Big Bang Theory, Why is the nose of my Diff pointing straight down...

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BWA

BWA

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There was a Big Bang, any Theories....

Actually, there were several big bangs, lots of tire screeching, and, a big failure to proceed.
Luckily, it steered nice and straight, and, I managed to get it onto the shoulder without too much fuss.........

Seems the diff housing has rotated on the axle tubes. Only thing that stopped it from going right round, was the gas tank (there's a big dent in the front of it now), luckily I didn't go out in a big blazing ball O flame.........

Valiant-Broken-Diff-01.jpg
Valiant-Broken-Diff-02.jpg
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Valiant-Broken-Diff-04.jpg
 
Wow! It sure does look like it rotated independent of the axle tubes! I've tore up some my fair share of stuff, but have NEVER seen this before!

Post some pics of where the tubes are inserted in the center section.
 
did the welds on the perches let go ? it looks like your shock has vanished as well weird looking pics , the tube doesn't look twisted at all .
 
I've only seen that happen once before when a pinion gear seized. On the one I saw it on, the pinion fused to the housing, drive shaft torqued out the rear u-joint from the pinion when it stopped spinning and the pumpkin spun out the axle tubes from the wheels still turning without the pinion rotating.
 
On some of the 8.25 rears it isn't hard at all to rotate the tube in the housing. I did it with my hot slant six and dropped my driveshaft on the pavement.

Some rear end builders weld the tubes to the housing with nickel rod. Others drill and tap the round holes on either side of the diff and put in plugs that go into the tubes.
 
Ddaddy said:
I've only seen that happen once before when a pinion gear seized. On the one I saw it on, the pinion fused to the housing, drive shaft torqued out the rear u-joint from the pinion when it stopped spinning and the pumpkin spun out the axle tubes from the wheels still turning without the pinion rotating.
Click to expand...
 
Yeah, when I tear stuff up, I don't fool around. Always knew those 225 Slanties were torque monsters.

Yep, back plates and axle tubes are where they are supposed to be, the right side spring wound up so much that it slapped the body, and, broke the shock right off the lower mount.

I'll try and take a couple more pics tomorrow.

It's a 9 bolt cover (7-1/4"?????). Anything else fit......

Car is a 75 Plymouth Valiant 225, auto, Disc brake car, I suspect 2.79 ratio.

Anybody in or around Niagara Peninsula got a spare kicking around.....
 
I know Dana 60''s have several plug welds between the center section casting webs and each tube's inner ends. I think Dana 44''s are similar, just smaller plug welds. I guess I just assumed 22 or 25''s are similar, too. But maybe, not.
When I was trying to drill the plug welds out, they were harder than crap. I couldn't drill them out in a huge drill press. If your axle has those kind of plug welds and those plug welds broke, I'd be highly impressed.
 
'66 mustang fastback ... Nothing special ... 289 4 speed ... Illicit public street activity on a desserted desert rd ... Grabbed 2nd gear at the propper shift point ... Spring perches released from the housing ... Pinion shaft yoke proceeded to eat a hole in the floor ... We managed to horse the pumpkin to a more level attitude and drug it back to town ... Probably welded the perches on the rearend on the Friday before Memorial Day ... Happy Memorial Day!
 
Looking at the backing plate ... It looks like it's at the right attitude :wtf: Had to have come apart at the pumpkin end.
 
rustycowll69 said:
I know Dana 60''s have several plug welds between the center section casting webs and each tube's inner ends. I think Dana 44''s are similar, just smaller plug welds. I guess I just assumed 22 or 25''s are similar, too. But maybe, not.
When I was trying to drill the plug welds out, they were harder than crap. I couldn't drill them out in a huge drill press. If your axle has those kind of plug welds and those plug welds broke, I'd be highly impressed.
Click to expand...


Yup there are plug welds. It tore the tubes loose. Fairly heavy clutch car with big tires. It tore up,the body work pretty good. It can make a mess pretty quick.
 
I was doing some research the other day for a circle track car I play with on occasion. Many of the cars in that class are running 9" floaters. This car still has a GM 10 bolt in it. One of the recomendations i saw was to weld completely the center section to the axle tubes. Would be cheap insurance for an 8 1/4 running a little more pop than Chrysler saw fit to give us.
 
Friend of mine with a 78 D150 had the pinion lock up in his Dana 70 - yes, a Dana 70! Didn't do that type of damage but the inside was a mess! Funny how that happens when you have a leak and don't know it!
 
That car and rear end has been driven way longer than anyone ever thought it would.
That's probably what caused it.
But hey, look how many haven't failed.
 
Ha fooled us. Looks like a junk yard shot.
 
BWA said:
Yeah, when I tear stuff up, I don't fool around. Always knew those 225 Slanties were torque monsters.

Yep, back plates and axle tubes are where they are supposed to be, the right side spring wound up so much that it slapped the body, and, broke the shock right off the lower mount.

I'll try and take a couple more pics tomorrow.

It's a 9 bolt cover (7-1/4"?????). Anything else fit......

Car is a 75 Plymouth Valiant 225, auto, Disc brake car, I suspect 2.79 ratio.

Anybody in or around Niagara Peninsula got a spare kicking around.....
Click to expand...

I've got one laying in the back yard you could have.
But it's probably a little out of your way.:confederateflag::)
 
I think I saw an ad just the other day for a 7 1/4 " Free to good home " . I better watch what I say. That little beggar is still under my Dart :rolleyes:
 
Well, progress (I think) to report.

Found a 7.25 rear axle, still attached to donor car, so, not only do I get a new rear axle, I get a whole bunch of other useful parts.

My car is a 75 Valiant Custom, new car is 76 non Custom. Mine has power disc brakes, and, power steering, new car is non power Drum brakes, and, manual steering.

One slight problem, my car is 5 x 4.5, new car is 5 x 4. Can I just swap out the axle shafts once I get the rear end changed over?????

Pictures tomorrow......
 
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