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Haven't been on here in awhile as the M37 has been working OK. However now she has a problem, the front wheels don't drive in 4wd. Found out while I was trying to winch a neighbors van out of the mud. Got the M37 stuck. Front wheels would jerk occasionally accompanied by a banging sound. (had to get the Farmall M to pull the M37 out).

I checked the 4wd engagement at the transfer case ans the poppet clicked firmly. The banging noise generated from the front axle.

I thought I had broken an axle shaft or maybe my Superwinch hubs died. Pulled the axle shafts no breaks and the hubs were OK ( I put the original hubs back on ...no change). When you spin the front wheel there is a lot of slop in the differential and occasional clanks and bangs before the prop shaft starts turning.

The manual describes removing the differential but assumes the whole axle assembly has been removed from the truck. I was wondering if removing the differential while leaving the axle on the truck was feasible.


I am assuming i will shortly be in the market for a differential.

Sounds like you may have broken either the pinion shaft or have some spider gear/shaft issues going on.

Sounds like what my truck did about a year ago to the rear diff. When I got it hole and pulled the axles they were fine. I pulled the diff and found all the ring gear bolts had sheared off causing the ring gear to spin on it's carrier. The gears were ok but I had to replace the carrier due to the holes being distorted when the bolts went south. Be interested to know what happened to yours.

Yes, it is possible to remove the diff w/o pulling the entire assembly, but beware-that sucker is heavy so use a floor jack or some such to pull and lower it.
Gary

Thank you all. It will be a week or two before i can get to it. Will keep you all advised, thanks again.