Spider Gears, look like my hillbilly fam's Teeth!

jonstreet · August 16, 2014

Just rebuilt the Transfer Case 2 months ago and still had a bunch of rearend hopping when braking when driving and rubbing when turning left but only in really wet cond. So I pulled the cover and saw only the spider gears and really only one was toast! I just saw someone talking and torsion bar mounting issues and I have the same frontend knock over train trax and etc... I just got a loan to build it all back, I much rather rebuild than get another old one I have a 1999 4x4 with a 261 T-case and 3.73 in the rear. everything is factory. any idea's on where to start?

1. Rearend Spiders, seals, wheel bearings & hope not axles

2. Torsion Key Lift NOT A BIG LIFT daily driver looking to go 33's at most. while a guy did a Key lift he said it made it ride smoother like if the T-bars lost there spring in a way and the lift helped that out. I know the Torsion bar mounts are riveted in so great times huh? but they ain't but $40 bucks a pop.

3.Thax for stopping by and I hope to make this a new home, Thx guys Jon Street

kstruckcountry · August 16, 2014

I would definitely put the rear end first... Are you planning on having a shop do it?

The torsion bar crossmember mounts aren't bad, just a bunch of grinding. I sprayed primer on the spots on the frame that got touched. The mounts intentionally have play side to side, eventually the grommet turns and that becomes up and down play and makes the clunk. And yes they are cheap.

Plenty of people crank up the front a little. If it's too rough you can just let it back down. It will never be smoother than regular height though.

gmtech4 · August 16, 2014

i take a cut off wheel to the rivet heads and grind a "+" sign in it without hitting the frame ,,,then get an air chisel and bark the heads off ,,,,,takes no time at all

you need the special tool to unload the torsion bar thou

wilsonz71 · August 16, 2014

A normal ball joint press works mint to unload the torsion bars if the special tool is not availiable.

kstruckcountry · August 16, 2014

i take a cut off wheel to the rivet heads and grind a "+" sign in it without hitting the frame ,,,then get an air chisel and bark the heads off ,,,,,takes no time at all

you need the special tool to unload the torsion bar thou

That is a great way to do it.

I didn't mess with the bars. I changed the brackets one side at a time with everything in place. Had to lift up the crossmember to remove and replace each mount.

gmtech4 · August 16, 2014

That is a great way to do it.

I didn't mess with the bars. I changed the brackets one side at a time with everything in place. Had to lift up the crossmember to remove and replace each mount.

I never thought of leaving them loaded , hmmmm , next time for sure at work as we have a few old beaters left lol

jonstreet · August 17, 2014

Thankx alot guys, I will have to mess with the bars since I plan on getting everything at once keys and all. I going to get it done myself I rebuilt the Transfer case myself but at a buddy's shop, bc the truck needed to set a couple of days getting all the parts. I haven't gone under on account its rain every freakin day here in FL. but I'm going to losen the T-bolts up and see if I can get a bit better ride till middle of next week when I start. thx again Jon

jonstreet · August 17, 2014

I got to thinking, scary I know, but with the spiders being messed up I think the Transfer case got messed up b/c of the gears. It's all in the drive line, but two things how do you know your axles are bad, I get alot of bouncing running down the road. and when braking, I repalced the cailpers in the rear b/c they looked up, and I started to replaced the rotors, but then I changed the fuild in the rearend and found the spiders messed up, so I think I need either repair bearings or just new axles.

gmtech4 · August 17, 2014

Shocks absorb bouncing

jonstreet · August 23, 2014

I got new shocks all around and still rough, I'm making the order in the next day or two. I'm trying to get everything for the rearend and front that would bang around, I want it to ride like new, I'm not a crazy off roader mainly on the streets but latley we have gotten way to much rain and I pulled off to the side of the road about 3ft and needed 4x4 just to get out nd the front end sounded like crap.

jonstreet · August 26, 2014

So one more ? about the rear end, I have 3.73 in the rear if I get something like the 3.42 or I think the 3.43 will it change things with the T-case and the front diff?

SkierZ71 · August 27, 2014

Yes it will in the front diff. You will have to re gear the front.

00Silverado4x4 · August 28, 2014

Your transfer case shouldn't care what gears you have in the diff's. However as SkierZ71 said you must have the same gear ratio's in the diff's front and rear. Also once regeared you will need to have the computer reprogrammed for the new gears so the speedometer and odometer are correctly reading/recording.

jonstreet · August 29, 2014

Can't find 3.73 gears anyways, got the spiders coming in today but I hope the rear axles aren't f-d up hopefully I can get away with repair bearings and thats it, the rearend has been bocuning more and more at 45mph everyday so I have limted my driving till this all can be done shooting for the weekend, Thx for the help guys!

jonstreet · September 7, 2014

Got the spiders in, but my turck is still HIP HOP HIPPY HOP in the rear, I know the slip yoke is ribbed up like a condom from beating its self on the transfer case was going to try that, the next day I have off, anyone know where to find the Length on it, 4x4 short bed reg. cab ?