Rear end destroyed last night block from house. Need help figuring out why.

[evolve520]

So after just painting my truck I was out enjoying it. A block from my house I feel the truck sort of slipping and then a loud bang followed by grinding sounds. Pull the truck over and see a trail of fluid behind me. Look under the truck and drive shaft it's separated from the rear end but still slightly connected and the rear end is ripped open. Any ideas what would cause this? Transmission is new last November. I assume I am in the market for a new rear end, possibly a new drive shaft too. Hope the transmission was not hurt. I can't figure what would cause this. Any thoughts??
Jon

[Sharps40]

My guess would be some teeth broke off the pinion or ring or spiders, jammed up and the side load split the pumkin or forced the pinion forward breaking the pumpkin. If the housing is broken its for sure you'll need to locate a new housing. Shoot some photos and post em up.

[Lowl!f3]

I know in other rearends. The bolt that holds the pin in between the spider gears will break. And when that big pin comes out. It will destroy a rearend.

[padresag]

sounds like the bull gear jumped the heifer gear.
you will find out when you pull it apart
ron

[1963c-10]

Ouch....sorry to hear of the troubles. Hopefully an easy swap and your back up and running!!

[TJ's Chevy]

I have a 77 C-20 with a 496 big block and a GM 14 bolt axle...after 30 some odd years of abuse..then a big torque engine..the axle gave out...completely shattered the teeth in the housing...it was funny how that worked to..ended up turning the axle into a free posi unit! LOL! Took the axle cover off and a pile of metal was there...don't know how it happened...I didn't get the chance to hear a bang either! LOL! Hope ou get your problems fixed soon! I'd purchase a 6 lug Dana 60 rear axle and your trouble will be over forever.

[evolve520]

Not the best of pics, but here is what I am dealing with. Hard to see, but the bottom of the pumpkin is split open and the gears are kinda sticking out. The first pic is upside down if you are confused when looking at it

[1963c-10]

Looks like the pinion tried to jump out of the housing

[chevy_mike]

Yeah, looks like the pinion gear broke big time. Don't think I have seen that done before.

Hopefully no damage to the housing but you're likely going to need all of the internal parts replaced. Good luck.

[PGSigns]

More than likely lost a pinion bearing and it let the pinion move over and catch on a tooth. When it locked up the pinion broke and the carrier drove it out the bottom. Used to see stuff like that often when I was heavy into 4 wheel drive trucks. We broke everything under the truck in all kind of ways. Your going to need a complete rear for sure.
Jimmy

[evolve520]

So what years of rear ends will swap in? Mine is a 66'. I want to retain 6 lugs so I don't have to buy new wheels to boot. I assume any of the trailing arm rear ends through 71'??? Found a 6 lug rear from a 69 locally. Hoping that might do the trick

[rideblue00]

wow sorry to see that man! never seen the housing open up like that before!

[chevy_mike]

Yep, up to '70. '71 and later are 5 lug. Try to find a '65 and later, just in case you ever want to swap to 5 lug. You can get conversion axles that drop in, without having to change the spider gears.

[evolve520]

Originally Posted by chevy_mike

Yep, up to '70. '71 and later are 5 lug. Try to find a '65 and later, just in case you ever want to swap to 5 lug. You can get conversion axles that drop in, without having to change the spider gears.

Thanks. I'll look into the 69' for sale locally. Seems like the best option at this point.

[markeb01]

Sorry to hear about your difficulties. Hope the repairs don't turn out too costly.

[donthekawguy]

Never seen that before. I had a 72 vega with a 327 in it when I was a kid. Some girls were throwing cups of tarter sauce at us at the local cruise night so I got on it. When the front wheels were about 4 inches off the ground some teeth on the ring gear decided they had enough and tried to leave. lol That was a spendy fix but the housing held together.

[oem4me]

Originally Posted by evolve520

So after just painting my truck I was out enjoying it. A block from my house I feel the truck sort of slipping and then a loud bang followed by grinding sounds.

Crazy. Seems most rear end trouble is wear related and will give warning sounds before sudden total destruction, so my gut reaction is it's related to the brand new paint.

[cg285]

Originally Posted by oem4me

Crazy. Seems most rear end trouble is wear related and will give warning sounds before sudden total destruction, so my gut reaction is it's related to the brand new paint.

i believe you are correct. probably too much clear coat

[66Submarine]

Originally Posted by cg285

i believe you are correct. probably too much clear coat

I bet that there was some incompatible paint on the rear end; probably got some overspray on it...

[Jeff La]

Originally Posted by cg285

i believe you are correct. probably too much clear coat

Probably to much lead in the paint

[Shorty63]

I think I've seen that before. Was the nut still on the pinion? When i saw it the pinion nut had come off and the carrier smashed the pinion through the bottom of the case like yours.

[Captainfab]

When I bought my current DD, '68 C10, the rear end was grenaded similar to that, minus the yoke falling out. And that is in a 250/SM465 truck.

When was the last time you checked the oil level in your rear end?

As said, a '65-'70 12 bolt will bolt right in. I would suggest draining the oil, install a new cover gasket and fill with gear oil, plus a posi additive if applicable. Also check and replace the pinion seal if it looks questionable.

[PanelFan]

Ouch that look's painful !!

[evolve520]

Originally Posted by Captainfab

When I bought my current DD, '68 C10, the rear end was grenaded similar to that, minus the yoke falling out. And that is in a 250/SM465 truck.

When was the last time you checked the oil level in your rear end?

As said, a '65-'70 12 bolt will bolt right in. I would suggest draining the oil, install a new cover gasket and fill with gear oil, plus a posi additive if applicable. Also check and replace the pinion seal if it looks questionable.

Thanks for the advice. I'll make sure the one I pick up is properly gone through before installing it back in. Don't need this headache again. The oil level seemed ok last time it was checked and based on the river of fluid I left behind me, it was full :-)

[Brad54]

For giggles, when you get the rear end out, thoroughly degrease the plug welds where the tubes press in to the center, and see if they are cracked.
I actually had about 1/16-inch play where my tubes were pressed into the center... it was a lot more out at the wheel bearing.

The pressure of that misalignment spun the carrier bearing and sheered the teeth off the axle in the spider gear.

-Brad