With the truck not on jacks and the front driveshaft removed should I be able to freely turn the front diff by hand?

Thanks

 

Sorry forgot to mention '99 GMC with four button control

 

Yes, it should turn with very little drag.

 

A follow up on this, when I bought the truck they sai the 4wd was removed. The half shaft and cv axles were missing.

I installed the drive shaft new u joint. And heard a horrible clunk every few feet I rolled. Gone once i removed the drive shaft. While doing the drive shaft I notice a lot of wobble on the differential yoke, this bad? Very little fluid drained. Likely my diff needs repaired?

Easily done? My repair says bring it somewhere. And yes I know how to turn a wrench. My first 4wd.

 

did they leave the outter cv joints in the weheel bearings?


sounds like u need a new front diff. if you have a pick your own part local,its cheaper. just lots of fun labor.

 

Looks like they left both boots on.

 

Can someone give me any tips on how to access the nut in the frame rail for the top mount of the diff carrier. There is a rectangular cut out in the side of the frame that only looks useful if you feel like removing most of the suspension on that side. There is also an oval hole in the bottom of the frame but it's too small for a socket and the angle is too much to get onto the nut.

One bolt and this thing is out! Then on to the rebuild/replace. One guy quoted me 2600 to rebuild, seems a bit steep to me.

 

I forget exactly how i got to that nut/bolt one the driver side... Think i used a 3/8 breaker bar and socket wedged in from the oval hole in the bottom. Might have even gotten a closed end wrench inside the frame somehow and used extensions to turn the bolt from the engine bay side... FWIW i did have the upper control arm off both times. It is doable though!

 

I had to remove the upper control arm when I replaced my front diff. Be sure to mark the locations of the eccentric washers on the upper control arm bolts. They are used in the front alignment and if you don't put them back in the same location it will mess up your alignment.