diff/halfshaft problems

hey! i have a 05 plate defender. i pulled up at the traffic lights, tried to set off with no avail, i could hear a loud grinding on the rear, the prop was moving but the wheels werent. i put the car in diff lock and drove off. now i removed the half shafts expecting this to be the problem, but it isnt. i have checked all the splines and there all fine. i put the shafts back in and then tried again, still no avail, so i pushed the shafts in futher than they should, (well were the circlip stops them) and it moves fine with no grinding noises! strange! so i think to my self, the diff must be the problem, splines inside the diff must be worn, so i set to taking the diff out. no ive removed the diff and there fine too, the diff appears fine with nothing looking suspect. does anyone have any ideas? cheers!

are your drive flanges good? On the end of the axle, in the middle of the wheels.

yes there fine, took it to a local specialist and they think the problem is in the diff. ill let you know tomorrow when i get it back

Just had exactly the same problem on my 05 plate defender yesterday... Did you find out the cause and what sort of cost was it to repair bud..?

Thanks