2000 Silverado Z71

Mo Mason · December 30, 2006

I had the driveshaft out for another problem and while backing up in my driveway, the back wheels suddenly locked up and slid. I pulled the differential cover off and the bolt that holds the pinion shaft was attached to the magnet. It is not broken but looks as if it just backed out. The pinion shaft has fallen forward toward the front of the vehicle and is lodged against the housing. Is it possible for this to happen without damaging anything? I cannot get the shaft to go back through to release the gears so that they can be turned. I am assuming that if I can get the shaft back through and the locking bolt installed that my problem could possibly be fixed. Am I dreaming? Help please!

asilverblazer · December 30, 2006

I bet it would be fixed, seems like that has hapened before to some one...

Mo Mason · December 31, 2006

I now have it up on jack stands. I am assuming that if I can get the C locks removed I can then pull the axles out enough to allow the removal of the whole carrier. Could someone tell me if I am heading in the right direction? Please?

slowpokebanshee · January 1, 2007

in order to remove the C clips you need to be able to remove the axles, and to do that you need to remove the tires and brake rotors/calipers. after that you push the axle toward the center of the vehicle, then w/a magnet you can retriev the c-clips. then the axle should be free to pull out from the housing, next you can remove the diff caps.......mark them 1st, up/down, and left/right.....and you can remove the carrier. I have a hard time believing the entire bolt backed out w/the amount of loctite the factory puts on that bolt, although I have seen some bolts break?

hope this helps

Mo Mason · January 1, 2007

I would rather be "lucky" than "good" at anything. Boy was I lucky today. I didn't have to take the carrier out. I worked and worked on that pinion shaft and finally got it to move just enough to clear the case. Then I rotated it around to where I could see what was what. Make a long one short. . . I got it back in and locked down, filled with fresh lubricant, and it sounds great. And yes, the pinion shaft lock bolt had backed out. It wasn't broken and I reinstalled it. But, I will replace it tomorrow as soon as I can get to the parts store. I was just very lucky that I was turning around when it came out instead of doing 70 mph down the interstate.