Me and a couple of friends went riding in the national forest a few weeks ago, nothing too major or nasty, but one of my friends got stuck in his 250 and I pulled him out and everything was working fine, I didn't do any major jerking or snatching, i got a parts picture from the dealer and saw the diff uses a collar that just slides over the axle. Is this a common problem for the collar to maybe strip out? If so can I do the repair, the dealer wants a little under $500 to do it. I am a field tech for a CAT heavy equipment dealer so I have the tools and "know how" to do it, or would it just be easier to let the dealer do it

 

What you're talking about is your vaccuum operated "center disconnect". First, are you sure the collar is sliding in the first place? Are you getting a grinding noise, or no noise at all?

If no noise at all, the disconnect is probably not trying to engage. It may just be a vaccuum hose or something simple.

To answer you question, No matter what it turns out to be, I'm sure you could do the job. It's more time consuming than anything else, but It's always easier to have the dealer do it, because then you don't have to!!!

 

There is no noise at all, the actuator is working fine, I pulled the cover off of it and watched it while it was twisting the rod to engage the collar. I seen on the parts pic that it uses ( I'm gonna call it a shift fork) to engage the collar, so I know it's either the shift fork or the collar. I haven't got under the truck to totally inspect it and see how hard it would be to drop the diff, the dealer told me that they drop the entire front end, kinda sounds like a bunch of bull since the entire repair only cost $500. Do you know if that's true or if I could just pull the axles, unbolt the axle tubes and drop just the diff itself

 

I just replaced the front diff. shift fork on my '03 F150, it was really easy.
1) jack up the front end. 2) unbolt the CV axles from the differential, you do not need to remove the CV axles. 3) unplug the actuator and vent tube. 4) remove front drive shaft. 5) remove 3 bolts that hold the front differential in place, and lower. 6) remove 4 bolts that hold the passenger side axle tube to the differential, this will give you access to the shift fork, you do not need to remove the diff cover. there is a washer(spacer) that will fall out, becareful. You need a punch, to hammer out a pin that holds the fork.
Installation is reverse of removal. The fork kit is about $150-$200, total rip off. I replaced just the fork, the geared collar was like brand new. The problem with mine was the collar has little plastic or teflon tips on it that ride in the collar, the tips were gone on mine. With a helper I was able to replace it in about hours.
Mike

 

@ mike- thanks for the input, I was off work today so I dropped the diff., and found the exact same problem, the plastic tips on the fork were mangled and the two ends that hold the plastic had sheared off, no telling how long it was working without the plastic pieces before it broke, just picked up the "kit" $235 and some change, should of took my own lube in there with me

 

I have all those parts laying around dam for that price I would have sold u the whole front axle and all

 

I'm kinda new to the forum. Is there a place on here where you can view or post parts for sale?

 

Yes there is

 

I mostly use the I phone app, can I get to it with the app or do I need to use the desk top?

 

You can use the app