Quarter turn of 'play' in read diff?

[lukewarm]

An issue that I once suspected to be a 4x4 issue, with the transfer case... turns out to likley be a rear diff problem.

86 ranger 2.9, 4x4, 5 speed ...

horrific noise in 1st and reverse (like some one dropped a brick in the bed)... and some general unwillingness to get up and go anymore in 2wheel drive...

when the truck is parked, i got under it and was testing ujoints... and the driveline moved atleast a quarter turn. can move it back and forth that much, without wheels movin. but does seem to 'grab' on either end of that turn. which, to me, seems to rule out broken ring gear teeth, yeah?

so what is this? tranmissions and diffs are something i remain fairly ignorant on. Suggesting causes for this would .. help. A lot.

 

[4x4junkie]

Broken spider gear(s)?

You'll probably have to pull the cover on that and give it a visual to know anything for sure.

 

[lukewarm]

TY junkie.

pulled the cover off, and it is indeed broken spiders (so warn they should have exploded).

off i go to hunt down a replacement!