Differential Case blues - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

tphsmith · 02-25-2007, 08:25 AM

well I got my NEW ring and pinion gear set Friday, Excited to do the swap Saturday, (wife was working so no Distraction) removed the housing cover drained the gear lube. pulled the tires off and drums came off removed the pinion yoke took lock pin out slipped the C clips out. slipped the axles clear of the case.(I worked at a American Axle plant in mexico setting up for the NEW dodge lockers for 2 years) the pinion shaft was difficult to push out?? well it came out and it was all gaulled up on top and bottom of the shaft, strange! with the pinion gears out after the shaft was removed well the I pushed the case out with help of tapping the pinion from the front she was out in my hands. there were some small metalic fines as I wiped and washed the axle huosing out. I didnt have the right puller to pull the bearings off thew diff case so i called my buddy up and he brought his tools over. (he had the right tools, he use to work at a dealership here). we couldnt get the bearings off the diff case so he suggested to break the roll cage then cut the race off, no problem. NOW here is the killer the spider gears were still in the diff case. we had to drive them out with a big large drive punch, guys the gears were frictiion welded into the diff case bad. but the axles still rotated. this would have been a very devistating issue if I had been driving the truck this way. (the truck has been a garage queen for close to 5 years now trying to get it up and running by MAY this year) So now with this issue of needing new internal gears and now needing a empty diff case I was not ready for this set back.. (this truck sure likes to spend my money for some dang reason) well so now I need to go to the parts board here and see if anyone has a good diff case. I had no idea the diff case was shot. bummer

GREASEMONKEY72 · 02-25-2007, 10:16 AM

that sure is a bummer man, goodluck with getting it figured out

Psycho71 · 02-25-2007, 11:24 AM

The rear end was the first of many surprises with my truck. A week after I got it, it munched an axle bearing. I took out the axle only to discover it had worn out the housing too. It probably would have been OK, but I had a buddy who had another 5 lug rearend under a junker. I pulled it, payed him a minimal fee, and took it home. While I had the new one out I thought I'd pull the cover and check things out. Good thing I did. The pinion had made some serious contact with the carrier. I had to sledge the pin out that retains the spider gears, cause the pin/bolt that retains the larger pin was broken, and stuck in place. So I finally got it all apart and between the two, I got one good rearend.

And all this happened on the first rear end I had ever messed with in my life. Needless to say, I not scared of these things at all anymore.

Jay

tphsmith · 02-25-2007, 08:33 PM

lol, aint scared? this is my fisrt time replacing one, Ive test cut cases for American axle, Bellright, Dana test cut the gears for new venture, eaton, Superior guess I should be checkin buisness cards for contacts,LOL

Huck · 02-25-2007, 08:57 PM

Just find a local member with a rear sitting out back--I've got several. They don't bring much, rarely wear out, and 8-10 will be good to go with a flush and re-lube!! Huck

02-25-2007, 08:25 AM	#1
tphsmith still buypickupparts Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: charlotte Posts: 637	Differential Case blues well I got my NEW ring and pinion gear set Friday, Excited to do the swap Saturday, (wife was working so no Distraction) removed the housing cover drained the gear lube. pulled the tires off and drums came off removed the pinion yoke took lock pin out slipped the C clips out. slipped the axles clear of the case.(I worked at a American Axle plant in mexico setting up for the NEW dodge lockers for 2 years) the pinion shaft was difficult to push out?? well it came out and it was all gaulled up on top and bottom of the shaft, strange! with the pinion gears out after the shaft was removed well the I pushed the case out with help of tapping the pinion from the front she was out in my hands. there were some small metalic fines as I wiped and washed the axle huosing out. I didnt have the right puller to pull the bearings off thew diff case so i called my buddy up and he brought his tools over. (he had the right tools, he use to work at a dealership here). we couldnt get the bearings off the diff case so he suggested to break the roll cage then cut the race off, no problem. NOW here is the killer the spider gears were still in the diff case. we had to drive them out with a big large drive punch, guys the gears were frictiion welded into the diff case bad. but the axles still rotated. this would have been a very devistating issue if I had been driving the truck this way. (the truck has been a garage queen for close to 5 years now trying to get it up and running by MAY this year) So now with this issue of needing new internal gears and now needing a empty diff case I was not ready for this set back.. (this truck sure likes to spend my money for some dang reason) well so now I need to go to the parts board here and see if anyone has a good diff case. I had no idea the diff case was shot. bummer __________________ Its Gonna be a Great Day, I woke up this Morning. 72 SWB Fleetside freshly painted. putting a 94 LT1 with 700R4 tranny lowered 4 in the front 6 in the back 81 chevy half ton 350 89 Silverado 4x4 going ta church truck

02-25-2007, 10:16 AM	#2
GREASEMONKEY72 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Bakersfield,CA Posts: 7,893	Re: Differential Case blues that sure is a bummer man, goodluck with getting it figured out __________________ -steven Alte Seele S.S. "Allison" '72 C/10 LWB 350SB/TH350 - DD PITBULL IS NOT A CRIME

02-25-2007, 11:24 AM	#3
Psycho71 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kaufman, Tx Posts: 827	Re: Differential Case blues The rear end was the first of many surprises with my truck. A week after I got it, it munched an axle bearing. I took out the axle only to discover it had worn out the housing too. It probably would have been OK, but I had a buddy who had another 5 lug rearend under a junker. I pulled it, payed him a minimal fee, and took it home. While I had the new one out I thought I'd pull the cover and check things out. Good thing I did. The pinion had made some serious contact with the carrier. I had to sledge the pin out that retains the spider gears, cause the pin/bolt that retains the larger pin was broken, and stuck in place. So I finally got it all apart and between the two, I got one good rearend. And all this happened on the first rear end I had ever messed with in my life. Needless to say, I not scared of these things at all anymore. Jay __________________ You only need two tools in life - WD-40 and Duct Tape. If it doesn't move and should, use the WD-40. If it shouldn't move and does, use the duct tape. If a hammer doesn't fix it, you have an electrical problem! Slot Cars, 1:24 Scale, 100MPH@100,000RPM, fastest things on wheels!

02-25-2007, 08:33 PM	#4
tphsmith still buypickupparts Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: charlotte Posts: 637	Re: Differential Case blues lol, aint scared? this is my fisrt time replacing one, Ive test cut cases for American axle, Bellright, Dana test cut the gears for new venture, eaton, Superior guess I should be checkin buisness cards for contacts,LOL __________________ Its Gonna be a Great Day, I woke up this Morning. 72 SWB Fleetside freshly painted. putting a 94 LT1 with 700R4 tranny lowered 4 in the front 6 in the back 81 chevy half ton 350 89 Silverado 4x4 going ta church truck

02-25-2007, 08:57 PM	#5
Huck Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Shelbyville, KY Posts: 3,269	Re: Differential Case blues Just find a local member with a rear sitting out back--I've got several. They don't bring much, rarely wear out, and 8-10 will be good to go with a flush and re-lube!! Huck



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