Hey sporty nuts. I have some sad news. My front diff recently chewed itself out of house and home. We got our first nasty snow storm of year in So. Indiana and low and behold the 4X4 wasn't working. So driving down the road, thinking..perhaps its working but I know better. Then snap, squealing tires and sideways on the highway. Shift out of 4H and drive down the road in 2H. My sporty now smells like trans fluid on the inside. No clue why this happened..any ideas? All gears in the diff are just grinding and no power in either axle. I know the four wheel wasn't working and i'm sure its because of the damn vacuum locks being junk. I'm perplexed though as to why the front differential just decided it hated me and was going to self destruct. This spring i'm going to begin the task of replacing it. Anyone care to share some resources with me as to where I can begin my search? They seem to be few and far in between in the salvage yards here in the midwest where I live. I need the entire front, axles and all. I'm definitely going to change to manual locks...I just kept putting it off and I shouldn't have but no use crying over spilt milk right. Help me out guys, I love my sporty and I need the four-wheel to work again.

that sucks.

let me know when you are getting ready to do all of this, not sure what shipping would be like, but i will have the dif and everything minus a passenger side axle. but i am sure i can find one easy enough for you and send it with. also i have the replacement warn auto hubs. not the vacuum ones installed on mine.

Looks like around $100+ for the Axles.
I added the site at bottom of this post for refrence.

CVU CV Axle Assembly 1995-2000 Kia Sportage CVU AXLE ASSEMBLY, DRIVER SIDE -- A High Quality Direct Fit Replacement, Remanufactured To OEM Specifications, With Manufacturer's Limited 7-Year Or 70,000-Mile Warranty
<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />$47.98

CVU CV Axle Assembly 1995-2000 Kia Sportage CVU AXLE ASSEMBLY, PASSENGER SIDE -- A High Quality Direct Fit Replacement, Remanufactured To OEM Specifications, With Manufacturer's Limited 7-Year Or 70,000-Mile Warranty
<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />$49.04

Site: Copy and past to browser.

http://www.car-stuff.com/mmparts/kia-sportage/axle_assembly.html

This ones on e-bay, BUY IT NOW! or LOW MONTHLY PAYMENTS!!

2002 KIA SPORTAGE FRONT AXLE DIFFERENTIAL 47000 MILES
<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />$250.00

Site:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2002...torsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

Fits: 2002 KIA SPORTAGE
Description: Front Axle Assembly
Without 4 whl ABS-FAX
<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />$285.90

Site:
http://www.automotix.net/usedautoparts/2002-kia-sportage-front_axle_assembly-inventory.html#ND83680N

You could try this place, they have access to most boneyards.

Used car parts

That's crazy! The exact same thing happened to me just before Christmas. Fortunately I was just leaving the driveway and avoided the unpleasant sideways scene on the highway.
I lucked out on ebay and found a 36,000mi front diff in Illinois for $100, cost almost as much to ship it. I haven't managed to get it under the sporty yet as my shop is clogged with motorcycles and I need to shovel like 4 feet of snow out of the way to get in. I'll likely be taking notes and pictures as I go so I can eventually drop the diff an inch or so (adskia has done this I believe) when I can afford to lift it.
I'll try to get a pictorial-type-thingy going for the swap as it seems it's time for front diffs to be imploding.
It might also help to soak every fastener you think you might turn in WD-40 several times prior to disassembly or you might end up buying things like ball joints, diff mount nuts/bolts and so on.
Good luck!
Steve

I have found that PB Blaster is far superior to WD 40 for penetrating rusted bolts and nuts.
Just my 21 cents.
Everet <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/patriot.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

Thank you everyone for your list of references and ideas. I will get to work on this thing hopefully in the spring when it thaws out some.

PB Blaster is the best stuff you can purchase commercially. There is some better stuff, but you have to have a special license for it.

Logansportage <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/patriot.gif" alt="" />