Rear Diff Fluid Freezing?

Hey Guys,

Currently sitting in a VA parking garage and it’s 20 degrees out. Just started the truck (2016 off-road manual) and when I try to take off it feels like I’m tied to a tree or the rear diff just does not want to turn. I’ve had the feeling prior in the cold but not this cold or this bad.

In normal temps when I try to switch from 4h to 4l and back it can take minutes of rocking back and forth. I’m wondering if it’s possible water could have gotten in from submerging the rear and mixed with the fluid and that it’s now freezing? Anything you could think of that could cause this? I tried searching to no avail.

Thanks!

 

Also it will not engage from 2wd to 4wd at all currently.

 

Idk if it’s water or not but my truck gen 3 auto is extremely sluggish when she’s cold. My old gen 2 manual was even worse in anything under 20 until they warm up a bit.

 

Rear brake drums are most likely siezed.

Move the truck forward and backwards to free them up.

It's common

 

Mine clunk every morning when taking off.

 

20 degrees!! Lol no the diff oil is not freezing.

 

I’d have to agree with @koditten .

 

Haha I didn’t think the oil itself would be freezing but I submerge it often with no breather so thought water mixed in could be possible.

The drums seem more likely. It physically won’t move when trying and there is a click when trying. Having someone listen to the brakes in a minute to see if that’s the sound.

 

If you have that much condensation and water in your gear oil you need to flush and refill it.

But I've personally never heard of diff actually having so much moisture in it that it would seize. It's conceivable that moisture would freeze into ice but then you'd have ice floating in the the lube.

Around here you usually has to start getting really cold for me to notice it, I mean sub zero. Even then it's more like you're dragging a tire for a few minutes until the lube moves from the thick honey state to something less viscous.

I like @koditten's suggestion.

 

I've switched to 4low to make this easier.

 

Pretty set on it being the drums. Going to come back with something to heat them up with. Thanks all!

 

Be easier to just swat the inside of the backing plate with a hammer.

 

Will give that a try now!

 

Yup, if this is the issue then with a smack with a rubber mallet you'll hear them release.

I'd proceed with caution using heat, it's possible to literally cook your brakes, like the flaming shoe liners or brake fluid. Use a heat gun and go slowish. Or just set the parking brake at one or so clicks to warm them and evap the moisture.