Hey guys, Gotta 76 Electra 10 bolt rear with a 350 4 BBL..Seems to be more slop in the diff than I'd like, and sometimes clunks when put in drive from reverse or when I let off the gas and apply gas again..What is acceptable? Is their a way to tighten it up? I have never done ANY work on Diffs before and this is all new..Let me know what you guys think..Thanks for the help.. Bill
U-joint Jack the car up and put it on some jack stands.Climb under the car and try to twist the driveshaft. Sounds like one of the U-joints is about to come apart. Maybe it is something simple... Good Luck Bert
Not U-joints Hey, Parked the car over the ditch in my lawn and crawled under to see what was going on..All the joints look decent..and in neutral I can twist the driveshaft, but it turns in the diff to..The whole assembly turns about 2 to 2.5 inches before the rear engages..Maybe I am being paranoid but it seems a little much? The way things go it could of not be as easy as a u-joint..lol..Thanks for replyin.. Bill
Diff Problem? Anybody else got anything?? How to tighten? Specifications? Does the rear need rebuilding? If I let it go will I break something? Safe to Drive?? Thanks\. Bill
To better diagnose... -Unbolt driveshaft, drop rear of it to the ground & scoot slightly to one side. -On a lift, have a helper hold the rear of driveshaft up so trans yoke does not slide out of tranny. -With gloves on, firmly yank forwards & backwars on the pinion flange. There should be zero forwards & backwards movement of the pinion. Next, pull rear cover, drain grease, place gloved right hand on ring gear. Rock the ring gear up & down. Lot of "slop"??? Typical backlash is .008-.010. Worst I've ever ran across in a rearend that was in a driver was little over .040 :shock:... very bad, pinion was "clanking" upon coast. Rearends do not last forever in such shape. When applying gas, then letting off, does a clanking noise, similiar to bad u-joint occur??? If so, & u-joints are known to be good, chances are the pinion is loose. Loose pinions like to the slide slightly fore & aft, eventually getting in bind, resulting in teeth on pinion becoming chipped, or shelling of the ring & pinion. Loose pinion not propperly corrected will also cause excess wear on the ring & pinion. Hope this helps, not the easiast to describe, but this should get you going in right direction. :3gears: Roger
Diff questions.. Hi, Removed the cover on the diff today and was checking it out..Seems that when I turn the driveshaft their isn't much play in the ring and pinion at all, but it seems like its coming from somewhere else? When I am driving if I let off the gas once and awhile I will get the clank like a joint is going out..I am going to take the driveshaft off tomorrow and check from their..If their is slop in and out is this something I can fix by just tightning the nut or bolt on the end or is their more to it? Their is also no vibrations or shaking when I am driving..Everything seems ok except for the clank sometimes.. Thanks for the help.. Bill
Update on Diff HI, Got the driveshaft off today and checked the pinion flange, no slop at all anywhere, but I do believe when I had the cover off their was a little slop between the ring and pinion on the inside. Is that possible? Are the gears just worn out being a 100,000 mile car? I didn't see any evidence of chips or metal in the bottom when I changed the fluid..If everything is tight in there its not really possible to "tighten anything up." Rotating the pinion flange I can prolly turn it 1/4 to 3/8 inch "measured it." Any more Ideas? Replace ring and pinion? Something else? Thanks guys!! Bill
Check the yoke /pinion nut for backinging out. That will make a good cluncky noise. on coast and rethrottle. seen that happen. Jim Or tranny problems if it is not rearend or ujoints.
my .02 MAZZY, I'd concur with u-joints first, especially if they're original. If the R&P has reasonable backlash (i've seen .012 / .014) for your mileage. Then there's the internal gears and washers in the carrier to look at. Also the axle shaft splines. Remember from the time that pinion yoke turns to the time the power hits the axle shaft there's lots of slack to take up with well worn parts.
My Diff.. Hey thanks, Well lookin at it as a whole I am going to say its just getting worn out..I know its not the universals cause it does the same thing with the driveshaft off "checked them also", and their are no metal chunks making their home in the bottom of my diff..I think I will leave it be..It seems better with the new lube in it.No Clankin. Seems I put alot more in than I took out, almost 3 qts in..Maybe in due time I will look into a 12 bolt or something beefier instead of the 10 bolt..Thanks for everyones help on nailing it down :Smarty: :TU: ..Didn't know anything really on diffs..Now I know quite a bit more..Thanks.. Bill
