Well, there is one advantage to having no interior, You can clearly hear that there is a bad bearing in the rear end. Loud enough that a 50% deaf ex mechanic can hear it. Do Buicks eat axles where the bearings sit? or am I likely to be o.k. with just doing the bearings. I have the larger 9 3/8th. diff . I will send this out to a shop I trust.
There are no rear that just inherently eat bearings...lol . It is not like you have a manufacture flaw 9 3/8 rear .... If it is OLD and was sitting for a long period of time or just many miles. ALL press on axle bearings that dry out from the prepacked grease can over heat and spin on the axle shaft taking the axle surface away making them JUNK. Hope this is not the issue for you. MIGHT be hard to find the axle ... 30 spline 67-70 only
I was unclear, I meant are the surfaces of the axles where the bearings run prone to damage, but you answered than anyway.
Does anyone have a recommendation for a parts supplier in case I hit a wall up here in Montreal? The bearings will likely be numbered and available locally at a bearing shop, but I'm not sure about the seals.
I just did this in the spring. You may have to hunt around but all the pieces were avail. You have to take apart to be sure you have the right pieces as it seems that you can find different bearing sizes depending on when it was produced in late 67 vs 68. Maybe @BrianTrick can offer some thoughts or @monzaz
I second that. DO NOT assume books are correct with this stuff. I always ask the customer for dimensions on the axle bearings and seals The inner center section is pretty straight forward unless you some how got a 1966 rear under your 68 CAT. The axle bearings and seals in that era were ALL OVER the place every year they were changing them????
I have older axle bearings on the shelf here as long as you give up the dimensions on the seal and the old bearing. I am sure we can get the correct parts. Bearing kit also with cover gasket pinion bearings and Pretty sure the carrier bearings which are 2 different sizes in that rear. Jim JD race
Thanks for all the help guys! I have made an appointment to listen to it running on the hoist to confirm the diagnosis this afternoon. Too difficult to jack it up where I live. Update: I just called several other garages and so far no one wants to touch the car! Are all the old mechanics dead or retired??? I do have an appointment at a garage I've used before, but that was my last resort as the carb never ran right after they rebuilt it.
Just got back from the garage and had it running on the hoist. Axle bearings are quiet as is the center bearing on the 2 piece driveshaft. Noise traced to the pinion bearing. Shop won't touch it,but gave me a good recommendation.
Likely the nut was tightened one time too much when it needed a seal. Burns up the pinion bearings.... THIS happens a lot. Jim
Jim, Since I have you on the phone, Can I safely drive it the 20 Km. to the diff shop without causing more damage? will it only wear on itself? or am I risking damaging the pinon. On the hoist, there was no movement when I shook the rear joint. The shop will only be able to look at the car in 3 weeks. Backlogged, staff on holidays.
I am sure you have been driving it... Just keep your ears open for anything that sounds worse... If it gets louder or starts shaking the car then pull over ASAP call and get it towed. Remember I am way over here and really can not give you that answer as I have not inspected the damage and noise factor...GOING off what you say. Jim
I have driven the car less than 150 miles in the last 2 1/2 years. The noise only started this week and there is no play if you grab the driveshaft going into the diff. Car will be parked doing the interior until I can get into the diff shop. I will pull over if I feel any kind of vibration or if the sound worsens. Thanks Jim for your advice.
After close to a three week wait, finally had the Wildcat towed to the driveline shop , so hopefully, I'll have a diff soon. I asked them to replace all the bearings and seals and check the posi. He said he would inspect it and get back to me, but doubt's there is much wrong with the posi saying the 9 3/8 rear end is pretty bullet proof. He does want to add a additive of some kind after the bearings are done. Old guys with grey beards working here that may actually have seen an old Buick posi Anything else I should ask him to check other than the u joint at the diff?
Just got a call from the diff place and he's just waiting for some seals to show up. Should have the car back by the weekend! He's quoting me $650. ($493. USD.) to do all the bearings, seals, fluid, additive and labour. I guess that's fair? never had a diff done on an American car with rwd.