Rear end complete failure today !!!!

[JamesDub]

Well guys on the way to work I felt the truck shudder and shake while accelerating , grinding and hopping . I live 5 miles from work and it turned out to be a chore to keep it limping to work . Got off and tried to limp back home and while making a slow left turn from a 4 way stop clunk, clunk clunk POP ! My rear end self destructed . Walked home a good 2 miles since I forgot my cell at home this morning . Got a buddy with his H2 Hummer to tow me home with my recovery strap , new bumper with D-Rings worked great haha .

So now what ???
Whats the best route from here ? Get a whole rear axle assembly , or take it apart first and diagnose at home ? It has 3.42 with the G80 locker .
This is my daily driver so I need it running asap . What would a shop charge to fix her ?

HELP ORTB !

[Philberto]

Call salvage yards or go to www.car-part.com, buy a whole rearaxle assy with 3.42 and g80. Easiest way. Make sure it's either pre-06 or 06+ depending on ur year to match up rear ABS sensors. You're looking at 500 or so for parts on short notice, and a few hours of labor.

[fishsticks]

You're a 2002 truck... you can use an axle from an 02-09.

Get an 8.6 from an EXT. IMO don't get a G80...just get an open rear. Install a better locker later.

Edit: I see 3.42 8.6" rears for as low as $350 down there on car-part. Call your local LKQ. I bought mine on sale for $150 from them. Came with ebrake cables, rotors (your stockers will do too) and all 4 control arms.

[JamesDub]

The 8.6 has the same wheel/hub bolt pattern correct ? I can put my hubs which are new and brakes new also on the 8.6 axle correct .

Looking at a couple online now , one only has 7000 miles on it . Then get that powertrax no slip locker .
So a 2002-2009 will fit my 2002 ?

[Philberto]

I thought 02 to 05 because of the move from single channel to dual channel rear abs. Then again, that's only if u wanna keep the ABS.

[bartonmd]

I thought 02 to 05 because of the move from single channel to dual channel rear abs. Then again, that's only if u wanna keep the ABS.

The early ones use the VSS on the rear of the T-case for the rear ABS, so you can use a later axle and just ignore the wheel speed sensors, and your ABS will still work...

Mike

[Philberto]

Ah. And behold, I am enlightened.

[janesy86]

Sucks man, but I'll agree with Donny, get an open 8.6" w/ 3.42's, and put in a No-slip if its in your budget. I got my 8.6" for under $200 and put in a No-Slip (install is under 20 min) and then just swap the whole assembly in.

I really think thats the best bang for the buck, as a shop with prob even take longer to repair your current axle and most likely cost around the same if not more for the labor and whatnot. As the 8.6" swap is easily a DIY job. Again thats just my .02

And as Mike said, any year will work with your TB, so whatever axle you want to go for it'll swap right in and not affect ABS.

[bartonmd]

To what Nick said about repair cost, if the aluminum case is even repairable, it'll be $1000-$2000 to get all the new parts and get it repaired... Just get an open 8.6 from a junkyard for $250 and put in a REAL (lunchbox) locker for another $350...

Mike

[JamesDub]

I ordered a EXT rear axle from a parts yard in Ontario Ca that I found on car parts.com site . It has 45,000 miles on it off an 05 for $320 plus shipping , shipped out wed by truck . Getting it delivered to my work . Whats the weight on these suckers ? Can 2 or 3 guys load it in the bed of a pickup ?

Also ordered the powertrax no slip direct from the source , will be delivered friday . Gonna start removing the old rear axle sunday .
Is a clymer or haines service manual OK , or worth it to pony up the 120 for the Helm book ?

I'm already tired of getting rides from friends to get to work

[janesy86]

Nice! Good choice... Wont be dissapointed by the No-slip.

Any service book should be good, I just have a Chilton. And I don't even recall using it, pretty straight forward of a swap.

And the axles are pretty damn heavy. But I'd say 3 people is enough to get it in the back of a truck, its just awkward as it is heavy.

[fishsticks]

Me and a pretty skinny guy were able to load mine + a pallet into the back of a Ranger. They were supposed to forklift it in for us but they took too long so we rook care of it.


I installed mine myself with a moving dolly and floor jack. No sweat. 15 bolts to remove/replace (UCAs, LCAs, Panhard, U-Joint, Shocks, Calipers) + ebrake cables.

[Diacom]

How much was the No-Slip going direct? I've found one for around $435, but am always looking for a better deal.

[djthumper]

Good deal. So you haven't even looked to see if it was the G80 that exploded huh?

[JamesDub]

Haven't even lookedin the gears yet , I figured with the noises it was making while i tried to limp it around town before it let loose it must be a mess in there .
The locker was like $448 from the source , missed getting from 4wheelparts on sale by a couple hours dumb me .

Axle came in at work today , 1 day ship not bad . Brought it home and is in the garage . No slip will be here tomorrow . Only day off this week is sunday , gotta power wash it , paint , put the locker in and the swap the axles . Hope I can get it done in one day .

[djthumper]

If you have help I am thinking you can get it done in a good days work. And hopefully putting in the locker goes smoothly.

[janesy86]

If you have help I am thinking you can get it done in a good days work. And hopefully putting in the locker goes smoothly.

I'd think so too, with some help you should be fine, I'd say getting the axle washed/painted and for it to dry will be the longest task.

Like I've said before, the locker takes 15 min tops to install. And that was me with no experience at all. Then swapping the axles was around 3 hours or so.

So I'd say, you should be good.

[JamesDub]

Any tricks or tips to drain the fluid of the new axle to minimize mess in my garage . I assume the locker should be put in the new axle before I swap out the axles .
Jackstands and a bucket ?
Any write up on the no slip locker install , I saw one written for the G80 rebuild that was done . Ive never opened up a diff yet , right now the new axle turns butter smooth .

[janesy86]

Directions supplied are easy to follow. Really all your doing is taking out the c-clips holding the shafts in and then slid them out a bit, take out the spiders gears, which are replaced by the locker. Just follow the intructions and it should go smoothly.

And yes, I just put the axle on jack stands and put a pan under and drained the diff. Intalled the locker after cleaning out the diff, while still on the jack stands. Beats having to install it while its under the truck.

[JamesDub]

HELP EAST COASTERS . Your the only ones up right now .
4:53 in the morning and I cant get the ebrake cables off . Please give the secret !
The spider gears and G80 were shattered ! pics later .
HELP