i'm sorry they are at your expense but for $140 you got off cheap!!)
NEVER pull in reverse for above mentioned reasons--the gears are not designed that way in ANY truck (especially to take a massive load like an uncut tree or large, stuck vehicle) and if anything breaks loose--stump, hook, bumper, etc. it will come through the windshield at a rate of speed you may not be able to get away from--or will smash your hood, bumper, roof et al. which for the most part is more expensive than the rear bumper/tailgate.
also, it is almost always inadvisable to pull on pavement or a mixture thereof as the engineering relies on the tire to spin and 'give way' before the teeth. if it is under load and the tires are 'pinned down' on the pavement or if you suddenly hit the pavement, the teeth will go.
always pull with a tow rope with flags never a chain.....or use someone elses truck!!!!
you may indeed have had a lame diff but the majority of the time broken diff issues can be traced to some sort of bad practice.
glad you and the truck are okay (for the most part!):hahano:
NEVER pull in reverse for above mentioned reasons--the gears are not designed that way in ANY truck (especially to take a massive load like an uncut tree or large, stuck vehicle) and if anything breaks loose--stump, hook, bumper, etc. it will come through the windshield at a rate of speed you may not be able to get away from--or will smash your hood, bumper, roof et al. which for the most part is more expensive than the rear bumper/tailgate.
also, it is almost always inadvisable to pull on pavement or a mixture thereof as the engineering relies on the tire to spin and 'give way' before the teeth. if it is under load and the tires are 'pinned down' on the pavement or if you suddenly hit the pavement, the teeth will go.
always pull with a tow rope with flags never a chain.....or use someone elses truck!!!!
you may indeed have had a lame diff but the majority of the time broken diff issues can be traced to some sort of bad practice.
glad you and the truck are okay (for the most part!):hahano:
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11 Posts
i guess i'll have to trade in my nissan then because i pulled 100's of stumps in 4lo reverse in my old chevy. If the nissan can't take it i don't want it. Guess they don't build trucks like they did back in 1991.
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3,940 Posts
Solo Baric more than likely what toasted Burly's gears is pulling on asphalt. Pulling in reverse most of the time won't hurt a darn thing except your head when snatch rope, chain or cable come through the windshield. I have seen the back glass shattered before but at least the bed of the truck is a bit more protection.
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