Help an Old Timer out, Guys!

[Short_Bed Silverado]

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!

There has got to be a secret! Share please. A picture or sketch is worth 10,000 words...

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

[aflesch]

How easily did they come out? I believe there is a spring clip on those that will compress with a little force and let them slide back in. Have you smacked them with a hammer or are you just pushing by hand?

[Gone Again]

Grasp the flange on the outer end of the axles with both hands and slightly lift the splined end of the axle up and into the side gear. If you don't do this the axle will catch the bottom of the side gear. Give it a try. It will go in by hand-do not start hammering.

[Short_Bed Silverado]

Thanks, man.

 

Lemme try these tips tonight.

 

I haven't hammered on them just yet.

[Short_Bed Silverado]

Just tried these tips men--NO GO IN.

 

I can get each axle shaft into the diff's side gear because when I look into my open cased differential, I can see the pilot hole drilled into the axle's pinioned end looking at me straight on and centered in the side gear, BUT the splines just won't engage the side gear's teeth.

 

A real puzzlement....

[Short_Bed Silverado]

well, here are some pics of the "disobedient" rear axles and rear end.

 

I changed out the rear axle bearings and seals, and now the axles will not "obey" me and get back home!

 

what am I doing wrong?

 

shined a 2,000,000 candlepower spotlight up the M-T axle tube and no back side gear shims are holding the axle back.

 

the spider gears and side gears all spin happily (except even in "Neutral" the driveshaft and hence the 8.6 ring gear will only move about a 1/2 inch ??) it's an open carrier non-posi std. 10 bolt 8.6 diff w/3.08 ratio

 

Question: Did I commit the dreaded sin of allowing some of these gears or driveshaft to "move" a tooth or two while I had the axles out? If so, what's the solution to getting these disobedient axles back in the rear end?

 

Many thanks from a frustrated old-timer; first GM product was a '56 Chevy back in '59!

 

 

 

[gmtech4]

there is no orientation of the axle shafts to the side gears ..

 

take the axle out and take a peek at the spline ends ,maybe some crap is caught ..

 

how come you are the lucky one to have this problem ? eh ? lol

[scooby5121]

Remove the locking pin ,,,,,,, then insert axles with clips.. replace gear if it falls out and insert locking pin

from the picture the locking pin still in there.....

[Short_Bed Silverado]

there is no orientation of the axle shafts to the side gears ..

 

take the axle out and take a peek at the spline ends ,maybe some crap is caught ..

 

how come you are the lucky one to have this problem ? eh ? lol

Thanks, govtech4! I really needed to hear that the axles and side gears are not in any synch.

 

I sure am LUCKY (har-har) to have this issue!

 

But, then again, like I tell people: "I've got a strong back, but a weak mind!" heh-heh

[Short_Bed Silverado]

Remove the locking pin ,,,,,,, then insert axles with clips.. replace gear if it falls out and insert locking pin

from the picture the locking pin still in there.....

Thanks, scooby5121!

 

Yep--the locking pin is still there. heck, I can't even get the end of that splined axle shaft into that side gear one iota!

 

Lemme see if plucking out that pin and letting the spiders fall out will help re-assembly!

[scooby5121]

Thanks, scooby5121!

 

Yep--the locking pin is still there. heck, I can't even get the end of that splined axle shaft into that side gear one iota!

 

Lemme see if plucking out that pin and letting the spiders fall out will help re-assembly!

IT WILL WORK THEN!!!! good luck

[Short_Bed Silverado]

Here's what both axles look like at their splined ends:

 

Maybe the first portion of the axle end (the round bar before the "C" clamp groove) needs to be de-burred or have slight chamfer put on it.

 

likewise, maybe chamfer the 90* sharp edges at the groove for the "C" clamp.

 

what say ye, Men?

 

 

[Short_Bed Silverado]

IT WILL WORK THEN!!!! good luck

 

Thanks, scooby5121!

 

let's sure hope so!

[LeoS41280]

How did you get the c-clip off the axle without removing the spider shaft?

[gmtech4]

he must have replaced the pin for some reason lol

 

How did you get the c-clip off the axle without removing the spider shaft?