rearend locked up when towing - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

scottmitchellrose · 06-29-2020, 03:02 PM

Among my many trucks... I have a 69 c20 I've been doing a frame off resto on. Saturday night I was towing it with a dolly and the back left tire kept locking up on me. It still rolls. Fluid is in it; new bearings. Any ideas? Bed is not obstructing it. Made for a rough experience at 70 mph... luckily a friend with a trailer lived very closeby at 10:30 on a saturday night... talk about being watched over....

**Boog** · 06-29-2020, 03:10 PM

I pulled one once that the brake shoes were to tight against the drum and it locked up.

**HO455** · 06-29-2020, 05:00 PM

What transmission?

siggyfreud · 06-29-2020, 06:02 PM

Were you towing it with the rear wheels on the ground, but drivetrain connected? Is this a 4wd where you can but the transfer case in neutral? If not, it could be a few things locking up. You shouldn't really tow a 2wd with the drive wheels on the ground, or at least disconnect the driveshaft if you're doing so, as turning the transmission via the wheels, but not the pump via the engine, can damage the transmission.

gmc684x4 · 06-29-2020, 07:01 PM

Did you pull the drum yet
I have had a brake lock up on pulling a truck
After rulling that out
Open the diff and go through it to check for binding including checking the pinion nut to insure its not loose

**mr48chev** · 06-29-2020, 07:32 PM

I'd pull the drum and make sure that something hadn't come loose inside.

The other thing is, you didn't by chance set the park brake when you ran it up on the dolly and forget to release it? It might not be adjusted tight enough to just hold the truck in position but it might cause a drag on that wheel if the brakes were adjusted tighter on it.

weim55 · 06-29-2020, 08:17 PM

Brake issue the most likely cause with one wheel locking up.

Steve weim55 Colorado

**special-K** · 06-30-2020, 08:16 AM

I was pulling a rolling chassis on a dolly when the rear locked up. One wheel turned forward, one backward when I stopped. It turned out the pinion nut had never been torqued and it backed off enough to allow the ring & pinion to misalign causing broken teeth. Look at the brakes first and hope it's not in the differential

gmc684x4 · 06-30-2020, 09:38 AM

That bites do you have a spare gear set ?

scottmitchellrose · 06-30-2020, 10:36 AM

I had removed the engine and transmission; no brakes on the rearend. Only possibility seems to be the gears in the differential. Something went horribly wrong inside... ughh... just as I was about at the re-assembly stage on this frame off resto...!

**mr48chev** · 06-30-2020, 01:12 PM

Better now than after you have it all together and headed out on it's first outing.

We all assume that you drove the truck before tearing it down for the restoration but if you bought it sitting that may have been one of the reasons it was sitting.

scottmitchellrose · 07-01-2020, 01:07 PM

thanks! It's actually a working 1979 f250 rearend that my cousin went through and installed for me (mechanic- 2.5 hours south of me! that's why i was towing it). I have to open it up and see what happened. Luckily I have a match for it gears and all up here in Durham, Nc.

gmc684x4 · 07-01-2020, 01:28 PM

Why a ford diff ?

**special-K** · 07-02-2020, 05:29 AM

How far did your cousin go with his going through?

scottmitchellrose · 07-02-2020, 11:22 AM

supposedly with cleaning and re-filling with fluid, checking all gears. When I get time I need to open it up and check... i'll post a pic when I do.

Bimus · 07-02-2020, 11:54 AM

When installing wheel bearings I pack the bearings with this grease to lube them and the gear oil washes it away.

scottmitchellrose · 07-02-2020, 01:49 PM

uh oh. he did just put new wheel bearings in....

**special-K** · 07-03-2020, 07:57 AM

It takes a while to burn a bearing up. And plenty get installed dry with no issue. The only concern here is "initial wear" until the lubrication gets to them, and it does every time the truck gets driven. I don't think a wheel bearing would lock the rear either.

scottmitchellrose · 07-03-2020, 08:39 AM

yep; i'll see if i can get time today to open up the diff. cover and poke around. will post a pic or 2.

06-29-2020, 03:02 PM	#1
scottmitchellrose Registered User Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: durham nc Posts: 124	rearend locked up when towing Among my many trucks... I have a 69 c20 I've been doing a frame off resto on. Saturday night I was towing it with a dolly and the back left tire kept locking up on me. It still rolls. Fluid is in it; new bearings. Any ideas? Bed is not obstructing it. Made for a rough experience at 70 mph... luckily a friend with a trailer lived very closeby at 10:30 on a saturday night... talk about being watched over....

06-29-2020, 03:10 PM	#2
Boog laying low Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Searcy, Ark. USA Posts: 13,322	Re: rearend locked up when towing I pulled one once that the brake shoes were to tight against the drum and it locked up. __________________ Boog 69 Chevy stepside, 358/T350, 4.11 posi, 4.5/4 drop, rallys, poboy driver primer is finer 91 Chevy sportside, Tahoe, Yukon & GMC Crewcab All GM..'nuff said. I stand for the flag and kneel at the cross

06-29-2020, 05:00 PM	#3
HO455 Post Whore Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Portland Oregon Posts: 11,201	Re: rearend locked up when towing What transmission? __________________ Thanks to Bob and Jeanie and everyone else at Superior Performance for all their great help. RIP Bob Parks. 1967 Burban (the WMB),1988 S10 Blazer (the Stink10 II),1969 GTO (the Goat), 1970 Javelin, 1952 F2 Ford OHC six 4X4, 29 Model A, 72 Firebird (the DBP Bird). 85 Alfa Romeo If it breaks I didn't want it in the first place The WMB repair thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=698377

06-29-2020, 06:02 PM	#4
siggyfreud Registered User Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Portland Posts: 1,330	Re: rearend locked up when towing Were you towing it with the rear wheels on the ground, but drivetrain connected? Is this a 4wd where you can but the transfer case in neutral? If not, it could be a few things locking up. You shouldn't really tow a 2wd with the drive wheels on the ground, or at least disconnect the driveshaft if you're doing so, as turning the transmission via the wheels, but not the pump via the engine, can damage the transmission. __________________ Current Build - Project "Ghost of Poseidon" 72 C10 Pro-touring build Previous Build - 66 GMC Pro-touring build. Sold.

06-29-2020, 07:01 PM	#5
gmc684x4 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Whitehorse yukon Posts: 1,218	Re: rearend locked up when towing Did you pull the drum yet I have had a brake lock up on pulling a truck After rulling that out Open the diff and go through it to check for binding including checking the pinion nut to insure its not loose

06-29-2020, 07:32 PM	#6
mr48chev Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toppenish, WA Posts: 15,547	Re: rearend locked up when towing I'd pull the drum and make sure that something hadn't come loose inside. The other thing is, you didn't by chance set the park brake when you ran it up on the dolly and forget to release it? It might not be adjusted tight enough to just hold the truck in position but it might cause a drag on that wheel if the brakes were adjusted tighter on it. __________________ Founding member of the too many projects, too little time and money club. My ongoing truck projects: 48 Chev 3100 that will run a 292 Six. 71 GMC 2500 that is getting a Cad 500 transplant. 77 C 30 dualie, 454, 4 speed with a 10 foot flatbed and hoist. It does the heavy work and hauls the projects around.

06-29-2020, 08:17 PM	#7
weim55 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: Larkspur, Colorado Posts: 916	Re: rearend locked up when towing Brake issue the most likely cause with one wheel locking up. Steve weim55 Colorado

06-30-2020, 08:16 AM	#8
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,858	Re: rearend locked up when towing I was pulling a rolling chassis on a dolly when the rear locked up. One wheel turned forward, one backward when I stopped. It turned out the pinion nut had never been torqued and it backed off enough to allow the ring & pinion to misalign causing broken teeth. Look at the brakes first and hope it's not in the differential __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

06-30-2020, 09:38 AM	#9
gmc684x4 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Whitehorse yukon Posts: 1,218	Re: rearend locked up when towing That bites do you have a spare gear set ?

06-30-2020, 10:36 AM	#10
scottmitchellrose Registered User Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: durham nc Posts: 124	Re: rearend locked up when towing I had removed the engine and transmission; no brakes on the rearend. Only possibility seems to be the gears in the differential. Something went horribly wrong inside... ughh... just as I was about at the re-assembly stage on this frame off resto...!

06-30-2020, 01:12 PM	#11
mr48chev Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toppenish, WA Posts: 15,547	Re: rearend locked up when towing Better now than after you have it all together and headed out on it's first outing. We all assume that you drove the truck before tearing it down for the restoration but if you bought it sitting that may have been one of the reasons it was sitting. __________________ Founding member of the too many projects, too little time and money club. My ongoing truck projects: 48 Chev 3100 that will run a 292 Six. 71 GMC 2500 that is getting a Cad 500 transplant. 77 C 30 dualie, 454, 4 speed with a 10 foot flatbed and hoist. It does the heavy work and hauls the projects around.

07-01-2020, 01:07 PM	#12
scottmitchellrose Registered User Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: durham nc Posts: 124	Re: rearend locked up when towing thanks! It's actually a working 1979 f250 rearend that my cousin went through and installed for me (mechanic- 2.5 hours south of me! that's why i was towing it). I have to open it up and see what happened. Luckily I have a match for it gears and all up here in Durham, Nc.

07-01-2020, 01:28 PM	#13
gmc684x4 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Whitehorse yukon Posts: 1,218	Re: rearend locked up when towing Why a ford diff ?

07-02-2020, 05:29 AM	#14
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,858	Re: rearend locked up when towing How far did your cousin go with his going through? __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

07-02-2020, 11:22 AM	#15
scottmitchellrose Registered User Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: durham nc Posts: 124	Re: rearend locked up when towing supposedly with cleaning and re-filling with fluid, checking all gears. When I get time I need to open it up and check... i'll post a pic when I do.



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07-02-2020, 11:54 AM	#16
Bimus Registered User Join Date: Dec 2018 Location: Farmington NM Posts: 112	Re: rearend locked up when towing When installing wheel bearings I pack the bearings with this grease to lube them and the gear oil washes it away. Attached Images

07-02-2020, 01:49 PM	#17
scottmitchellrose Registered User Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: durham nc Posts: 124	Re: rearend locked up when towing uh oh. he did just put new wheel bearings in....

07-03-2020, 07:57 AM	#18
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,858	Re: rearend locked up when towing It takes a while to burn a bearing up. And plenty get installed dry with no issue. The only concern here is "initial wear" until the lubrication gets to them, and it does every time the truck gets driven. I don't think a wheel bearing would lock the rear either. __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

07-03-2020, 08:39 AM	#19
scottmitchellrose Registered User Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: durham nc Posts: 124	Re: rearend locked up when towing yep; i'll see if i can get time today to open up the diff. cover and poke around. will post a pic or 2.

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