What have you done to your square lately??

[Blue Ox]

I changed the fluids in the rear diff today. Unfortunately there was metal pieces on the magnet, and a lot of sludge in the bottom of the housing. Upon further inspection I found three splines that were missing pieces. Cleaned everything, installed the new Lubelocker gasket, painted and installed the cover. I went ahead and put 4 oz's of friction modifier in before the gear oil. Maybe it will extend the life if the splines a little longer. I only put about 200-300 miles on my trucks a year so it should be ok for a while.

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Is yours a limited slip? Not that it matters much.

I did a lot of work on my 14-bolt SF, since it had pretty much self destructed. After putting all the pieces back together I installed synthetic gear oil and it's been fine for over 100K miles since. I should mention that my ring and pinion were okay. It was just everything else that was junk.

 

[CRM]

I don't know if it is limited slip or not. I know friction modifier can be used on limited slip (my Jeep) and Positrac. If it's neither then there's no harm. It's basically a fluid that makes things "slipperier". I don't go off road, and if road conditions are bad, I take my Jeep.

 

[Turbo4whl]

I changed the fluids in the rear diff today. Unfortunately there was metal pieces on the magnet, and a lot of sludge in the bottom of the housing. Upon further inspection I found three splines that were missing pieces. Cleaned everything, installed the new Lubelocker gasket, painted and installed the cover. I went ahead and put 4 oz's of friction modifier in before the gear oil. Maybe it will extend the life if the splines a little longer. I only put about 200-300 miles on my trucks a year so it should be ok for a while.

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Just so you know, the picture you posted of the ring gear is showing the coast side of the gear, not the drive side. The drive side is the important side of the ring gear teeth.

I have seen this ring gear side posted in these forums many times showing the pattern after reassembly. Sometimes 3 or 4 pictures of the coast side and just 1 picture of the drive side. I am posting here for you and everyone who is new to a final drive axle.

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[CRM]

Thanks turbo4whl. The three splines I saw damage on were on the coast side towards the heel. Any idea what the most common cause of damage in that location is?

 

[Turbo4whl]

Thanks turbo4whl. The three splines I saw damage on were on the coast side towards the heel. Any idea what the most common cause of damage in that location is?

Extreme load while in reverse gear, such as pulling a stuck vehicle out of the mud. Always, if possible, pull any major load in forward gear. Or maybe backing up a hill with a full load in the bed of your truck.

 

[82sbshortbed]

I changed the fluids in the rear diff today. Unfortunately there was metal pieces on the magnet, and a lot of sludge in the bottom of the housing. Upon further inspection I found three splines that were missing pieces. Cleaned everything, installed the new Lubelocker gasket, painted and installed the cover. I went ahead and put 4 oz's of friction modifier in before the gear oil. Maybe it will extend the life if the splines a little longer. I only put about 200-300 miles on my trucks a year so it should be ok for a while.

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That's better then mine was. Lol

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So I put this in

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No telling how long I drove it like that. You're probably good for a while with yours. I can't seem to keep my foot out of it. Lol

 

[89Suburban]

Damage to the pinion gear at all? Something must have come loose and bounced around in there for a bit.

Bucket, I don't know. The only thing to come out were the 3 very small pieces of metal. Nothing else was seen. Next Spring I'll probably dig into it deeper, unless something comes apart.

That's better then mine was. Lol

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So I put this in

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No telling how long I drove it like that. You're probably good for a while with yours. I can't seem to keep my foot out of it. Lol

Yup spider gears are the usual weak link that start to grenade. If you have a posi rear it's hard to see any damage on them during a fluid change/inspection. If you find metal in the case highly likely that is where it is coming from. You may also see see light "sandblast" damage to the inside of the diff cover from the ring gear wash slinging fragments into it. Just went through this with mine last winter.

 

[CRM]

I'm on the final lap now. I pulled the valve covers and gaskets.Wow, were they bad !!! The gasket on the passenger side wasn't even sealing at the bottom above the exhaust manifold. No wonder I was seeing smoke after the engine had been running for a few minutes. I went with cheap chrome covers and expensive gaskets. After the engine had warmed up I had no more smoke. The chrome covers don't look very shiny because rain clouds were overhead. In person they look great, and I don't have to look at that tall oil fill tube anymore. Oh, and a new EGR valve too.

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[78C10BigTen]

This kinda ties into the what new tools thread and this one. I bought this lil portable jump pack on sale for nearly half off at walmart. 1k amps so basically the same as the dead battery in my square.... i charged it up last night and gave it a try today on my COMPLETELY stone dead battery, i almost dropped a brown brick when it fired it right up with little effort! Im super shocked!!

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[Soundmound]

Picked my truck up today and tried to beat the weather out of town.....guess what I did NOT do. However, I had a plan to deal with not having any hvac hooked up. Pulled a page from the Vice Grip Garage playbook and grabbed my buddy heater and a blowtorch, rags and some rain-x sprays in all flavors. Away we went.

Let me tell ya fellas, that ole boy has some stones. I picked my truck up from a SHOP and knew it was G2G, but still had to shut down halfway home for safety. He's jumping in a complete unsub with minimal shakedown and lighting out. Me not being able to see, combined with high wind and a roadbed thats seeing its first rain in months - making it slicker than snot and I called it. I'm now holed up in a cheap motel with some tacos and a Reeses sticks contemplating my life choices.

On the plus side, most of my new cluster works. I have to get some of the bulbs to kick on but I have temp, fuel, oil pressure and charging for the first time since I've owned it. Speedo is bouncy but functional. Will hook the tach up over winter. It's going to be a long row to hoe this winter...

 

[Grit dog]

Glad to hear @SirRobyn0 got ‘er runnin like a top for you.
Ifn I was you I’d get over Stevens sooner than later before you end up driving around due to mudslides or snow. Since she don’t look like a mudder or a Snomobile!
On the bouncy fuel gauge I read it’s a resistor or lack of that causes that. Both my gauges read perfectly except they also move constantly with the gas sloshing in the tank.
I believe it’s a thread in here. And the part is available.
On my list but even with the 86 being basically “done” there’s still a lot of items ahead of that.

 

[CRM]

I started up the truck today and adjusted the electric choke and curb idle speed. I took it out for a drive and it ran good. I was also able to confirm that the new EGR valve eliminated the backfire issue during deceleration. I did notice while standing next to the truck, while it was sitting at idle, that the exhaust gas was smelling rich. Next up is learning how to adjust the mixture screws I guess. While working on it a young man and his wife came by to see if I was interested in selling my '77 C10. I showed them the truck and showed them the few things that needed addressed. They're going to talk it over and make me an offer if they want it.

 

[Snoots]

Any body know how to fix a rattly parking brake release thingy..

Tighten the nuts.

 

[Itali83]

Fixed the wiring to tail lights on the bed. Also installed these window vent shades that I’d never install on a nice truck because of drilling holes in the door. But on this old blister with aftermarket doors, I had no regrets. Think it looks the part with them on for sure.

Ben

 

[78C10BigTen]

Fixed the wiring to tail lights on the bed. Also installed these window vent shades that I’d never install on a nice truck because of drilling holes in the door. But on this old blister with aftermarket doors, I had no regrets. Think it looks the part with them on for sure.

Ben

Those same ones came on my 78 when i bought it. I love them!

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