Rust on ring and pinion

[Johnl48]

Did I just open eatons pandoras box ? Was planning on just changing seal and gaskets. What you all think ?

[geunther]

Sadly I would say, new ring and pinion and new bearings.

[terry b]

Did it make a lot of noise? Doesn't look like it was driven in a long time.

[Johnl48]

Originally Posted by terry b

Did it make a lot of noise? Doesn't look like it was driven in a long time.

I never drove it. In process of restoring it.
I can't find any parts for this online

[terry b]

I would not be able to not rebuild it. It's going to fail. Now is the time to collect parts and do it. Change the year ratio of you want. Not the best news but do it once and do it right.

[Johnl48]

Originally Posted by terry b

I would not be able to not rebuild it. It's going to fail. Now is the time to collect parts and do it. Change the year ratio of you want. Not the best news but do it once and do it right.

Been online for over an hr can't find a single part for the HO52

[57taskforce]

Originally Posted by Johnl48

Been online for over an hr can't find a single part for the HO52

There’s a really good thread somewhere on here. It covers current part numbers and the rebuild process. It was from about a year or two back. I can’t seem to find it now though. I will tell you there are no new gears for this axle, you’ll have to source a used set.

[HO455]

What are your plans for the truck?
I believe you can get the numbers off of the bearings and source them from a quality bearing house.
As far as the gear set goes it depends on your comfort level. If you are unable to source a ring and pinion you could acid wash the rusted areas to clean them and then reinstall them. After all this kind of rusting is common when vehicles are parked for extended periods of time in humid areas.
How many times do people start driving vehicles that have been parked long term and never crack the cover on their differentials? Yes the ring and pinion may fail after hundreds of miles of hard use or after after tens of thousands of miles of light use.
The question is can you live with a possible pending failure? The failure isn't likely to be sudden or catastrophic but a slow increase in noise and slop in the rear end.

[kwmech]

Coil of leaf rear, there is always putting in a 14b to get the ratio you want

[Johnl48]

Originally Posted by HO455

What are your plans for the truck?
I believe you can get the numbers off of the bearings and source them from a quality bearing house.
As far as the gear set goes it depends on your comfort level. If you are unable to source a ring and pinion you could acid wash the rusted areas to clean them and then reinstall them. After all this kind of rusting is common when vehicles are parked for extended periods of time in humid areas.
How many times do people start driving vehicles that have been parked long term and never crack the cover on their differentials? Yes the ring and pinion may fail after hundreds of miles of hard use or after after tens of thousands of miles of light use.
The question is can you live with a possible pending failure? The failure isn't likely to be sudden or catastrophic but a slow increase in noise and slop in the rear end.

No hard driving. Going to be my wife's truck. She never goes over the speed limit lol

[geunther]

I agree with HO455. Bearings are a must. You can polish the gears making sure there are no high parts. They will still wear on each other (like me and my wife) and over time they will damage one another.

The pinion seems more troubling than the ring.

If you did that, change the fluid frequently to prolong the inevitable.

[Johnl48]

Originally Posted by geunther

I agree with HO455. Bearings are a must. You can polish the gears making sure there are no high parts. They will still wear on each other (like me and my wife) and over time they will damage one another.

The pinion seems more troubling than the ring.

If you did that, change the fluid frequently to prolong the inevitable.

Unfortunately no such thing as new bearings for this.

[Johnl48]

What would be a direct bolt on replacement with 8 lug differential

[kwmech]

A 14bolt full float, there will be a little work with it. May have to move spring pads and play with the parking brake cables to get them to fit, along with moving shock mounts. I had an HO72 in my flatbed and replaced with a D70hd.

[kwmech]

Originally Posted by Johnl48

Unfortunately no such thing as new bearings for this.

It is the pinion bearings that are the hard part. I think the carriers are just 387s. But the rust is way too heavy on those gears to expect anymore out of them

[Joyridin]

Originally Posted by Johnl48

Unfortunately no such thing as new bearings for this.

Why not? Do you have the number off the bearing(s)? They should be on the inner race. I have a place that has warehouses full of discontinued bearings. That is their specialty.

[Johnl48]

Originally Posted by Joyridin

Why not? Do you have the number off the bearing(s)? They should be on the inner race. I have a place that has warehouses full of discontinued bearings. That is their specialty.

I believe I can get these but not the little Pinon bearing in the case. It's all irrelevant tho if I can't use the ring and pinion

[Mts67C10K20]

Try these
Then go to 14 bolt in a a few years when it fails
Good luck and have fun

https://www.google.com/amp/s/torquek...52-ho72-axles/

[Johnl48]

Originally Posted by Mts67C10K20

Try these
Then go to 14 bolt in a a few years when it fails
Good luck and have fun

https://www.google.com/amp/s/torquek...52-ho72-axles/

I think I'm just going to look for a 14 bolt

[Mts67C10K20]

So if you change your mind
Here is the correct link
But at that price 14bolt makes sense
I'm running one out of a 76 k20
In my 67 K20

https://torqueking.com/product/45231...ith-load-bolt/

[Johnl48]

So what yrs will fit ? There is one local for $175.00
With 4.10 ratio out of a 02 2500 Silverado. It says 10.5" ?

[Mike C]

I’d wire brush it and send it… at least for awhile. Gears are stupid hard steel and if you aren’t loading heavily it might last for years. Or not… but I wouldn’t spend any money on the rest of the parts if keeping those gears.

[Mts67C10K20]

I used a square body axle because it was the right width
I never looked into a more modern because I found the 76 first
Hopefully others will chime in with more info

[57taskforce]

Originally Posted by Johnl48

So what yrs will fit ? There is one local for $175.00
With 4.10 ratio out of a 02 2500 Silverado. It says 10.5" ?

This will not work as is, the Perches are way to wide. You’ll need to strip the perches, bump stop rests, and shock mounts from the housing and re perch it along with new shock mounts. It’s a couple inches wider than the 52 as well, but should be able to make it work. That axle likely has factory rear disks which is a huge plus.

[Johnl48]

So, and please forgive all the questions. While I've done several jeep restorations, older chevy trucks are new to me. This axle stuff is confusing. So here we go

What years can I retrofit to my truck ? Moving shock mounts and etc. Doesn't bother me but I want to stay with the same width.

I see 14 bolts 10 1/2" 9 1/2" what do I want ?

If I find one with 3.73 gears what do I need to convert front axle, I assume just a 3.73 ring and pinion ?

And will the 3.73 be ok if I go with the TH350 Trans.?