Rebuilding rear axle DIY?

[Dlefler]

I have 10 bolt axle that leaks from the pionion seal I have replaced the seal but it still leaks. The pionion yoke is pushed out farther from the axle housing farther than it should be for some unknown reason. Also I pretty sure the setup on it is not totally correct there seemed to be a lot of play in rearend when I was changing the seal. Sometimes if I get on the gas and then let off too quick i get a clunking coming from what seems to be the axle. It does not do it if I make sure to ease off the gas and not just let right off. I'm assuming it's the play in the axle could be u joints maybe? Idk for sure but I guess I was wondering if DIY rebuild of the axle is doable or something best left to a pro? Just curious because I have a friend from work that advises against it he says I can really mess some things up if I don't know what I'm doing. Just curious as to others opinions. Thanks

 

[Tonimus]

Only need a couple of "specialty" tools. If you can follow directions, you can do it yourself.

If you could rebuild a motor, you can rebuild a rear end.

 

[Edelbrock]

I have 10 bolt axle that leaks from the pionion seal I have replaced the seal but it still leaks. The pionion yoke is pushed out farther from the axle housing farther than it should be for some unknown reason. Also I pretty sure the setup on it is not totally correct there seemed to be a lot of play in rearend when I was changing the seal. Sometimes if I get on the gas and then let off too quick i get a clunking coming from what seems to be the axle. It does not do it if I make sure to ease off the gas and not just let right off. I'm assuming it's the play in the axle could be u joints maybe? Idk for sure but I guess I was wondering if DIY rebuild of the axle is doable or something best left to a pro? Just curious because I have a friend from work that advises against it he says I can really mess some things up if I don't know what I'm doing. Just curious as to others opinions. Thanks

From my limited understanding, you have to know EXACTLY how to do it. Any mistakes at all are not tolerable. There are enough important steps to follow that I didn't even bother finishing the rest of the "how to" video. No way would I even try it, but that's just me.

 

[Dlefler]

From my limited understanding, you have to know EXACTLY how to do it. Any mistakes at all are not tolerable. There any enough important steps to follow that I didn't even bother finishing the rest of the "how to" video. No way would I even try it, but that's just me.

Well I will stay away myself lol thanks

 

[Ricko1966]

From my limited understanding, you have to know EXACTLY how to do it. Any mistakes at all are not tolerable. There are enough important steps to follow that I didn't even bother finishing the rest of the "how to" video. No way would I even try it, but that's just me.

Yours should be stupid easy,sounds like you've lost a pinion bearing buy both pinion bearings and pinion seal,buy both differential bearings,and a crush sleave eliminator. Reusing the same carrier,housing,and pinion. You won't have to shim,setup or check anything. Replace the bearings and seal. It's done.

 

[Dlefler]

This is what I mean about the yoke being out

 

[Dlefler]

This is what I mean about the yoke being out

 

[Ricko1966]

Well I will stay away myself lol thanks

Yours will be easy,no special tools. I put the info on another post,look what I posted to edelbrock. Even if you have to go completely through it and r+r gears I can walk you through it the easy way,with a minimum of expense on tools.

 

[Dlefler]

Yours will be easy,no special tools. I put the info on another post,look what I posted to edelbrock. Even if you have to completely through it and r+r gears I can walk you through it the easy way,with a minimum of expense on tools.

Awesome I will check it out thank you!

 

[Dlefler]

Yours should be stupid easy,sounds like you've lost a pinion bearing buy both pinion bearings and pinion seal,buy both differential bearings,and a crush sleave eliminator. Reusing the same carrier,housing,and pinion. You won't have to shim,setup or check anything. Replace the bearings and seal. It's done.

Thank you very much

 

[Dlefler]

Yours should be stupid easy,sounds like you've lost a pinion bearing buy both pinion bearings and pinion seal,buy both differential bearings,and a crush sleave eliminator. Reusing the same carrier,housing,and pinion. You won't have to shim,setup or check anything. Replace the bearings and seal. It's done.

I'm assuming I can do it with the axle still on the truck correct?

 

[Ricko1966]

Well I will stay away myself lol thanks

I'm assuming I can do it with the axle still on the truck correct?

Yep, keep all your shims where they came from replace all the bearings and the seal.Use the crush sleeve eliminator because the crush sleeve will be tough for a newb.

 

[77Dmax]

I'd inspect the spider gears for wear before doing a full tear down. That can be all of your play and a much easier fix. Especially if you are out power braking and doing one leg burn outs!

 

[Ricko1966]

Spider gears won't move the pinion yoke forward. When you start taking the diff apart heat the area at the cross shaft retainer bolt,they are loctited and tend to break.

 

[77Dmax]

No doubt they won't move the pinion out. I'm guessing the yoke has been changed at some point with the wrong one to account for the gap. Either way the yoke butts up against the outer bearing which isn't a press fit onto the pinion. If the inner bearing wore that much (3/16?) The OP would have been up against the crush collar and the pinion would still have a ton of slop in it and I'm sure he would have noticed that. At that point the back of the pinion would be rubbing on race/housing. That would be a hard noise to ignore.

Also If the pinion moved out 3/16", the gears will be knife edged and junk anyway.

Thats why I'd inspect the diff before loading the parts cannon. I've been setting diffs up for years, I've never seen a pinion launch itself out without catastrophic failure to go along with it..