Rear axle C-clip removal guidance?

[5StarCustmSolutns]

Hello, My foot and my G80 got into a fight this morning at the bottom of my driveway. G80 Carrier Case is pretty much shattered in place. A chunk of it along with one spider gear came out with the big chrome pin. I've spent about 3hrs now trying to get the C-clips off the axles.

For some reason I can't get the axles on either side to move inward the short distance needed to pull them off?? It looks like they're tight against the block in the middle already? But I can't see any splines on the outside of the clips. Could the tension from shattered carrier and spiders be preventing them from moving inward? Am I being to gentle?

Any guidance be much appreciated

 

[Doubeleive]

presuming you took the calipers off and the pin out? I would try rotating it a little while pushing on the axle

 

[5StarCustmSolutns]

presuming you took the calipers off and the pin out? I would try rotating it a little while pushing on the axle

Watched that one earlier, I hope I feel all happy go skippy like that music by the end of the weekend. Also hope I'm able to spin mine around by hand on the ring by end of weekend, currently requires bar through lugs

Yes sir, brakes off. Pin is out. Gonna try ratchet strap and smaller(size) magnet in the morn. Too cold out there now

 

[Doubeleive]

Watched that one earlier, I hope I feel all happy go skippy like that music by the end of the weekend. Also hope I'm able to spin mine around by hand on the ring by end of weekend, currently requires bar through lugs

Yes sir, brakes off. Pin is out. Gonna try ratchet strap and smaller(size) magnet in the morn. Too cold out there now

if worse comes to worse, might try a stick of wood and a dead blow or mallet on the axle ends
use the wood so nothing gets damaged on the axle, may end up having to do axle seals though, not sure
I would get a helper, kid, wife, gf, neighbor, bf lol never know these days
maybe start easy with that process, axles are about $150-200 each don't need to add fuel to the fire

 

[Doubeleive]

do yourself a favor and put a eaton detroit trutrac in there and you won't have this problem again. ya they cost a little extra but they are worth it.

 

[OR VietVet]

Looks to me like the carrier has squished together ever so slightly and is not allowing access to the clips. I would try to get a pry bar in the crack of the carrier and see if can pry outward from the crack and then push/bang the axle in to remove clips. Again, IMO.

 

[5StarCustmSolutns]

do yourself a favor and put a eaton detroit trutrac in there and you won't have this problem again. ya they cost a little extra but they are worth it.

Thanks for the reminder! and it's only 16 degrees here. Once I get carrier out I can front axle drive it into heated garage but....
Not sure if the word "habitual" applies because I've tamed myself down to about a one-per-month or so average, but I have (let's call it) a history of breaking bolts, tools and parts by way of too much force/not enough patience. Dozens...smh

The plan for now is either helical gear carrier(Eaton, PowerTrax, AAM, etc) -or- for about the same cost I could upgrade to a 14 bolt 9.5" 3.42 G80? There's one with only 25k mi a couple hours away for $603

I would love to hear thoughts on that choice? Both are better options for the towing(3 trailers) and mild off roading I regularly do than my current 10 bolt 8.6 3.08 (which was handling it just fine though)
Heli-carrier is probably a little less work? But both are gonna require me to re-set and pattern gears, one in front one in rear... Best case would be Truetrac(or comparable) IN a 14 bolt w/25k miles, but I have to prioritize right now; Im in serious need of a Torque Converter or I'm going to be replacing a 6L80 sooner than later.

Bought appliances, cabinets, and everything else for our kitchen over the last 10 days or it wouldn't be am issue, literally paid $2700 Thurs night for the last of it... Could be worse I guess, sorry for venting

 

[5StarCustmSolutns]

Looks to me like the carrier has squished together ever so slightly and is not allowing access to the clips. I would try to get a pry bar in the crack of the carrier and see if can pry outward from the crack and then push/bang the axle in to remove clips. Again, IMO.

IMO, that sounds like an excellent opinion. Thanks, I was trying to be as gentle as possible to avoid axle button and/or R&P damage. Temps are skyrocketing to the upper 20's over next hour so I'm about to go back at it

 

[Geotrash]

Thanks for the reminder! and it's only 16 degrees here. Once I get carrier out I can front axle drive it into heated garage but....
Not sure if the word "habitual" applies because I've tamed myself down to about a one-per-month or so average, but I have (let's call it) a history of breaking bolts, tools and parts by way of too much force/not enough patience. Dozens...smh

The plan for now is either helical gear carrier(Eaton, PowerTrax, AAM, etc) -or- for about the same cost I could upgrade to a 14 bolt 9.5" 3.42 G80? There's one with only 25k mi a couple hours away for $603

I would love to hear thoughts on that choice? Both are better options for the towing(3 trailers) and mild off roading I regularly do than my current 10 bolt 8.6 3.08 (which was handling it just fine though)
Heli-carrier is probably a little less work? But both are gonna require me to re-set and pattern gears, one in front one in rear... Best case would be Truetrac(or comparable) IN a 14 bolt w/25k miles, but I have to prioritize right now; Im in serious need of a Torque Converter or I'm going to be replacing a 6L80 sooner than later.

Bought appliances, cabinets, and everything else for our kitchen over the last 10 days or it wouldn't be am issue, literally paid $2700 Thurs night for the last of it... Could be worse I guess, sorry for venting

The 14-bolt axle assembly will bolt right in, assuming the mounting points on an avalanche are the same as a suburban, which they should be. But those are all 3.42 so maybe you can find a 3.42 front diff at the same yard?

Bummer about the cold snap coinciding with the need to do this initial part of the work outdoors. Should be a sunny day today there but still cold.

 

[OR VietVet]

Yea, it was cold here yesterday at 2 pm, at 52 degrees.

I do like the 14 bolt axle option though, as well.

 

[5StarCustmSolutns]

The 14-bolt axle assembly will bolt right in, assuming the mounting points on an avalanche are the same as a suburban, which they should be. But those are all 3.42 so maybe you can find a 3.42 front diff at the same yard?

Bummer about the cold snap coinciding with the need to do this initial part of the work outdoors. Should be a sunny day today there but still cold.

Half of my 24x26 garage is saws, materials and toolboxes. I had just finished getting her car in here and leveled at about 26" off ground for a weekend service to replace brake lines, change front & rear diff oils, trans oil, plugs, and O2 sensors when it happened lol. Did the brake lines, then took it all back down.

Should've been able to get mine in last night but the clips stalled me out. The temp wasn't a major issue(other than for metal damage) until the wind picked up. Had the truck covered w/6mil plastic and a couple layers of painter drop cloth to insulate so I could actually feel the heater that was under there with me. Wind was the end of that

Did get to break out 6ton Daytona Jack stands for first time though. They're an A+ so far, 4-layer (overly)redundant safety setup and 24" height

 

[OR VietVet]

Half of my 24x26 garage is saws, materials and toolboxes. I had just finished getting her car in here and leveled at about 26" off ground for a weekend service to replace brake lines, change front & rear diff oils, trans oil, plugs, and O2 sensors when it happened lol. Did the brake lines, then took it all back down.

Should've been able to get mine in last night but the clips stalled me out. The temp wasn't a major issue(other than for metal damage) until the wind picked up. Had the truck covered w/6mil plastic and a couple layers of painter drop cloth to insulate so I could actually feel the heater that was under there with me. Wind was the end of that

Did get to break out 6ton Daytona Jack stands for first time though. They're an A+ so far, 4-layer (overly)redundant safety setup and 24" height

I have a set of 4 of those same jack stands. They work well and have performed great for last 6 months since I got them.

 

[Doubeleive]

Thanks for the reminder! and it's only 16 degrees here. Once I get carrier out I can front axle drive it into heated garage but....
Not sure if the word "habitual" applies because I've tamed myself down to about a one-per-month or so average, but I have (let's call it) a history of breaking bolts, tools and parts by way of too much force/not enough patience. Dozens...smh

The plan for now is either helical gear carrier(Eaton, PowerTrax, AAM, etc) -or- for about the same cost I could upgrade to a 14 bolt 9.5" 3.42 G80? There's one with only 25k mi a couple hours away for $603

I would love to hear thoughts on that choice? Both are better options for the towing(3 trailers) and mild off roading I regularly do than my current 10 bolt 8.6 3.08 (which was handling it just fine though)
Heli-carrier is probably a little less work? But both are gonna require me to re-set and pattern gears, one in front one in rear... Best case would be Truetrac(or comparable) IN a 14 bolt w/25k miles, but I have to prioritize right now; Im in serious need of a Torque Converter or I'm going to be replacing a 6L80 sooner than later.

Bought appliances, cabinets, and everything else for our kitchen over the last 10 days or it wouldn't be am issue, literally paid $2700 Thurs night for the last of it... Could be worse I guess, sorry for venting

I am the same way although I have calmed down a smidge in the last few years. I have broken at least 5 g80's the only thing that survived was a eaton detroit if you can break one of those I bow down. I did wear a bearing set out in the eaton after a couple years and sold it shortly afterwards.
funny you mention the 9.5" my Silverado has one and I am still concerned about it possibly giving out but I haven't had one before so time will tell.
I have also broken at least 5 or more 4l60's they do not like full throttle 24/7 they like to break good during the 1-2 shift, I found that easing up on the pedal a hair at that point seemed to make a difference.
the last 4l60 I broke (under warranty) the shop blamed the transfer case I have my doubts but it did have about 300k on it at the time it was a beast for sure. Transfer cases seem to hold up better than all the rest.
the 6l80 seems to be a bit more robust but the torque converter is the weak spot, already had to have this one I have now rebuilt but I specifically requested it be built to handle 500hp because I know it would break again otherwise, it's been about a year now and so far it's still working perfect.
I also tend to break bolts and tools and anything else that is not heavy duty, seems like I have to everything commercial level in my life I am just ******* stuff
so everything I have gets a severe duty approach to help if it does.

 

[5StarCustmSolutns]

This is a debatable and fluid statement I'm about to make but: They're the best bang for your buck jack stands ever made for retail sale

I've not examined any High high end jack stands in my life but after a thorough examining of these, I can't see too many ways they could be made better than these things are

 

[5StarCustmSolutns]

I am the same way although I have calmed down a smidge in the last few years. I have broken at least 5 g80's the only thing that survived was a eaton detroit if you can break one of those I bow down. I did wear a bearing set out in the eaton after a couple years and sold it shortly afterwards.
funny you mention the 9.5" my Silverado has one and I am still concerned about it possibly giving out but I haven't had one before so time will tell.
I have also broken at least 5 or more 4l60's they do not like full throttle 24/7 they like to break good during the 1-2 shift, I found that easing up on the pedal a hair at that point seemed to make a difference.
the last 4l60 I broke (under warranty) the shop blamed the transfer case I have my doubts but it did have about 300k on it at the time it was a beast for sure. Transfer cases seem to hold up better than all the rest.
the 6l80 seems to be a bit more robust but the torque converter is the weak spot, already had to have this one I have now rebuilt but I specifically requested it be built to handle 500hp because I know it would break again otherwise, it's been about a year now and so far it's still working perfect.
I also tend to break bolts and tools and anything else that is not heavy duty, seems like I have to everything commercial level in my life I am just ******* stuff
so everything I have gets a severe duty approach to help if it does.

We'd prob get along just fine then


Using my 20/20 hindsight (because God knows my current eyesight is no longer 20/20) I was able to see the pattern of different people from completely different facets of my life telling me I was too ******* _____(insert noun of choice here), and it helped me realize that I needed to dial it back a little. Especially on things that are of value to me and those around me that are affected by that thing. Not $$ value because $$'s aren't valuable to me (personally rather have that high quality paper and ink they're made with so I could write important things down and know they could go through the washer/dryer 10x and my great great nieces/nephews would still be able to read them).
To put it in the simplest of metaphors: I finally realized that crushing the cooler because it doesn't close/seal properly is not ok. Especially when Im the one who loaded the cooler and it's the first night of a summer camping trip lol

Alright I'm goin back in... will post results.

 

[Doubeleive]

I'm definitely a product of the environment I was raised in lol, good luck getting that bastard out

 

[5StarCustmSolutns]

took about a 6" chunk of 4 X 6 with a 5/8 hole drilled right along one edge to fit the lug pattern, and 3-4 mild body blows from a 16lb sledge. I could see the splines showing on the outside of clips before my shoulders were past the license plate
Thank you all

gonna assess housing and axles for damages and make a pro/con list for Helical Carrier -vs- 14 bolt 3.42 G80 w/25k miles?

Might start new and see if some of the guys on here who have done one or the other will offer some insight

 

[Geotrash]

View attachment 391230


took about a 6" chunk of 4 X 6 with a 5/8 hole drilled right along one edge to fit the lug pattern, and 3-4 mild body blows from a 16lb sledge. I could see the splines showing on the outside of clips before my shoulders were past the license plate
Thank you all

gonna assess housing and axles for damages and make a pro/con list for Helical Carrier -vs- 14 bolt 3.42 G80 w/25k miles?

Might start new and see if some of the guys on here who have done one or the other will offer some insight

Congrats on getting it apart!

 

[Doubeleive]

View attachment 391230


took about a 6" chunk of 4 X 6 with a 5/8 hole drilled right along one edge to fit the lug pattern, and 3-4 mild body blows from a 16lb sledge. I could see the splines showing on the outside of clips before my shoulders were past the license plate
Thank you all

gonna assess housing and axles for damages and make a pro/con list for Helical Carrier -vs- 14 bolt 3.42 G80 w/25k miles?

Might start new and see if some of the guys on here who have done one or the other will offer some insight

figured that would work, just had to rattle it's brains a little lol

 

[89Suburban]

The temp wasn't a major issue(other than for metal damage) until the wind picked up. Had the truck covered w/6mil plastic and a couple layers of painter drop cloth to insulate so I could actually feel the heater that was under there with me. Wind was the end of that

I commend you.