Could this have damaged anything?

[379redneck]

I finaly got around to checking the gear oil in my front diff last night and it wasnt good, the gear oil felt just like mud. It made a few noises before I checked it- if I locked the hubs but left it in 2wd the front end would start popin, and it leaks. There is also a clunk that comes from the front when I hit bumps but I dont think the oil has anything to do with that. I changed the oil and put on a new gasket and the poping noise is gone now.

Could the mud-like gear oil have caused any damage? I have done quite a bit of wheelin with it but nothing to extreme.
Thanks

[MTCK]

Anything is possible. Look at the ring and pinion for wear. I would check all of the external moving parts before diving in any deeper: the U-joints at the hubs, on the drive line, ball joints, drag link, tie rod endsbushings in the springs, wheel bearings, hubs etc and I bet you'll find the source of the noise. Also check the frame to make sure it's not cracked around the steering box.

[379redneck]

I tried moving every external part by hand and I couldnt, not that it definatley rules anything out. I did notice my passenger side hub was dry when I took the outer snap ring off, and the snap ring on the drivers side has a piece broken off of it, so it can move a little bit, but it made the noise befor I noticed that. I will look more into that when I start working on the truck over the samer. My main concern is if there could be any damage from the mud-like oil.
Thanks