The other day it was really slick out, and the 1% of the time I'm driving mostly cautious, it wasn't cautious enough. While going 20mph I spun around CCW, and smacked both right side wheels into a curb. It busted almost a 1/4 of the lip off the wheel. The right rear was rubbing originally (internally at the axle somewhere). At the minimum I need a new axle. At the most I need a new rear end housing. Its not rubbing hard, and I have only drove it about 5 miles since this happened. This was on my 02 Silv reg cab with 10 bolt 8.6 and an open diff.

1. I think If I pull the diff cover, then the axle clips out, that I can pull the axle out and replace it. Is there any way to tell at any point on whether or not the housing is bad, or will I just replace the axle, and then find out that I need to replace the housing after I try driving it?


I bought this truck 10 yrs ago with 90K miles on it. It has 255K, and my only problem is I don't have enough to do all I would want to. To be blunt, budget is a big factor.

The least I'm going to do is: I'm either I going try to fix the axle myself and see if that works, or
I'm not completely against the idea of finally putting in the truetrac, new gears, and not sure if its worth putting another $500 or so in new axles and new hubs while I'm at it. I see remanufactured rear ends for about $1k-$1500. I can get one Clist for $300, and think I can do half that at a yard. If I go all in, and can do all the work, it looks like I'm still in for $1500 or so.

Its a 2wd street truck, with the stock 4.8L, 91 tune, and a 5spd. The most I can see me doing is a 6.0 maybe with head work, cam and tune, most likely it will just be a 5.3 with cam and tune. Its my only vehicle, and I'm about to rent a SUV for a day or two to run errands and go shop for a rear end.

Can you offer any advice? Can anyone build and ship one of these quick for a reasonable price, or maybe even recommend a shop that isn't going to try to charge me $3K for a high mileage rear end? Thanks.

 

Might be able to find a full junkyard rear end for just a couple hundred bucks. Not sure what gears you have but 3.73 trucks are pretty common and any local yard should have one that will bolt right up. I honestly think it would be just as easy to replace the entire rear assembly as it is to pull c clip and replace 1 shaft.

 

I have 3.42, and with the 5spd, I think they are great. 1st gear would probably be pointless unless I'm towing, or have a heavy payload. I think I could just swap the entire rear end, that probably is the cheapest easiest way to do it if I could find one. Would I just try to rotate the hubs/wheels look for any binding, and replace the fluid?

 

3.42s might be easy to find, I like to pull the cover off if I can to see if its open or a G80 and to look at the gear teeth as well as the fluid that comes out. You can tell if it's leaking by oil stains on it and yeah it never hurts to spin the axles to make sure they move. I'd definitely replace the fluid and if your brakes are in better condition swap those over while they are both out. Then you can probably return your busted rear for a core or scrap it for a couple bucks. I paid $170 at LKQ a few months ago for a 14bolt with drum brakes. Had to pull it myself but it was worth the cost savings to me, I paid $480 for a newer 14bolt but that was shipped to my door.

 

I'm rubbing, but I'm probably just going to drive it over there to the yards and pick up a rear end in the morning. Hopefully I can make it over there no problem. That seems easy enough to just swap one over. I have all new brakes I've been waiting to put on. If I could do this for a few hundred bucks for now, I'd be pretty happy. We have several yards right on the same strip, and I think I get a rear end for $100-$150. It seems like the most reasonable next step, and easy enough for what to look for. Thanks.

 

One thing I'd definitely replace is the U bolts, cut the old ones off with a grinder and replace with new. It's faster, easier and safer.

 

So being an 02, The rear end from 99-04 will work. Alot of 2WD trucks were 3.42 if your looking to keep the same ratio.

If the RPO sticker is intact in the glove box, look for the G codes for the gears on these trucks. These are the common ones you will likely see.

GU5 3.23
GU6 3.42
GT4 3.73
GT5 4.10
G80 Limited Slip Gov Bomb

The only way to tell if the housing is bent is to try and pull the axle shaft. If it is difficult to get out on that side , its likely bent.

 

Thanks. That shouldn't be a problem.

 

https://www.car-part.com/

I searched for 3.42 down around San Antonio and there was a bunch showing up.

 

I searched that too earlier, and they were $600+. Pick n pull advertises $132 for a complete rear end, and have a compatible vehicle that showed up 3 weeks ago. They are usually good, and there's a big block of lots all next to each other. I have just been dog sitting for about a week, and not getting sleep on my schedule. Hopefully I can get a good nights sleep and get out there tomorrow and pick one up. If not there are a couple on Clist for $300, and a couple more parting. Pick n pull is probably the easiest and cheapest to work with first.

Even if its not a 3.42 that's not a deal breaker. I might just order the truetrac the new 3.42 gears and just do it right anyways.