botched halfshaft replacement! need help

[outlawstar766]

i tried today to replace the drivers side halfshaft. i misread the
instructions and pulled the shaft out of the differential with the diff's
gear stub still attached. i reinstalled the new shaft and test drove it. i
realized by the 15th foot of my driveway something was wrong, my car 93
subaru legacy 2wd, made a loud mechinical pop. i checked under and sure
enough the differential stub was not installed all the way. i took the
shaft back out and now the car grinds while in gear and and horribly when
in park, the front end is sitting off the ground on jackstands. did i kill
my differential? i just bought this car 2 weeks ago, any advice, repair
options is much appreciated!!

 

[johninKY]

I guess something could now be wrong with the differential but your
description of the noise is odd. I can understand the differential making
noise when the car is in motion but not when in PARK. Nothing inside the
differential moves when in PARK. I'm thinking something else is the
source of the grinding noise but have no idea what it could be. Could
drain the differential and look for metal chips.