Front differential grenaded?

Got warning about overheating transmission one week before this grenaded. Towed to the shop. This is in the US, so it’s on the drivers side. Axle shaft has been spat out.
Shop has said it needs new differential. And maybe axles. Quoted $2-3000 for parts and $3000 labour

Anyone seen this, dealt with it, fixed it? This is the wife’s car and is babied. 105,000 gentle miles. Help appreciated. Thanks

Model & Year of car would help.

Datatek said:

Model & Year of car would help.

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L322 2008 sc

apologies- will update signature

Not seen anything like it.

BlueCounty110 said:

This is the wife’s car and is babied. 105,000 gentle miles

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But would maybe ask the wife how she drive the SC, is she mechanically sympathetic?

I guess it has to come apart before you will really know.
For that to come out then I guess all the front bushes/ cvs would need a lot of slack in them.

Good luck.

J

Thanks for the reply. My wife said it was making an awful noise for about 10 minutes. I asked her if it was coming from one particular wheel, thinking maybe it was a worn brake pad or maybe a stone caught in the shield. Then the sound went away. She drone about 30 minutes any stopped at a light and then it just would not move. That’s where the axle dropped out.
My wife is not at all mechanically savvy but does drive gently.
The car has been in and out of the shop for 3-4 weeks trying to sort out an ac issue. And it’s been driving fine, tracking and smooth on and off the highway.

Any ideas what happened?

BlueCounty110 said:

Any ideas what happened?

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Yes, his wife ignored the "awful noise" and carried on driving for about 10 minutes

It was not her fault. She was under a time pressure and was out of resources. You’re right, might have been avoided but we are where we are. Looking to forum for experience with this particular issue. Thanks.

So do you own a Blue County? Or, do you live in a Blue county? If you live in a Blue county is it in a Blue state or a Red state?

All this is important, you know.

Lol. No, first car was a 1983 blue with white stripe County 110. Full roof rack and rear ladder. Jump seats. 3.5l rover v8. Love love loved that car. Only got it stuck once, in wales. Kind farmer pulled me out of a ditch with his tractor. I was only 18 and the cost of petrol was eating me alive. I learnt how to drive that car without using the brakes - so I didn’t use so much petrol (in theory!). That was a long time ago. Now living in the States. A red/blue one. Keeps changing

BlueCounty110 said:

Lol. No, first car was a 1983 blue with white stripe County 110. Full roof rack and rear ladder. Jump seats. 3.5l rover v8. Love love loved that car. Only got it stuck once, in wales. Kind farmer pulled me out of a ditch with his tractor. I was only 18 and the cost of petrol was eating me alive. I learnt how to drive that car without using the brakes - so I didn’t use so much petrol (in theory!). That was a long time ago. Now living in the States. A red/blue one. Keeps changing

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I live in Colorado. I drive a green County ('95 RRC) in a Red county in a Blue state.

Ah, for the days when the state was Red......

Western Slope Rover said:

I live in Colorado. I drive a green County ('95 RRC) in a Red county in a Blue state.

Ah, for the days when the state was Red......

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Ah so your a Liverpool supporter.

I have a theory. The drive shaft is telescopic so if the telescopic action has siezed IMO it's possible it has pulled the snap ring from it's channel in the diff as the front suspension goes up and down.

It fits with my gut instinct. Perhaps that c-clip came loose and the axle shaft worked it’s way out.
Getting it towed to a garage that has apparently said they’ve seen 3 of these failures. Asked if I’d had an axle replaced because in their experience, incorrect installation may lead to this. We haven’t had that work done but the previous owner may have
Please keep your theories coming

I suppose either is possible, hopefully the garage will let you know.

backinblack said:

I have a theory. The drive shaft is telescopic so if the telescopic action has siezed IMO it's possible it has pulled the snap ring from it's channel in the diff as the front suspension goes up and down.

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Good call @backinblack , seen mention of drive shaft popping out the diff before and it did it more than once if I remember.

Will report back with findings. Please keep insights coming