is there an easy way to test what condition the diffs are in? clutch too. i have a savage. thanks for the help

Unless you hear/feel/have a gut feeling that something is wrong, there is no way to know, unless you open 'em up and check!

I will grasp each wheel on one end of my truck and rotate the wheels back and forth in opposite directions changing up my rotation rapidly, if you feel something catchy this indicates spiders.


I then pick the truck up one end at a time by the wheels with the other end planted on the ground and try to force the tires and wheels in both directions at the same time, this is to test the ring and pinion.

Neither of these tests are fool proof but are a good way to find a issue before it completely blows up. I do this type of thing without even thinking about it anymore. It's better to note a catch in your spiders before they completely desintergrate and ruin the diff cup, IMO based on my experience, of course.