My T100 started to shimmy bad & I have no 4 wheel drive. The mechanic is saying the rear differential is bad. He says the parts inside are okay - it is just the differential housing. Can anyone tell me how I can check or what to check to make sure this is the problem?
pattimo

How did he come to this conclusion? Did he pull the differential apart? If so, he should've replaced the differential gear oil at the same time he pulled it. I find it hard to believe the housing is bad but the components are good. If the housing was bad, I'm sure it would've torn up something not being aligned and such... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> I'd say take it to another mechanic fer a 2nd and even a 3rd opinion... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Shimmy? Was this under acceleration? Braking? Coasting? What have you checked? Lug nuts? Axles? CV joints? Rims/tires? Brakes? Axle bearings?

No 4WD? Did you make sure the VSV was working? Did you cycle yer 4WD once a month?

thx for this reply. i wasn't there to see what he did. but here is some advise i was given. jack up the rear end and put the truck in gear...listen for grinding noise.
i cked the cv joint and it looks good...but another piece of advise was to then jack up the front end - put the truck in neutral and engage the 4x4.

i am sorry i do not know what vsv is and what do you mean about cycle the 4wd?
thank you...this is a big help for me. i am in mexico and things are a little different here to say the least.
pattimo

The owners manual says to drive in 4wd for 16km every month. I have a long gravel road for a driveway, and use 4wd on this road.

Here are the details of the 4wd system.

http://users.757.org/~ken/T/27-Suspension%20and%20Axle.pdf

It explains what VSV are, and how the front axle locks.

If you don't want to fix it, it's possible to lock the front axle permanently.

In the pdf ^^ the rear axle is also explained.

the rear diff?? your mechanic is an idiot.