Welp broke something serious

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

ls1frc

Full Access Member
Joined
Aug 10, 2019
Posts
923
Reaction score
1,352
Ha it never ends lately. Fixed the motor problem...

Now I got a driveline problem.

Engine is feeling incredible since I fixed the tune, so I've been having some fun with it last couple days.

On a 1-2 shift, I broke something. Something is seizing up intermittently, most notable around slower turns. A terrible driveline clunk with a reduction in vehicle speed and RPM. Doesn't seem to be related to shifting at all and I still have all 6 gears. Going 60 mph down the highway is fine and the gears are shifting normally. I visually inspected the driveshaft and u-joints but didn't see anything off. Nothing is cracked or losing fluid in either the rear end or the transfer case either.

When making slow left turns it's at it's worst. Doesn't appear to do it in neutral.

Any tips on how can I rule out transfer case, driveshaft, differential??

It's really bad. I made it home from the gym, but I will be renting a car this week before it breaks more stuff. You hear it really bad around the 21 second mark.

 

97YukonNZ

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 12, 2021
Posts
1,489
Reaction score
4,193
Ha it never ends lately. Fixed the motor problem...

Now I got a driveline problem.

Engine is feeling incredible since I fixed the tune, so I've been having some fun with it last couple days.

On a 1-2 shift, I broke something. Something is seizing up intermittently, most notable around slower turns. A terrible driveline clunk with a reduction in vehicle speed and RPM. Doesn't seem to be related to shifting at all and I still have all 6 gears. Going 60 mph down the highway is fine and the gears are shifting normally. I visually inspected the driveshaft and u-joints but didn't see anything off. Nothing is cracked or losing fluid in either the rear end or the transfer case either.

When making slow left turns it's at it's worst. Doesn't appear to do it in neutral.

Any tips on how can I rule out transfer case, driveshaft, differential??

It's really bad. I made it home from the gym, but I will be renting a car this week before it breaks more stuff. You hear it really bad around the 21 second mark.

Sounds like you may have blown the differential. I would think if it was the transfer broken it would not be driveable.
All gears working,does 60mph. Only has trouble at a slow turn. Sounds like diff.
 
OP
OP
L

ls1frc

Full Access Member
Joined
Aug 10, 2019
Posts
923
Reaction score
1,352
Sounds like you may have blown the differential. I would think if it was the transfer broken it would not be driveable.
All gears working,does 60mph. Only has trouble at a slow turn. Sounds like diff.

That's what I was leaning towards
 

Bill 1960

Testing the Limits
Joined
Dec 17, 2020
Posts
1,480
Reaction score
2,866
Assuming this is 4wd and not AWD. Symptoms are consistent with damaged spiders in the rear.
 
OP
OP
L

ls1frc

Full Access Member
Joined
Aug 10, 2019
Posts
923
Reaction score
1,352
Thanks all will test tomorrow.

Car-Part.com has no used assemblies :-/

Any advice?
 
OP
OP
L

ls1frc

Full Access Member
Joined
Aug 10, 2019
Posts
923
Reaction score
1,352
I knew my power was back! Feels like it gained 100 ft/lbs since I fixed the tune after the terrible track day. Once I fix this, 100% torque management going back in lol. I was running about 50% TM and 1-2 shift was about 200ms.
 

iamdub

Full Access Member
Joined
Apr 23, 2016
Posts
20,821
Reaction score
45,011
Location
Li'l Weezyana
OP
OP
L

ls1frc

Full Access Member
Joined
Aug 10, 2019
Posts
923
Reaction score
1,352
I dont know much about rear ends. Just need quickest way to get it driving again.

I will pop cover off tomorrow and look in there
 
OP
OP
L

ls1frc

Full Access Member
Joined
Aug 10, 2019
Posts
923
Reaction score
1,352
What all parts I need? I wanna buy it all and just take to a shop
 
OP
OP
L

ls1frc

Full Access Member
Joined
Aug 10, 2019
Posts
923
Reaction score
1,352
Ordered truetrac and bearings. Gonna diy it doesnt look hard.
 

Bill 1960

Testing the Limits
Joined
Dec 17, 2020
Posts
1,480
Reaction score
2,866
Based on your own comment re not knowing much about rears I will recommend some caution. It’s not a hard job, but neither is it an easy job to DIY without some specialty tools. Patience and precision is necessary for the setup to run quiet and last. You can do it, just take your time. The chances of it being a simple remove and replace parts swap without some adjustments to gear mesh are slim.

You may need new gears because if they ate some chunks of whatever broke, the teeth may be chipped.
 

Geotrash

Dave
Supporting Member
Joined
Feb 16, 2018
Posts
7,843
Reaction score
20,396
Location
Richmond, VA
Based on your own comment re not knowing much about rears I will recommend some caution. It’s not a hard job, but neither is it an easy job to DIY without some specialty tools. Patience and precision is necessary for the setup to run quiet and last. You can do it, just take your time. The chances of it being a simple remove and replace parts swap without some adjustments to gear mesh are slim.

You may need new gears because if they ate some chunks of whatever broke, the teeth may be chipped.
+1, setting up the mesh is one of those things where experience with doing it many times is helpful. Setting up a diff is one of the few things I will outsource in my cars. I've rebuilt a ZF 5HP-24 automatic transmission (a notoriously complicated beast) on my bench, but I leave diffs alone. If you decide to tackle it though, I'll be watching with interest to see what you learn in the process. In my experience with watching your work through these pages, I know you're both thoughtful and thorough.
 
OP
OP
L

ls1frc

Full Access Member
Joined
Aug 10, 2019
Posts
923
Reaction score
1,352
Ok, I was just watching some youtube vids. It looks pretty simple to set the backlash properly with the dial indicator and shims. I'm not removing the pinion gear or anything, so I thought it could have been a DIY.

If it needed new gears as well, I'll take it to a shop. I'm gonna pop the cover off and look in there.
 

Bill 1960

Testing the Limits
Joined
Dec 17, 2020
Posts
1,480
Reaction score
2,866
Yeah, if you leave the pinion in place it’s a lot less work.

My preference, if I’m tearing down a high mileage diff, I won’t leave old pinion bearings and seals in place.
 

HD_LS

Member
Joined
Dec 18, 2020
Posts
80
Reaction score
73
Slightly off topic: Is there a truetrac or any other non-open differential available for the front axle?
 

Geotrash

Dave
Supporting Member
Joined
Feb 16, 2018
Posts
7,843
Reaction score
20,396
Location
Richmond, VA
Ok, I was just watching some youtube vids. It looks pretty simple to set the backlash properly with the dial indicator and shims. I'm not removing the pinion gear or anything, so I thought it could have been a DIY.

If it needed new gears as well, I'll take it to a shop. I'm gonna pop the cover off and look in there.
It may well be that easy. I’ve just never done it and have read enough horror stories from people screwing it up to be willing to let a pro do it. Then again, the last time I had to have a diff rebuilt was in my old suburban and I was living in Colorado, right down the street from one of the best 4x4 and driveline shops anywhere.
 
Last edited:

Bill 1960

Testing the Limits
Joined
Dec 17, 2020
Posts
1,480
Reaction score
2,866
Slightly off topic: Is there a truetrac or any other non-open differential available for the front axle?
Unfortunately no. Deemed too weak by the aftermarket to offer anything.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
137,671
Posts
1,989,103
Members
102,675
Latest member
j_jerry79

Latest posts

Back
Top