2012 Ford F-150 Rear drive shaft

TIM1992

MEMBER
2012 FORD F-150
3.5L
6 CYL
TURBO
4WD
AUTOMATIC
63,000 MILES

My pinion seal is leaking. I have a bad grinding sound coming from my rear differential. I was told if I drive it anymore the rear end will lock up. Is it ok for the truck to disconnect the rear drive shaft and drive it with 4wheel drive? I have 109 miles to drive it on dry roads. (Highways and back roads.)

4 Replies

MHPAUTOS

MECHANIC
31,937 POSTS

Diff will still be turning via the axles, so taking the tail shaft out will not help much, only that the dill will not be under direct drive load, you can give it a try, but keep a close watch on diff oil temp and noises.

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Wednesday, October 1st, 2014 AT 2:31 PM

MHPAUTOS

MECHANIC
31,937 POSTS

Also if you do this make sure that the diff id re filled with fresh oil as well.

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Wednesday, October 1st, 2014 AT 2:32 PM

CJ MEDEVAC II

MEMBER
222 POSTS

ARE YOU STILL UNDER ANY SORTA WARRANTY?

SOUNDS LIKE YOU NEED TO LOCATE ANOTHER (MAYBE USED) REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY WITH THE SAME GEAR RATIO

EVEN A BACKYARD MECHANIC COULD PROBABLY SWAP IT OUT IN (BEING REALLY GENEROUS) THREE HOURS OR LESS (PROBABLY LESS!)

A DIFFERENTIAL LOCKING UP WILL "MAYBE" EXHIBIT "SORTA" THE SAME ALMOST DISASTROUS RESULTS AS WHEN MY REAR OUTPUT SHAFT ON MY TRANSFER CASE LOCKED UP ON MY '77 JEEP CJ-5

......I'M SPEAKING OF THE REAR WHEELS FAILING TO TURN, ALL OF A SUDDEN AT 55 MPH

SEE "MY ANSWER" ON Jan 12, 2011 IN THE LINK BELOW

http://www.2carpros.com/questions/2004-jeep-grand-cherokee-noise-in-4wd

WELL I GOTTA ONE MORE SOB STORY IF YOU WANNA READ IT

SEE THIS LINK

http://www.2carpros.com/questions/jeep-grand-cherokee-1997-jeep-grand-cherokee--2

KEEP US POSTED ON HOW THINGS WORK OUT

WE DO LIKE HAPPY ENDINGS......AS WITH ME, FUNDAGE IS PROBABLY A SCARCE THING, WHEN SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPENS

SORRY ABOUT YOUR BABY!

JUST LOOKS LIKE IT WOULDA LASTED A LOT MORE THAN JUST TWO YEARS?

THE MEDIC

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