My wife has been driving with diff lock on!

[Shifty]

Hi everyone,

Need some advice, my wife has been driving the bronco this past week. She said drove great but has weird noise when turning.

went to check and noticed that the rear diff lock button was turned on by accident.

Are the diff locks damaged? I unchecked the button and light went off. It drives normal but worried if we might have damaged something.

Sponsored

 

[Bmadda]

Should be fine. I have forgotten to turn mine off, and no issues. Now that she knows what it feels like when turning on pavement, she will remember to shut it off.

 

[Theherofails]

You'd know if there was a serious problem... Grinding, popping, etc.

You probably have a bit more metal flake and shavings in your fluids than you did prior, but VERY likely all ok. Carry on like nothing ever happened.

 

[Funkdoobiest]

Been there, done that. I never turned mine on and forgot to turn it off but I found 4hi or the diff lock mysteriously on, probably the switches were inadvertently pressed. I really think there should be a more commanding notification system that you have some off road mode selected. Right now it just kind of blends in with all the other lights and sometimes you don't notice til you feel it.

 

[M4Madness]

I drove the streets for years (on purpose) with the rear axles locked with a spool on a '72 Gran Torino. I took it easy turning corners, and certainly got some tire "chirping" while doing so. As mentioned above, I'm sure everything is probably fine. Just make sure she knows how to switch it off should she notice the symptoms in the future.

 

[Austin26]

Annnd just like that, she's grounded from driving the Bronco!

 

[M4Madness]

I drove the streets for years (on purpose) with the rear axles locked with a spool on a '72 Gran Torino. I took it easy turning corners, and certainly got some tire "chirping" while doing so. As mentioned above, I'm sure everything is probably fine. Just make sure she knows how to switch it off should she notice the symptoms in the future.

The weirdest thing is that right after I posted the above, ARB sent me a message saying I'd won their air locker giveaway. Talk about timing! Wow!

 

[Scott R Nelson]

I would expect that any damage would be almost entirely to the tires if you leave the differential locked. Don't waste any more time worrying about it.

 

[2020FordRaptor]

Hi everyone,

Need some advice, my wife has been driving the bronco this past week. She said drove great but has weird noise when turning.

went to check and noticed that the rear diff lock button was turned on by accident.

Are the diff locks damaged? I unchecked the button and light went off. It drives normal but worried if we might have damaged something.

That sucks. Least she know the feel when she has the locking diff on.

 

[kodiakisland]

Should be fine.

I drove the streets for years (on purpose) with the rear axles locked with a spool on a '72 Gran Torino. I took it easy turning corners, and certainly got some tire "chirping" while doing so. As mentioned above, I'm sure everything is probably fine. Just make sure she knows how to switch it off should she notice the symptoms in the future.

Yeah, was thinking the same thing. If a spool or Lincoln locker made it fine around town, I’m sure the M220 diff will too. Just some screeching around corners and a bit of tire wear. Slow speeds may seem to require a bit more gas, but not likely to cause any damage

 

[slycat67]

Hi everyone,

Need some advice, my wife has been driving the bronco this past week. She said drove great but has weird noise when turning.

went to check and noticed that the rear diff lock button was turned on by accident.
Are the diff locks damaged? I unchecked the button and light went off. It drives normal but worried if we might have damaged something.

Fours words in the title say it all…

 

[slycat67]

Four words in that title say it all…

 

[RedDawg]

A little extra wear on the rear tires, ‘bout it…….

Sponsored