Exploding Diff

[enkeivette]

Nope, not the Vette... yet.

My Dads Avalanche, looks like a 10 bolt. Something exploded and put a hole in the rear diff cover. Any ideas what it could be? Is this the sort of thing thats rebuildable?

Any diff experts up to the task? Submit your bid. Im too busy to learn something new right now.

[94cobra69ss396]

Take pictures and post but my guess is the pin broke.

[blackax]

10 bolts are everywhere in the junk yard, cheap too , cheaper then a rebuild.

[enkeivette]

Believe it or not this fucker is 4 linked. Panhard bars are welded right to the axle tubes.

[94cobra69ss396]

Have you pulled the cover off of it yet?

[blackax]

Believe it or not this fucker is 4 linked. Panhard bars are welded right to the axle tubes.

Why? I can see doing that to a 14 bolt but to a 10? I'm just confused but now a rebuild is cheaper in most cases. And like ron said pic please

[94cobra69ss396]

They used both a 10 and 14 bolt on the Avalanche. If the diff cover has 10 bolts then it's the 10 bolt. I just looked up carriers on Summit and it looks like the Avalanche uses a unique carrier so I don't think you'll be finding parts for it at a local wrecking yard.

[enkeivette]

Youre all a bunch of voyeurs, ha. Alright, pics as requested, better get some rebuild offers now!

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/04/09/yja6a5ah.jpg

Looks like the posi unit exploded.
816

Dont think that stuff is supposed to fall out when you take off the cover.
817

[enkeivette]

Btw this is the ten bolt, and its actually 5 linked... retarded.

[94cobra69ss396]

The carrier broke. What was he doing with it? I cracked the carrier in the Cobra before but that was with a 6000 rpm clutch drop at the strip on slicks. You'll need a new carrier, new ring and pinion if the teeth are chipped plus all the bearings, shims, a crush sleeve, new cover, etc and it should take you about 4 hours to rebuild it.

[enkeivette]

I think something shook loose the day before, it was making random popping noises. I thought it was from the suspension. Then just cruising home this happened.

[enkeivette]

Isnt it really complicated to rebuild a diff? You have to set everything based on play, and not just to a torque spec?

[Leedom]

Ron and I did mine in the Mustang and I understand pretty much how to do everything but am still not comfortable doing it myself.

[Shaolin Crane]

I did mine too, not all too difficult if you take your time. I just have large windows of time between when I do them.

[Ryridesmotox]

Just go to a junkyard and pull a new rear end out of a truck. Has to be cheaper and easier than rebuilding that thing. Plus you can get a beefier rear end

[94cobra69ss396]

The only issue with trying to find one in a wrecking yard is that the axle only comes in the 2007-2012 Avalanche.

Adam, you do have to set it up properly. You have to set the pinion depth correctly so that it's teeth line up correctly with the teeth on the ring gear. You also have to have the proper bearing preload on the pinion bearings. I think my current issue with the rearend on the Exploreris the bearings on the pinion ever since the carrier blew apart. Moving on to the carrier you have to have the proper bearing preload and set the backlash. It's not all the complicated but takes some time. At least the 10 bolt uses a crush sleave which makes it a little easier than using shims like the Dana 30 that I used in the front of the Explorer. It took me 8 hours to set the front up on the Explorer.

[enkeivette]

His is an 02, same from 02-06 I think. Junkyard down the street has one for 650, found one on craigslist for 475.

The CL guy doesnt know the ratio or if its limited slip. Spinning and counting for the ratio is easy. As far as limited slip vs open: If I remember correctly, open spins twice as fast, and LSD spins one wheel in the opposite direction? Is that right?

[enkeivette]

Thanks for the advice btw, I appreciate it. :beer:

[94cobra69ss396]

If you can get one that cheap buy it. You'll have more than that rebuilding your dads. A limited slip should spin both wheels in the same direction unless the clutches are worn then they spin opposite which is common. An open carrier will always spin the tires in the opposite direction. I'd pull the cover off of it just to varify what it has. That way you can also count the teeth on the ring and pinion to verify the gear ratio. If the axle still has the tag, you should be able to check both the carrier type and ratio unless it's not stock.

[blackax]

It makes me sad the price of a damn 10 bolt is almost 500$ thats crazy, I can get a damn 14 bolt with new gears for that kind of money. But that is what we pay for the price of links I guess.

[blackax]

Oh and I say rebuild your diff, it will take a little bit of time but you will know that everything is new and in good shape. Plus if you want you can change the gears to a better ratio for you if needed.

[enkeivette]

I know, I looked into the Avalanche 14 bolts... they use leaf springs and theyre not LINKED the same. If it were my truck you can bet Id be grinding off those perches and welding them to a 14 bolt.

We picked up a 4.10 LSD exploder diff for $200 with brakes and all when we did my buddy's truck. Didnt realize how good of a deal that was

[enkeivette]

Its 4wd, no changing gears.

[enkeivette]

818

$475, craigslist. The guy selling it didnt know what it was, so I had to pull the cover off and count the teeth and do some cell phone math.

[94cobra69ss396]

So did it have the right gearing?

[enkeivette]

Yessir. 41/11 = 3.72xxxxxxx