G80 Not Locking

[joutlaw]

I read this thread http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/index.php?...91970&st=15 and it seems I am having a similar problem.

 

It was raining the other day and I went around a corner and only the inside wheel spun. Normally you would feel it lock and it would get sideways.

 

I think I know when the problem started. I was turning around one day and backed up into some gravel and the locker ingaged. I made a left turn and it seemed it would still locked up... a lot of binding feeling. I parked it and when I left it still felt locked up. I seem to recall sort of a pop and from I read this is probably when my G80 took a dump. It seems that something in the unit breaks to provent the axle shaft from breaking.

 

My question do you think the ring and pinion are toast? The truck still drives fine not weird noises from the rear. I've only put around 500-750 miles on the truck since the time I think it bombed. Can I put a new locker on it with the exisiting ring and pinion or would I be better of doing a rebuild. I'm not knowledgable in replacing a rear so more than likely a shop would have to do it.

 

I'll miss the locker, but technically should I just drive on it until the rear end goes... I rarely go anywhere I can't get through in 4x4 although I could get through a lot with just the locker engaging.