My 94 front diff suddenly has a hole in the bottom of the pumpkin. Looks like a gear inside has broken off somehow and is sticking out a bit. I can and did push it back in with a bit of force, filled it back to the top, and drove it back home - Leaking.

Anyone have experience rebuiding the diff? I don't but I'm gonna repair it myself (I know engines but never had to deal with running gear). I assume that I can weld the pumpkin hole closed once I pull, id, and replace the bad gear. Any tips would be much appreciated. Thanks.

 

Have you thought about just replacing the whole diff? It might not be worth it to just replace the bad gear.
http://www.roverlandparts.com/index....amp;ProdID=162

 

It will be cheaper to buy a used complete front diff.

 

I'm gonna do just that - replace the whole diff with a use one. I've a parts car just sitting and waiting for duty.

I've been running 285 for a few years and suspect that they may have something to do with it.

 

exactly what exploded? ring, pinion, spider, carrier?

 

Saturday I'm gonna pull it and have a look. After giving it some thought I think the 280k miles was the reason and not the 285's.

 

It failed after only 280,000 miles? Man, LR's are junk!!.