Rear end problems - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Kas68c10 · 06-11-2002, 09:39 AM

I had the rear end out last month,put in new trailer arms, saddles,coils and cups. It all went fine,drove better than ever. Then, yesterday, I get a growling from the rear end, only when I am going forward, about 30 mph or so. When I did all that work some fluid leaked out of the rear end, but I checked the level, it seemes fine. I never had the rear end apart, just off the chassis to get the saddles welded on. I jacked up one side,and the wheel was fine going backward, but noisy and tough to turn forward.My qusetion(s) is (are)
1. Is there some alignment I should have done when I put the rear end back in?
2. Any thoughts on what might be wrong ?
3. Will it be hard to fix ? Never had a rear end apart before.
4. Is rear end work relatively inexpensive for our trucks ? I am pressed for time, should I take it to a shop?
Thanx in advance

tom hand · 06-11-2002, 09:56 AM

Why did you have to weld saddles on? Have you ever changed oil in the rearend?

Kas68c10 · 06-11-2002, 10:56 AM

I had to weld the saddles on to the axle, thats the way they were
on,so I assumed that was correct. The oil was changed in the rear end about 5 years ago.

jamiew · 06-11-2002, 01:32 PM

Most rear-end problems can best be diagnosed by a good proctologist with the use of a good quality latex free glove.

Bend over and spread 'em!!

Just joking, couldn't resist.

JamieW

Carl 70 lwb · 06-11-2002, 01:52 PM

Check for heat around the wheel hubs after a drive theres a bearing in there that i had go bad once. there not bad to work on if you pay attention to what your doing, just a little time comsuming
good luck Carl

tom hand · 06-11-2002, 02:41 PM

Growling from a rearend is usally not a good sign. First check and make sure the brakes are not the problem. Then you might what to check the axle bearings. If the problem is in the "guts" of the rearend then the fun begins. You can't do a lot of work on a rearend without buying a lot of special tools so farming it out is most peoples answer. I aways just find a used one and replace it. I would pull the rear cover and then there will proably be no dought.If you have coil springs Chevy Duty sells a kit to make other rears work with the panhard bar,so it is much easier to find somthing at the local boneyard. GOOD LUCK

Kas68c10 · 06-11-2002, 03:15 PM

I have jacked up the truck, one wheel at a time, and both wheels spin,but are hard to to,and make a grumbly,growling sound. Would this rule out axle bearings, or would both sides go out at the same time ? What is the easiest way to check them ?

06-11-2002, 09:39 AM	#1
Kas68c10 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Freeland,Michigan,USA Posts: 312	Rear end problems I had the rear end out last month,put in new trailer arms, saddles,coils and cups. It all went fine,drove better than ever. Then, yesterday, I get a growling from the rear end, only when I am going forward, about 30 mph or so. When I did all that work some fluid leaked out of the rear end, but I checked the level, it seemes fine. I never had the rear end apart, just off the chassis to get the saddles welded on. I jacked up one side,and the wheel was fine going backward, but noisy and tough to turn forward.My qusetion(s) is (are) 1. Is there some alignment I should have done when I put the rear end back in? 2. Any thoughts on what might be wrong ? 3. Will it be hard to fix ? Never had a rear end apart before. 4. Is rear end work relatively inexpensive for our trucks ? I am pressed for time, should I take it to a shop? Thanx in advance __________________ 1968 SWB Stepside, 250,pwr disc brake and tilt pwr steering, 5 spd tranny, HEI,Accel coil,K&N filter,Seat from a later truck with built in seatbelts, front and rear sway bars, moved gas tank to under the bed, headman hedders, new chrome bumpers,one wire alternator,Weber k550cub carburator...WORK IN PROGRESS, Freeland MI , Just bought a 72 Jimmy!!!!!!!!!!!

06-11-2002, 09:56 AM	#2
tom hand CCRider Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Olive Branch,MS,USA Posts: 2,232	Why did you have to weld saddles on? Have you ever changed oil in the rearend? __________________ 72 GMC Sierra SWB almost finished---- 84 Softail Olive Branch MS

06-11-2002, 10:56 AM	#3
Kas68c10 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Freeland,Michigan,USA Posts: 312	I had to weld the saddles on to the axle, thats the way they were on,so I assumed that was correct. The oil was changed in the rear end about 5 years ago. __________________ 1968 SWB Stepside, 250,pwr disc brake and tilt pwr steering, 5 spd tranny, HEI,Accel coil,K&N filter,Seat from a later truck with built in seatbelts, front and rear sway bars, moved gas tank to under the bed, headman hedders, new chrome bumpers,one wire alternator,Weber k550cub carburator...WORK IN PROGRESS, Freeland MI , Just bought a 72 Jimmy!!!!!!!!!!!

06-11-2002, 01:52 PM	#5
Carl 70 lwb Registered User Join Date: May 2000 Location: Morven, NC Posts: 48	Check for heat around the wheel hubs after a drive theres a bearing in there that i had go bad once. there not bad to work on if you pay attention to what your doing, just a little time comsuming good luck Carl __________________ 70 lwb w/68 front end, tube grill, shaved drip rails, power steering, 350 4 bolt main, street dominator high rise intake, holley 650, Crane Cam, accel HEI, 3 on the floor & 3.73 posi

06-11-2002, 02:41 PM	#6
tom hand CCRider Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Olive Branch,MS,USA Posts: 2,232	Growling from a rearend is usally not a good sign. First check and make sure the brakes are not the problem. Then you might what to check the axle bearings. If the problem is in the "guts" of the rearend then the fun begins. You can't do a lot of work on a rearend without buying a lot of special tools so farming it out is most peoples answer. I aways just find a used one and replace it. I would pull the rear cover and then there will proably be no dought.If you have coil springs Chevy Duty sells a kit to make other rears work with the panhard bar,so it is much easier to find somthing at the local boneyard. GOOD LUCK __________________ 72 GMC Sierra SWB almost finished---- 84 Softail Olive Branch MS

06-11-2002, 01:32 PM	#4
jamiew Registered User Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Smithville TN, USA Posts: 54	Most rear-end problems can best be diagnosed by a good proctologist with the use of a good quality latex free glove. Bend over and spread 'em!! Just joking, couldn't resist. JamieW

06-11-2002, 03:15 PM	#7
Kas68c10 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Freeland,Michigan,USA Posts: 312	I have jacked up the truck, one wheel at a time, and both wheels spin,but are hard to to,and make a grumbly,growling sound. Would this rule out axle bearings, or would both sides go out at the same time ? What is the easiest way to check them ? __________________ 1968 SWB Stepside, 250,pwr disc brake and tilt pwr steering, 5 spd tranny, HEI,Accel coil,K&N filter,Seat from a later truck with built in seatbelts, front and rear sway bars, moved gas tank to under the bed, headman hedders, new chrome bumpers,one wire alternator,Weber k550cub carburator...WORK IN PROGRESS, Freeland MI , Just bought a 72 Jimmy!!!!!!!!!!!



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