ZUKIWORLD Online | Suzuki 4x4 Editorial and Forum

ZUKIWORLD Discussion Forum => Suzuki 4x4 Forum => Topic started by: little_toad on August 24, 2007, 10:00:52 AM

Title: Rear axles locked up
Post by: little_toad on August 24, 2007, 10:00:52 AM
I'm new to this forum, looks like some great stuff going on here. I own an 87 Samurai that I tow behind an RV and use on/off road at campground. Not into xtreme off road, just dirt road to interesting places.

Here is my problem - while towing the toad back from Baja I felt a sudden pull and smoke coming from the rear tires of the Sami. It turned out that the rear axle on the toad had locked up. I cannot roll it or move it.

Before I start tearing into it my question is this - Is it possible that a spline broke or are the gears broken. Everything that is supposed to be done for towing flat was followed to the book. I have owned the car for 6 yrs and tow it 2-3 times a year, so it's not the first time, but never had this kind of problem.

Any info is greatly appreciated.

Keep up the great work being done here, excellent stuff.
Title: Re: Rear axles locked up
Post by: SnoFalls on August 24, 2007, 11:27:43 AM
have you pulled the driveshaft?

it may also be a wheel bearing or brake seized, but that would probably only be one wheel (and not both).
Title: Re: Rear axles locked up
Post by: little_toad on August 24, 2007, 02:33:48 PM
Thanks, that had not crossed my mind. Will try that first. Driveshaft, then look at brakes when I try to pull off the drums.
Title: Re: Rear axles locked up
Post by: jason hutchison on August 27, 2007, 05:40:46 AM
or a bearing in the axle, or if for some reason your differential has no oil in it the pinion bearing is probably toast.
Title: Re: Rear axles locked up
Post by: little_toad on September 08, 2007, 05:47:18 PM
Thanks for the advice. It turned out to be the tranny. Looks like I hit something, rock maybe, and cracked the case slightly. Enough for oil to leak out and cause tranny to seize. Word of caution - after you get off the trail check and double check all your fluids, never know what strange thing may have happened out there.

Thanks again.
Title: Re: Rear axles locked up
Post by: mrfuelish on September 08, 2007, 11:07:59 PM
First off that should not of happend if you towed it by the book, x-fer case in neutral and trans in second gear. pull the drive shaft next time.
Title: Re: Rear axles locked up
Post by: j2custom on September 09, 2007, 07:25:33 AM
Quote
Looks like I hit something, rock maybe, and cracked the case slightly. Enough for oil to leak out and cause tranny to seize.
 
Are you saying that a rock hit the transmission off the road and cracked the case?  Wow that is weird.

Quote
First off that should not of happend if you towed it by the book, x-fer case in neutral and trans in second gear. pull the drive shaft next time.
 
mrfuelish, re read the quote above... it sounds like he the trans cracked from a rock hitting it.  Your suggestion would have no effect in his case.
Title: Re: Rear axles locked up
Post by: Armour on September 09, 2007, 08:13:41 AM
Quote
Looks like I hit something, rock maybe, and cracked the case slightly. Enough for oil to leak out and cause tranny to seize.
 
Are you saying that a rock hit the transmission off the road and cracked the case?  Wow that is weird.

Quote
First off that should not of happend if you towed it by the book, x-fer case in neutral and trans in second gear. pull the drive shaft next time.
 
mrfuelish, re read the quote above... it sounds like he the trans cracked from a rock hitting it.  Your suggestion would have no effect in his case.
It shouldn't have siezed up had the transfer case been in neutral.
Title: Re: Rear axles locked up
Post by: mrfuelish on September 09, 2007, 01:23:47 PM
"mrfuelish, re read the quote above... it sounds like he the trans cracked from a rock hitting it.  Your suggestion would have no effect in his case. "



Ya, Books are funny that way.  some times a waste of ink.  ;D
Title: Re: Rear axles locked up
Post by: little_toad on September 10, 2007, 05:46:02 PM
Sorry guys, did not mean to raise such a rukus. It turns out that I actually hit a rock. When I was on a dirt road from Ensenada to Guadalupe Valley, where all the wineries are, I got off the road to take a picture, I went over a bush and did not realize there was a rock hidden in there. The bump was hard but not anything that I had not experienced before. You can see where it hit and the hairline crack.

Again sorry about rustling feathers. BTW as I mentioned before, I towed it by the book.
Title: Re: Rear axles locked up
Post by: kingzoo on September 12, 2007, 06:58:01 AM
  You didn't raise a rucus.It is simply a matter of opinion.Or so my therapist says.