Rocket Man's 02 Denali Build Thread AKA "THE BEAST"

[wjburken]

Yeah I know right? Well guess what, this just snowballed on me. I was looking at videos on replacing the cv axles and noticed there should be no oil leaking from my diff the way they’re made so I crawled under and took another look. Seems The Beast does have some power after all. View attachment 257153

Well, never known you to do anything half-assed!

 

[wjburken]

i am unique tho

Well......Then “Snowflake” it is!

 

[George B]

Yeah I know right? Well guess what, this just snowballed on me. I was looking at videos on replacing the cv axles and noticed there should be no oil leaking from my diff the way they’re made so I crawled under and took another look. Seems The Beast does have some power after all. View attachment 257153

Oops! Maybe you can just replace the extension housing along with the CV.

 

[Rocket Man]

Crap, now I can’t find the part number for the axle housing. I hope I don’t have to buy the whole diff. @915_Tahoe can you help a brother out? Last 8 of my VIN is 2J105097. I need the right axle housing but when I look it up on gmpartsdirect it shows 12479320 for non AWD or 12479295 for Crew Cab (?] even though I’m under parts listed by my vin. Neither looks exactly like mine, those both have around part that mine doesn’t have.

 

[Rocket Man]

Here’s my axle tube.

 

[Rocket Man]

Here’s the one that shows up on parts lists but some say not for AWD. I’m thinking there’s just a design change to add reinforcement.

 

[Sam Harris]

Yeah I know right? Well guess what, this just snowballed on me. I was looking at videos on replacing the cv axles and noticed there should be no oil leaking from my diff the way they’re made so I crawled under and took another look. Seems The Beast does have some power after all. View attachment 257153

Dammit!

 

[George B]

Here’s the one that shows up on parts lists but some say not for AWD. I’m thinking there’s just a design change to add reinforcement.

View attachment 257175

That one has the spot for the actuator. the one you need is like this one.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/01-06-ESCA...ront-Differential-Axle-Tube-AWD-/274427311040

 

[89Suburban]

Here’s my axle tube.

View attachment 257164 View attachment 257165 View attachment 257166

Oh shit!

 

[Rocket Man]

Now I’m wondering if I should just replace the diff itself. It looks like there’s a bunch of stuff that needs to be replaced when I do that axle housing, so far it’s adding up fast. Might be $350-400 into it and I still don’t know if I did more internal damage. I might just buy the whole diff with axles for $800 including core charge.

 

[George B]

Now I’m wondering if I should just replace the diff itself. It looks like there’s a bunch of stuff that needs to be replaced when I do that axle housing, so far it’s adding up fast. Might be $350-400 into it and I still don’t know if I did more internal damage. I might just buy the whole diff with axles for $800 including core charge.

Are you sure? There should only be the housing and long stub shaft on an all wheel drive unlike the part time units with the actuator, fork and related parts.

 

[Rocket Man]

That one has the spot for the actuator. the one you need is like this one.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/01-06-ESCA...ront-Differential-Axle-Tube-AWD-/274427311040

I can’t find the p/n for a new one. I’m kinda worried that I did more damage to the diff that I can’t see and after spending $300 on parts since I need new bearings, seals, etc I put it back together and it’s still messed up. IDK. $225 shipped for a used axle housing is kinda high. I don’t want to spend $800 for a new diff either but this has 170k on it. Might have to bite the bullet.

 

[George B]

Found this.
https://www.zumbrotadrivetrain.com/gm12471490

 

[Rocket Man]

Are you sure? There should only be the housing and long stub shaft on an all wheel drive unlike the part time units with the actuator, fork and related parts.

I guess that’s it, just bearing seal and dust seal I think but idk if the diff is messed up either. The new diff comes with everything.

 

[George B]

There is something fishy about that part number.... I would see what @915_Tahoe finds for you.

 

[Rocket Man]

Found this.
https://www.zumbrotadrivetrain.com/gm12471490

And it’s $328 plus shipping just for the tube, then I need seal and bearing so more like $400 shipped for everything vs $800 shipped for a rebuilt diff with 3 year warranty with axles included. Thanks for finding that but like I said I don’t know how long the diff will last. If I broke the cv joint on one side and the axle tube on the other, that diff went through some stress for sure so I’m thinking there might be more broken parts inside or they are weakened and will break down the road. Just kind of on the fence here. I’m a bit nervous that I over stressed that diff and it’s not going to do well down the road.

 

[George B]

And it’s $328 plus shipping just for the tube, then I need seal and bearing so more like $400 shipped for everything vs $800 shipped for a rebuilt diff with 3 year warranty with axles included. Thanks for finding that but like I said I don’t know how long the diff will last. If I broke the cv joint on one side and the axle tube on the other, that diff went through some stress for sure so I’m thinking there might be more broken parts inside or they are weakened and will break down the road. Just kind of on the fence here. I’m a bit nervous that I over stressed that diff and it’s not going to do well down the road.

Yeah, I would be too. go with your gut.

 

[wjburken]

I can’t find the p/n for a new one. I’m kinda worried that I did more damage to the diff that I can’t see and after spending $300 on parts since I need new bearings, seals, etc I put it back together and it’s still messed up. IDK. $225 shipped for a used axle housing is kinda high. I don’t want to spend $800 for a new diff either but this has 170k on it. Might have to bite the bullet.

You know you will not stop until the entire front diff is replaced because you want to have confidence in your Denali.

 

[Rocket Man]

You know you will not stop until the entire front diff is replaced because you want to have confidence in your Denali.

Yeah pretty much. I actually thought about buying one and having it on hand for the time it decided to break. I figured both front and rear would break at one point. Shit. When I saw that big crack,I actually ordered a new diff from RA, then went all wish-washy and cancelled it. I even had to call them because it wouldn’t let me cancel a half hour after I placed the order. Now I think I’ll wait until tomorrow to decide. They will think I’m nuts which is actually true.

 

[89Suburban]

Yeah pretty much. I actually thought about buying one and having it on hand for the time it decided to break. I figured both front and rear would break at one point. Shit. When I saw that big crack,I actually ordered a new diff from RA, then went all wish-washy and cancelled it. I even had to call them because it wouldn’t let me cancel a half hour after I placed the order. Now I think I’ll wait until tomorrow to decide. They will think I’m nuts which is actually true.

Yeah sleep on it. And stop breaking shit.