O/T but I do use it to haul my tractors with

old · Nov 2, 2009

1980 Chev Heavy half truck. Today the cover on the rear end started leaking and has a hole in it from something coming apart in the rear end. Pulled the cover off and found some chunks, look like teeth from a gear but I can not see any thing bad. Ring gear seems to have ALL of its teeth and the pinion seems to also. Axle and spider gears also look good so far so any ideas of what might be going on?? Bad thing is that my little truck is down and my wifes car went down and now this truck about out of ways to get to town.
Thanks

Uncle Ernie · Nov 2, 2009

Spyder gear teeth are hard to see. A busted gear tooth had to have come from somewhere. Wasn't left in there when they built it 30 years ago!
I would just check the Wrecking Yards( Auto Recycling centers!!)for the lowest milage complete rear end that will fit and swap it out. Probably cheaper and quicker than rebuilding that one. They were a light duty rear end when they were new. Basiclly a car rearend under a pickup.

old · Nov 2, 2009

I have been think about that but being a 4X4 I will have to match things up or not use the 4 wheel drive part. Bad thing is right now with almost all my cars/trucks down I may have to drive a tractor just to get parts LOL

Johnski · Nov 2, 2009

If the ring and pinion teeth look good I would pull the spider gears and side gears out and check them out. Pull the small bolt and pin out of the carrier then push the axles in a little and the C-clips will come right out, I use a small magnet to grab 'em. No special setup to replace spider gears, if new ones are to $$ at GovernmentMotors you can probably get by with a used set. HTH, Jf

P.S. Congrats to your stepson, good choice!
"We Build,We Fight" RNMCB12

Jeff B. · Nov 2, 2009

It's common on those GM rear ends for the little bolt that holds the spider shaft in place to shear off and let the cross pin walk. If that happens, it may be what put the hole in the pan. If the ring & pinion look good you could get by with a cheap fix.

old · Nov 2, 2009

Well funny thing is that all so far looks good. But I have not pulled any parts so who knows till I do. My son just got a cal that they will pick him up tomorrow at 9:30 to go to boot camp

Ken Macfarlane · Nov 3, 2009

Its probably a 10 bolt rear. The spiders are the same on a 2wd. Around here when it happens you clean the junk out and grab the arc welder to turn it into a spool. Better traction but the folks stare when you go around corners.

O/T but I do use it to haul my tractors with

old

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Uncle Ernie

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old

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Johnski

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Jeff B.

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old

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Ken Macfarlane

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