Well Crap I hate winter

[Big Block 88]

So I am pretty sure I just grenaded my old 10 bolt in my 91 chevy Z71. The truck had been sitting for a few weeks in a deep freeze I was driving the LBZ I started the old 350 up and it ran perfect warmed up for about 20 minutes then went to leave the drive way useing 4wd truck was climbing the hill nice and slow and then BANG!!! CLUNK CLUNK CLUNK. I thought I backed into a car or somthing the truck just stopped dead in it's tracks

The truck would still move but couldn't track straight i pulled it down the hill again the truck was tracking very crooked and would not go straight. I stopped and pulled out of 4 wheel drive all seemed fine I turned around to go up the hill forward it did fine. I drove about a 1/4 mile taking it real easy then BANG CLUNK CLUNK and then grinding noise like crazy tell it stopped the vibration through the floor was unreal.

At that point I said screw and just started driving figureing if it is gonna break so be it. Made it all the way home only issue being when I slowed to stop signs the truck made a rattleing grinding noise. I pull it in the shop and crawl under it to see the rearend smokeing out the front pinion and reaking of gear oil.

So I think I need a new rear end?? I know the 10 bolt is a joke of an axle but I need an axle now and need to gear match to prevent re-gearing the front end. Anyone have a cheap 10 bolt layin around or know where there is a good place to buy from???? Ebay has a seller in Nebraska but they want 450 bucks for one, is that a good deal???

 

[Redbowties88]

for the entire carrier and ring gear? sounds like a decent deal to me considering what x person went through finding/removing/advertising/shipping. but i bet you could find one in a junkyard if you do some digging.

 

[jheyob]

Ebay has a seller in Nebraska but they want 450 bucks for one, is that a good deal???

You could get like four 14 bolts for that price lol...check junkyards, a few bigger ones near me only charge $70 for any axle. Others want $120. Check pirate4x4 also

 

[Big Block 88]

Yeah i was thinkin that was alot of money for a 10 bolt. If i could upgrade to a 12 bolt or 14 bolt GU6 (3.42) I would be pumped. I don;t even care if it's a g80...

 

[lotsofmiles]

Probably not the same rear end in the 98 2500 (8600 grs) van sitting partially stripped in my garage is it?


Its a you pull it, you own it deal.

Yes its still there, yes I know I wanted it gone by the end of the year...

 

[JoshH]

You should find yourself a 6 lug 14 bolt semi float axle out of a high GVW 1/2 ton or light duty 3/4 ton.

 

[Big Block 88]

I will be pulling the cover off in the morning to see what is going on in there, if it is trashed I'm just gonna cut the u bolt and drop the axle and try and find a FF 14 bolt 6 lug, those are a little on the rare side. It seems burbans used them more than pick ups.

I just pulled the truck out of the shop and was having a hard time moving the passenger tire would not spin 4wd can slide the tire accross the ground but it will barely move in 2 wheel drive. The drive shaft is NOT jumping around or skipping really, dad is thinking I have a frozen brake drum, my old 88 had this happen when the slef adjust nut fell off and the entire assembly came apart in the drum wedging itself tight and locking the hub. Fingers crossed that is the problem, 40 bucks to replace the brakes is better than a couple hundred to replace the axle.

 

[lotsofmiles]

I can't give that thing away

 

[Big Block 88]

Haha trust me bud if it is the axle I will have you measure you spring perches on the axle and see if they are the same.... If you don't mind of course

 

[lotsofmiles]

Nope, don't mind. I need to get under it to finish getting the trans out anyway

 

[jheyob]

those are a little on the rare side. It seems burbans used them more than pick ups.

I think just about any Light Duty 3/4 ton (the bulk of them made) IFS trucks up to mid 90's whenever they dropped the LD class was 6 lug FF. My dad's '91 is 6 lug FF but his '97 was 8 lug.

 

[Big Block 88]

Well I opened the pumpkin up and all look great no chunks missing nothing floping around or loose the cross bolt is still in and holding... Pulled the drum off on the passenger side which is the side that was locking up and the minus the parking break cable showing a very fresh break it all seems well. The shoes seem to be away from the drum so.... I am running out of ideas. Does the parking brake cable limit the shoes and keep the drum free? It is a fresh looking break... Is there a chance the G80 went out?? I am not even sure if it a G80 truck because the data/option sheet is to worn in the glove box, could the G80 be causeing the binding? Or do you guys think I am wrong all together and need to look to the transfer case or somthing??

The truck will go forward but makes a clunk metalic sound and jumps a little reverse is almost not an option it will jamb the passenger side rear tire almost right away. The driveshaft does not seem to be jumping forward or acting strange so it leads me to believe the issue is still in the rear end. I need ideas quick it's all torn apart and I need to know what to replace and know if I am needing to run and get a new axle this weekend.

 

[Big Block 88]

Okay dad just got to the house and I had him watch the gears while I turned one tire and with the other tire on the ground. Dad saw the pinion yoke moving in and out and alot of crap falling out of it. So I would assume the carrier is shot? If I knock the U-Joints and pull the drive shaft, then loosen the yoke nut can I get at the bearings??? Or do I have to pull the center section out?

 

[Chevy1925]

Okay dad just got to the house and I had him watch the gears while I turned one tire and with the other tire on the ground. Dad saw the pinion yoke moving in and out and alot of crap falling out of it. So I would assume the carrier is shot? If I knock the U-Joints and pull the drive shaft, then loosen the yoke nut can I get at the bearings??? Or do I have to pull the center section out?

to get to the pinion bearings and carrier bearings you gunna have to pull the carrier. Take your drive shaft off, pull the driveshaft flange off the pinion, pull both axles out so they are out of the carrier, undo the 4 main bolts and caps that hold the carrier in and pop the carrier out. Sounds like your gunna need a rear end rebuild.