Rear end changing out.....little info please

[72freak]

I have a 72 GMC short fleet that I picked up from a board member a few months ago for free. It was a nice truck at one time. Big Block (removed) AC, tilt. I am basically putting it together with spare parts that I got with it some of my parts from a few of my junkers.

It obviously has a rear end problem because it wont roll very well. It binds up and just slides. I have not pulled the cover or raised it to see what is going on yet. The truck came with new rear chunk in the box and 2 sets of ring and pinions but they are something stupid like a 462 or something.

I have several complete rear ends in other 67-70's that I can swap out but the lug paterns are 6 and the 72 is a 5 lug rear. I want to stay with the 5 lug of course.

Can I put a complete rear end in it form a 67-71 and then swap out the axles or can I put a chunk form an older truck in the housing of the 72 ?????

I am rear end STUPID so please bare with me on this.

Thanks

[mkhutch]

David,

You can swap the axels real easy. Remove the back cover and rotate the housing until you see a little bolt. Remove it and push the rod out of the spider gear. Then just push in the axels and the C-Clips should fall off and the axel will pull right out! If needed I can come help you.

[Slammed70]

Does it also do it when you roll the truck backwards?

[Ram-Man]

Rear axle's have been my project this past couple weeks. Measure your housings, the 67-69 are about 1 1/2" narrower total and alot of the 70's are also than the 71 and 72's. But some of the 1970's are the same width as the 71 and 72, with the 6 lug shafts. So you may have brake drum problems with the narrow housing and longer axle shaft. I was out at the junkyard this week and measured alot of them and this was the conclusion I came up with.

[72freak]

Originally Posted by Slammed70

Does it also do it when you roll the truck backwards?

It does not seem to be as bad when i roll it backwards......what could it be?

Also....I have not jacked it up yet and tried to spin by hand to see whats up.
that will come later.

[Ram-Man]

Sounds like someone put the gears in and didn't know what the hell they were doing.

[skchevota]

Are you sure it isnt the brakes sticking?

[QKENUF4U]

do a search and youll find lots and lots and lots of info about rear swaps/whats interchangeable etc.. been there done that (last week)

[LockDoc]

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I'd be inclined to agree with skchevota.... Unless the rear end is making strange noises I would check the rear brakes first. It could be that someone put the emergency brake on and it isn't releasing all the way.

If there are teeth off of the ring gear or pinion it could do that also but I think the previous owner would know if that was the problem.

LockDoc

[72freak]

Originally Posted by LockDoc

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I'd be inclined to agree with skchevota.... Unless the rear end is making strange noises I would check the rear brakes first. It could be that someone put the emergency brake on and it isn't releasing all the way.

If there are teeth off of the ring gear or pinion it could do that also but I think the previous owner would know if that was the problem.

LockDoc

Once I get it in the staging area and get it on jack stands the first thing I was going to do was to check the brakes!!!! i was kinda thinking that was it also.

I was just curious about the rear ends swaping out in case I have to do it.

Thanks

[Slammed70]

Originally Posted by 72freak

It does not seem to be as bad when i roll it backwards......what could it be?

Also....I have not jacked it up yet and tried to spin by hand to see whats up.
that will come later.

If you still got all the parking brake BS on your truck, Id bet my money on that.