Rear Diff Rebuild
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
From: Woodbridge Virginia
Rear Diff Rebuild
How difficult of a job is it to purchase a "rebuild kit" from one of the corvette parts vendors and do the rebuild myself? Is this something that can typically be done with a couple manuals and hand tools or should it be left to the professional shops? I ask before the rebuild kits seem cheap compared to the cost of the rebuilt rear ends. That leads me to believe that the labor cost on a rebuild is going to be fairly high.
What are your opinions?
What are your opinions?
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,438
Likes: 2
From: Melrose Florida
Apparently there is an art to setting the shims up right, to get a proper "pattern" on the gears.
There is a paper on here about doing, with tons of photos. At least 2 forum members have super reputations for doing rebuilds, choose based on location?
Gary is in the northeast (hopefully somebody will remember his handle for you), and Tracdogg I think is in the southwest.
Steve
There is a paper on here about doing, with tons of photos. At least 2 forum members have super reputations for doing rebuilds, choose based on location?
Gary is in the northeast (hopefully somebody will remember his handle for you), and Tracdogg I think is in the southwest.
Steve
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
Gary is GTR1999. He does great work. Yes there is a art to setting them up correctly. It can be done by you but takes a lot of time and patience to set it up correctly. I have done my Vette and a few years ago did my Camaro with great results. You will need some tools and did I say time. Gary has a great write up on this and shows many pictures. The kits you get from the vendors may or may not be good. Some have bad bearings and not the correct posi plates. Be careful Do a search for Garys paper and it will tell you a lot.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 763
Likes: 0
From: Loveland Colo
I did my own with help from GTR1999 and traccdog. I had never ever cracked open a differential of any kind before. It took over three weeks to get it (hopefully!) right, and it will be this weekend before it goes in the car, next week before I find out if I did it right.
You will need a lot of patience, but research it before you make a decision. I saved a lot of money and spent a lot of time, but (if I got it right!) the Pride Value will be very great.
John
You will need a lot of patience, but research it before you make a decision. I saved a lot of money and spent a lot of time, but (if I got it right!) the Pride Value will be very great.
John
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,173
Likes: 5
From: Paducah Ky
I did my own with help from gtr1999 also. As said above, be carefull and patient. Mine works great. I don't think gtr1999 is on this board anymore but he has published extensive posts with lots of pics that should be in the archives.
BTW, the rebuild kit itself is not too high but when you get in there you may need more. I replaced ring, pinion, and spider gears in mine. They were usable but had a lot of wear and I really didn't want to chance going back in.
BTW, the rebuild kit itself is not too high but when you get in there you may need more. I replaced ring, pinion, and spider gears in mine. They were usable but had a lot of wear and I really didn't want to chance going back in.
Last edited by gyopp; Jul 11, 2007 at 11:46 AM.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 3,570
Likes: 1
From: Algonac Michigan
Too bad Gary Ramadie can't be reached on this board any longer!!
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1755052
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1755052
