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SSHD front diff repair

coastlogger

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Joined
Sep 26, 2013
Messages
144
Location
vancouver island canada
I popped something in the front diff on my 1981 Kenworth W900 with Rockwell SSHD axles. Driver tried to start a big load on hill. Popped drive shaft.
Fixed that and now Ive got noises coming from front diff and itll occasionally lock solid when going from forward to reverse. Can remove the lockup by going ahead a bit then reversing again.
No metal showing up in diff oils.
Ive never tackled this before so am looking for any info.
First is there an online manual link for these?I do have an old ford truck manual that has procedures on rockwells so am not completely in the dark.
Second ,it may not matter much but ive a question:I pulled the front two axles as thats where the clunking seemed to come from. Axles were fine. Moved truck using power to rear axle but it would move with the power divider/diff lock whatever you call it in either position. Tells me the problem is in the power divider I wonder?Or am I missing something and power would get to rear anyhow? I thought with front axles removed and power divider disengaged,the interaxle diff would just spin and nothing wd get to rear?
Thanks for any help.
 

DMiller

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 21, 2010
Messages
16,436
Location
Hermann, Missouri
Occupation
Cheap "old" Geezer
Sounds as busted a front pinion tooth or exploded interaxle side gears, not uncommon on those. Worse yet was the Pinion gear nut backing off and eating a hole in the front case.
 

Pops52

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 19, 2016
Messages
293
Location
Penn Valley, CA
Occupation
Worn out lowbed driver "retired"
Have you pulled the drain plug and fished around wit a magnet? Either way, it’s probably going to have to be taken out.
 

coastlogger

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Joined
Sep 26, 2013
Messages
144
Location
vancouver island canada
If its the interaxle can i pull that part and leave rest of diff in place?Like I said this is not my area of expertise(as if there are any)
No metal in oil.I stopped truck right away so not much time for extra disintegration Im thinking.(Actually so far I just pulled drain plug let a litre or so run into pan and tested that for metal-none)
 

Pops52

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Jan 19, 2016
Messages
293
Location
Penn Valley, CA
Occupation
Worn out lowbed driver "retired"
Unless sshd’s have changed since the 70s, the power divider is buried in the front of the 1 piece case. I had a spider gear in the power divider break when backing under a Lowbed. The broken gear pushed a hole in the case. No core$
 

DMiller

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 21, 2010
Messages
16,436
Location
Hermann, Missouri
Occupation
Cheap "old" Geezer
Upper nose housing can come off, but will need to clean the mess inside the banjo housing. Easier to just drag it out now.
 

DoyleX

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 2, 2013
Messages
571
Location
Minnesota
Occupation
Lever Puller, Gear Jammer, Pipe Twister
The front power divider section from a SQ/SL will bolt on the front of the SS. Id pull the whole carrier and take it all down. Parts are cheap to buy at this point.

I still run a set of SQHD's. Depending on your area buildable cores are getting thin as they are so old and obsolete. I would recommend building a set with a spare axle shaft or two for the shelf.
 

1693TA

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Feb 27, 2010
Messages
2,687
Location
Farmington IL
Occupation
FAA Radar Engineer, (Retired)
The front power divider section from a SQ/SL will bolt on the front of the SS. Id pull the whole carrier and take it all down. Parts are cheap to buy at this point.

I still run a set of SQHD's. Depending on your area buildable cores are getting thin as they are so old and obsolete. I would recommend building a set with a spare axle shaft or two for the shelf.

I concur. I have a spare set of SQHD's w/3.70 on my trailer kept as spares. Actually purchased these years ago to get rid of wedge brakes on one of my Mack trucks.
 

Truck Shop

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 7, 2015
Messages
16,560
Location
WWW.
Broke tooth or power divider. The later 40-145's use much of the design of SSHD's. The SS was/still is
a good drive axle. Parts can be had for SSHD's not so much for SQHD's. But hold on to your hat.
 

dieseldog5.9

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 11, 2014
Messages
614
Location
New Hampshire
Either way you are going to be pulling the carrier which you could do yourself. Then take the Carrier to the local rebuild shop or purchase a reman, I would not suggest you repairing your own differential.

The trickier part as Dmiller pointed out is cleaning the axle housing which will inevitably require taking off both hubs and cleaning or replacing the bearings.

For that age truck you may find a MOTOR manual on ebay that would cover some of that information, or the Rockwell website, unless someone here has it.
 

coastlogger

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 26, 2013
Messages
144
Location
vancouver island canada
Removing diff. Have a spare diff in a parts truck so will see whats up with this one and then...
Anyone got a pic or description of a good homemade u joint separator?
Also any tips on releasing the wedges around axle bolts would be appreciated. So far I whale on axle with big hammer then run nuts back on studs a ways and beat sideways back and forthon them.It does work ,eventually,but it seems like im missing something .
 

dieseldog5.9

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 11, 2014
Messages
614
Location
New Hampshire
Keep Hitting more and harder, get your back into it, when you feel like you’re about to stroke out the Axle cones will come out one at a time. I find swearing at it helps, Real big cuss words not like, just your standard issue stuff, And string them together. It will scare the axle cones out of there.

I included a picture of a ujoint puller that I made myself With some old rods off of 3030 can, And the special little pliers to take those cones off.
 

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coastlogger

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Joined
Sep 26, 2013
Messages
144
Location
vancouver island canada
Thanks and yes the premium grade cussing does seem to help. The kind thats not socially acceptable to all walks of life,etc etc.
Re the puller, I cannot seem to visualize how it works.The bolts push on the yoke? But the legs need to grip something? Flummoxed. Please illuminate.
 

coastlogger

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 26, 2013
Messages
144
Location
vancouver island canada
Got diff out. The sliding collar that engages power divider is in 3 pieces. No idea what would make that happen. Bits of metal everywhere but no other noticeable damage,well except for a chip off a driven gear tooth which seems negligible.Debating whether to clean it up or use other diff.
 
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