What causes broken spider gears?
A common scenario is getting stuck in the mud or snow and free spinning your wheels trying to break free. When this happens, the spider gears can rotate on the cross-pin shaft so quickly that the differential oil is slung away, resulting in metal-on-metal wear.
What happens when spider gears go bad?
Regular clunking every few feet may indicate broken ring or pinion gears. Banging or clunking only on corners can be caused by broken spider gears, lack of sufficient positraction lubrication, or worn positraction clutches. Rumble while turning may indicate bad wheel bearings.
Do spider gears wear out?
Spider gears dont typically wear out because they really dont move against each other unless the vehicle is making a turn — and even then, the amount they rotate against each other is not that significant. The conical washer behind the spider gears don’t put any pressure against the spider gears.
How do you know if spider gears are worn?
How to Tell If Spider Gears Are Bad
- Listen for “chatter” from the axle while driving. The sound can either be a grinding or popping noise.
- Inspect the inside of the differential for metal shavings. While there will be a fine dust of metal which is common, larger pieces may indicate the spider gears are falling apart.
How much does it cost to replace spider gears?
The price range for a spider gear kit replacement is $20 to $700.
When should I replace my spider gears?
Inspect to see if the pinion is still rotating on the axle if the tire is not spinning while powered by the vehicle. The spider gears and possibly the entire differential will need to be replaced immediately as the damaged gears made the differential immobile.
What happens if a front differential goes out while driving?
If the universal joints of your differentials get too worn out, the drive shaft will start to vibrate. You will feel the vibrations even more as you step on the gas pedal to accelerate your vehicle. The vibrations will get even worse if there is a differential fluid leak.
What happens if a front differential breaks?
Simply stated, the axles are connected to the front wheels. If an axle begins to fail while driving, your car will start to pull to one side as one wheel loses power. When the axle breaks completely its corresponding wheel will no longer turn and although the engine may still run, the car won’t move.
How tight should spider gears be?
They should be snug on the splines but not to the point they’re difficult to get on. They should also not have alot of slack. If they are to tight, you may have the wrong gear set, if they are to loose, it may be wrong gear set, or the axle splines are worn and the axles would need replacing.
What do bad spider gears sound like?
“Banging, clicking or clunking” while cornering can be caused by broken cornering gears commonly called “spider gears”, lack of sufficient positraction lubrication, or worn positraction clutches. A “Rumble” while cornering or turning may indicate bad wheel bearings.