Differential issue - carrier case side gear?

silverado_nick · June 29, 2015

I have an 03 Silverado that just rolled over 190k, It had a small lift with 33s on it.
I replaced the spider gears less than 5k ago due to one breaking on the highway over winter.
Since then it has gotten nice and I've been driving with the windows down and I have noticed a clicking when I am stopping or backing up.

I googled and googled and determined that it is due to a worn case side carrier gear bore.
I am pretty mechanically inclined but I have never heard of any of the gears in the diff being called this.

So what is actually going on?
Any chance this is going on in my front diff?

Yes I am sure its not an issue with my pad, calipers, rotors or anything that helps me stop.

Thanks for any guidance!

EDIT: this was ordered with a factory 4:11 gear package if that makes a difference.

silverado_nick · June 29, 2015

Furthermore, does anyone have any experience dealing with an issue like this?

silverado_nick · June 30, 2015

Any ideas?

silverado_nick · July 2, 2015

Almost 100 views and no ideas?

Someone has to have experience with this issue!

MikeNH · July 2, 2015

Side gear and spider gear are used somewhat interchangeably I believe. Technically, side gears are the ones attached to the axle shafts and spider gears are the ones that "float" and are secured by the big pin I think.

silverado_nick · July 2, 2015

Side gear and spider gear are used somewhat interchangeably I believe. Technically, side gears are the ones attached to the axle shafts and spider gears are the ones that "float" and are secured by the big pin I think.

Excellent, thanks for that information. So, I assume that the spiders I put in wore funny then?

MikeNH · July 2, 2015

Potentially. Differential setup is an art form. We did it in school but I ended up in a Hyundai shop where I never used the knowledge and I left that job almost 8 years ago so I'm a bit rusty on it. But if they did just replace what I'm calling the spider gears and not the side gears, it sounds like the bore that supports them (though I'm pretty sure they're bearing supported so maybe the bore that supports the bearings?) is worn. Can't say I've ever heard of that though.

silverado_nick · July 2, 2015

Potentially. Differential setup is an art form. We did it in school but I ended up in a Hyundai shop where I never used the knowledge and I left that job almost 8 years ago so I'm a bit rusty on it. But if they did just replace what I'm calling the spider gears and not the side gears, it sounds like the bore that supports them (though I'm pretty sure they're bearing supported so maybe the bore that supports the bearings?) is worn. Can't say I've ever heard of that though.

My guess is that if this is the issue then they weren't shimmed correctly, and consequently wore funny.

They seem fine when making turns though.

I suppose I could take the spiders out and reassemble the rear and take it for a drive in 4wd and if the noise is gone then I have found my problem.