Hard Question

[lts70]

This may be hard to understand, I know it will be hard to explain but I will give it a try.

When I switched out my rear axels to 5lug from 6lug last night I had a dished washer fall out from between my carrier and spider gears in my posi differential. I had not pulled the retaining pin (The pin that holds the axles in a position so that the C clips that hold the axle in place do not fall out) out all of the way out so it came from the opposite side spider gear than the side with the bolt that holds this pin in place. I didn’t see it fall out but this is the only place I could find for it to go back in. My question is, there was not a dished washer on the other spider gear opposite, is that normal?

[lowriden58]

should be one on each spider gear

[larry may]

x2 lowriden58 said, be correct,

[lts70]

The two dished washers at the bottom of your picture are what I am talking about. Can you buy just the washer anywhere? If it has been running good with out it will it hurt it to keep running it with only one? Would they ever remove one for shimming reasons? Thanks a ton.

[dwcsr]

The washers are available from GM dealers. If the washer has been missing for a long time you may want to get a spider kit and replace the set.

[lts70]

Well I will look for the other washer again but I don't think it could have gone anywhere but where the other one fell, right to the bottom. If I can not find it I will try just replacing the washer. It has had no problem or made any noise, all of the teeth look great.

Thanks guys, i guess my question wasn't so hard after all.

[lts70]

I checked with the local GM dealer and they do not sell the washers separate. I checked LMC but they only offer the entire spider kit as well and it is not cheap at ether place. Crap! I sure hope it is in there still, though I highly doubt it because I looked for it real good last night. Why is it that you get a project alost done and half of the time you run into crap like this.

So if it was never there in the first place and I have been driving the crap out of it for the last 10 years, and who nows how long it was gone before I got the truck, do I mess with a good thing?

[LOW DOUGH]

Did you change your axle shafts from 6 lug to 5 lug? If so, are they stock shafts? (from a 71 or 72) Or are they aftermarket axle shafts? Because I thought you couldn't do that. I thought the 71 & 2's are wider than the 67 to 70 's

[lts70]

In 70 half way through the year they changed to the 71-72 length with thier rear axle. All you have to do is measure and see if you have the long or short one. I had the longer axle and could use the stock 71-72 axles. I got hardened axles for a 72 chevy truck from Summit racing for $95 a piece. If you have the shorter axle you have to get the conversion axles from CPP or ECE, ect.

[LOW DOUGH]

Originally Posted by lts70

In 70 half way through the year they changed to the 71-72 length with thier rear axle. All you have to do is measure and see if you have the long or short one. I had the longer axle and could use the stock 71-72 axles. I got hardened axles for a 72 chevy truck from Summit racing for $95 a piece. If you have the shorter axle you have to get the conversion axles from CPP or ECE, ect.

Thanks.

I have a 69 axle under my 71. Guess I'll just have to rebuild the 71 to get my 5 lug back.

Highjack over

[airdale94]

It's probably just froze to the spider gear.

[lts70]

Originally Posted by airdale94

It's probably just froze to the spider gear.

You where right on. I can't believe I didn't see it before. I grabed a work light from my Jobsite and with the better lighting saw that it definatly had one on each side.

[airdale94]

Ah, glad to be of help. I've had this happen to me.