Need a quick answer...How do I check front diff bushing?

[SedonaBound]

I'm picking up the H3T this morning. Drove up the Jeep up from Sedona to Layton UT. I looked the truck over last night on the lot and it looks very good superficially. I have a checklist for the final inspection before I sign. The truck has 45K miles so I want to check the front diff bushing but looks like its well concealed under the skid plate. Can I check it without physically crawling under the truck? What are the driving symptoms if its bad? Any other last minute items to check on the 5.3? I hope someone's online who can answer.

 

[amrg]

Front diff bushing should be very visible, unless you mean there is ucp covering it up?
Anyway, in my case, the bushing was so toast I was able to move the diff up down, side to side with just pushing on it with a screw driver!!! Not sure about other, less ridiculous methods

As for driving symptoms, have the car coasting at aprox 65/70 mph and then give it some throttle, a loose diff will bounce around and ur gona feel a good jolt in the body/frame!

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

you'll hear a clunk is the most common sign

if you hear a clunk, get a big pry bar, remove the lower, engine skid plate and see if you can move the nose of the front differential up and down.

 

[Chook]

Honestly, just ask if it has been fixed......... If it hasn't then it will need to be done so just factor that in up front!!!

 

[SedonaBound]

I didn't get under to check it, but I did several F-R shifts in 4-4L-4LL with no clunks, and it handled fine on the 570 miles home. I don't think the truck has seen any significant offroad use. Looks pristine underneath. But I knew that when I saw the 20s.

 

[SolidusJ]

Grab the rack and shake the hell out of it, if it moves time for bushing if not and solid your good. I did mine at 48K and bushing were bad.