2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Differential bolt broken

[KEnhoffer]

Gear oil started to drip from my Dana 70 rear differential on my 97. I pulled the cover and found the broken off head of one of the bolts which fasten the ring gear to the pinion gear (if I am correct in my terminology). There appears to be about 6 bolts holding the ring gear. Has this happened to anyone, and what are the implications?. . As an aside I noticed the drip when I started to search for the reason why the ABS and brake warning lights came on. I wonder if the drip was caused by the broken bolt. There was no metal shavings on the magnet. I would appreciate any suggestions.

 

[lumberjack98]

Gear oil started to drip from my Dana 70 rear differential on my 97. I pulled the cover and found the broken off head of one of the bolts which fasten the ring gear to the pinion gear (if I am correct in my terminology). There appears to be about 6 bolts holding the ring gear. Has this happened to anyone, and what are the implications?. . As an aside I noticed the drip when I started to search for the reason why the ABS and brake warning lights came on. I wonder if the drip was caused by the broken bolt. There was no metal shavings on the magnet. I would appreciate any suggestions.

not real sure but 4 wheeling for a long time. if the head snaped off it could of hit the rear cover and made a hole. is there any indication where or what caused it to break it had to hit something like the housing also where all of the other bolts tight or could that one have backed out and hit the case if so the remaning bolts should be fixed and find out if any damage to the hole and threads it came out of. you may have caught it in time. I would clean the housing with brake clean (or similar) and remove the remaning portion of the bolt in the ring gear. if you cant get a pair of vise grips on the shoulder of the bolt then the carrier needs to come out to exract the bolt. if the vise grips (pipe wrench) work then get a replacment bolt and clean the hole with brake cleen and lock tite the threads and install to torque specs then remove each bolt 1 at a time and do the same in stall cover ( after fixing leak. set the cover down to make it look like a bowl and fill with water to check for leaks) fill with gear oil and you should be good to go.

 

[Nate]

There should be more like 10 or 12 bolts. I would pull the carrier and replace all the bolts. Make sure you use Red Loctite.