rear end troubles

[ScottLowry]

I think I chunked the rear end. It pops on a hard corner. Also if i try and back up with a really heavy trailer up hill the rear will load up then pop and release some energy. Like It is slipping. Does this sound like the Diff or the gears? The truck has a Detroit Locker that is only 2 years old. It does see much spinning of the tires. Just a lot of towing and hauling. Which is the best option rebuild the stock one or upgrading to a dana 80. If I upgrade what years will fit this truck.



Thanks Scott



The truck is a 1992 4x4 1-ton 5-speed

 

[ARhine]

first thing is pull the cover and look for pieces.

 

[ScottLowry]

Just got back in from pulling the cover. No chunks that I can see I guess I need to jack it up and spin the diff. The spider gears look worn pretty good. They are not smooth. Maybe they just need to be replaced.



Scott

 

[ScottLowry]

I jacked the truck up and spun the tires around. The gears do look worn pretty bad but they all look complete. Now the question is could this be in the transfer case. I don't know how those are set up. The rear looks like it might make some noise but it there was nothing broke.



Scott

 

[cerberusiam]

Well, Detroit lockers are not the quietest devices ever made. What you describe sounds pretty much normal, if you are positive it is a detroit locker.

 

[bigtan408]

I Dont Think You Have A Detroit Locker. I've Never Seen A Detroit With Spider Gears. Sounds Like You Have A Clutch Style Posi-unit With Worn Out Clutches.

 

[ScottLowry]

I was told when I bought the truck it had a Detroit Locker. Can you believe someone on e-bay lied . I popped the carrier out and took it apart. The posi clutches were bad and the spider gears were real bad. you could measure 3/8 to 1/2 inch across the top of the gears they were that flat in places. I guess I'm really lucky they didn't break. Trying to find a set of gears now.



Scott

 

[1stgen4evr]

There was some comment about those clutches from Terry (Mysteryman). Not sure that Dodge still services those. Salvage parts are around, you just have to dig/scrounge a bit.



There are also post regarding changing to an 80. Not what you would call a piece of cake but very do-able. With the 80, you get larger carrier bearings (and that is good) but did you know that the wheel bearings are the very same as the 70?



James

 

[ARhine]

Have had nothing but good things from Randys Ring and Pinion. Re-did the rear axle in my truck with parts from them. Timken bearings and genuine spicer parts for most things.

Check to see if your carrier bearings have been spinning on the case, mine did and spit the shims out.

 

[ScottLowry]

The parts will be here tomorrow. I called Jeremy Naeger at custom differential. He's a local guy but he's in 4x4 magazine a lot. The parts to rebuild the diff were $250 plus tax. That's the spider gears and posi clutches. I guess that's a good price. He's local and could get them fast. The bearing looked really good. I have to get this thing back together fast. We had a big storm last night and the phone has been ringing for tree work.





Thanks for the help



Scott

 

[dpuckett]

Why, I'll be darned, Scott. You arent that far from me. I need to call jeremy about some Dana80 stuff, but havent thought of it during normal hours. BTW- His prices are cheaper than what we got from Larry Schmidt in Perryville.



Daniel

 

[ScottLowry]

This is the first time I have bought anything from Jeremy. He ordered it without me even paying for it first. He had 5 sets of diff kits for the 35 spline axles in stock. I have a lot of friends with mud trucks that go to him. They all say that he is pretty much the man with anything 4x4.



Scott

 

[ScottLowry]

Went down and got the parts tonight and fixed the diff. Everything seems to be ok. I'll fine out tomorrow when I have 6k pounds of chips in the back and a 6k pound chipper behind it. It cost me right around $275 with fluid to fix it. Thanks for the help.



Scott