Howdy and Help!

[Short_Bed Silverado]

Howdy from the "Corrosion Capital" of America--the great Midwest!

 

Well, my 2002 Silverado short bed 4wd 4.3 V6 had all its brake lines ate up by salt and calcium over the years, so I went to replace the rear brake dust shields and brake lines and found out I needed to replace the rear bearings and seals. Well--that's done, no big deal.

 

BUT--how in tarnation do I get those two back axles re-installed in to the non-posi 8.625 diff? Been at it for hours and "No Go." Did I move a gear inside the open diff? Yeah, probably. Maybe a grandkid's fingers or dog put their noses in the open diff and spun the gears. But I've ALWAYS had that big old lock pin in the gears and carrier, so I am mystified how to put things right.

 

I took some white out and marked one tooth of an upper spider gear, and tooth by tooth, rotated the spider, and stopped at each tooth, and tried to jigger the axles back in. Nope--won't go. Then I tried every one-half tooth, all way round the gear, stopping at each 1/2 increment to push in the axle. Nope.

 

How do I re-orientate or put back the gears so the female slots in the diff's side gears accepts the splined male ends of my axles shafts?

 

Many, many Thanks in advance, guys!

 

from an old "Seasoned Citizen" 70 Summers and counting....

 

There has got to be a secret! Share please.