2015 Santa Fe Awd. Rear wheels lock forward but not in reverse.

[ZZman]

Today wife said she hit a pothole and then car acted up. The rear wheels lock up then trying to drive forward but spin freely when backing.
Any ideas?

 

[oldhp]

So it was towed home? Exactly how big was the pothole? Sounds like a brake problem. Shoe or caliper come loose???

 

[Rand]

Sounds like you got some investigating to do.

 

[Nick1994]

Broken caliper bolt?

 

[Snagglefoot]

Not sure about the Subaru but if you look at one of the most common locking diffs, the Eaton G-80 locker used in the GM truck locking diff, the mechanism is designed to lock the wheels in either direction. Centrifugal force is a big part of the design are there is an arm that can grab and lock with the axle going in either direction.

The Subie might just have a simpler design?

 

[ZZman]

So it was towed home? Exactly how big was the pothole? Sounds like a brake problem. Shoe or caliper come loose???

It was close to home so I did a stupid thing and backed it home.

 

[Snagglefoot]

Not sure about the Subaru but if you look at one of the most common locking diffs, the Eaton G-80 locker used in the GM truck locking diff, the mechanism is designed to lock the wheels in either direction. Centrifugal force is a big part of the design are there is an arm that can grab and lock with the axle going in either direction.

The Subie might just have a simpler design?

Edit.Thought you were talking about a locking differential. Carry on and good luck.

 

[crashz]

I would start with the brakes / hubs / wheel bearings and work inboard from there. Seems like a heavy impact would effect the bearings the worst, but could have dislodged a worn brake pad or something. Let us know how it goes.

 

[daniel327]

It sounds like a problem with the parking brake.

 

[ZZman]

Well the shop found metal in the rear differential fluid. Time for a used one to be installed. 2600.00 total repair

 

[mk378]

Does it have the electric clutch on the front of the rear differential? That part is problematic. The problem I had was different though; it would not de-clutch when making a sharp turn on pavement, causing one of the rear wheels to slide since it was locked in 4x4.

 

[ZZman]

No it is hydraulic

 

[supton]

Well the shop found metal in the rear differential fluid. Time for a used one to be installed. 2600.00 total repair

Oof. Was it shards of metal from hitting the pothole, or had the diff been grinding itself to death for some time, and this was the final straw? Ouch either way.

 

[ZZman]

Oof. Was it shards of metal from hitting the pothole, or had the diff been grinding itself to death for some time, and this was the final straw? Ouch either way.

Yeah the differential just blew up for whatever reason.....

 

[ZZman]

Well it is partially fixed. It now drives but only in front wheel drive. Looks like the transfer case was also damaged. Probably stripped the splines off the shaft. Oh well, gonna go with just FW drive for now.