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I need to remove the rear diff cover to replace the snap ring that has apparently come off the end of my left side axle yoke, which has shifted out and is showing a half inch of nice shiny polished steel. Sort of like having your underwear showing while wearing a nice suit. Hoping it just is resting in the bottom of the housing. Has anyone found the so-called heavy duty rear covers are worth the money? Easy to install while I have the stock cover removed. Opinions? RA
I need to remove the rear diff cover to replace the snap ring that has apparently come off the end of my left side axle yoke, which has shifted out and is showing a half inch of nice shiny polished steel. Sort of like having your underwear showing while wearing a nice suit. Hoping it just is resting in the bottom of the housing. Has anyone found the so-called heavy duty rear covers are worth the money? Easy to install while I have the stock cover removed. Opinions? RA
If your snap ring came off, chances are the stub axles have worn down to the groove the ring goes in.
I need to remove the rear diff cover to replace the snap ring that has apparently come off the end of my left side axle yoke, which has shifted out and is showing a half inch of nice shiny polished steel. Sort of like having your underwear showing while wearing a nice suit. Hoping it just is resting in the bottom of the housing. Has anyone found the so-called heavy duty rear covers are worth the money? Easy to install while I have the stock cover removed. Opinions? RA
Most rear end covers break due to the spring being installed wrong...
The rear spring when installed should be snugged up when the car is in the air... and then torqued once the car is sitting on the ground.
I've never seen a need for a h/d cover unless there is a track record of breaking the ears off the old one.
IMHO,
Willcox
If your snap ring came off, chances are the stub axles have worn down to the groove the ring goes in.
I guess it depends on what you primarily do with your car. If it's just a cruiser probably not worth the money.
That's kind of what I thought. If I had the small block, I would not even ask, but the 454 transplant has so much torque that I am looking at preventative measures to stop breakage of parts. RA
If your snap ring came off, chances are the stub axles have worn down to the groove the ring goes in.
Guess I'll find out. I have not driven the car more than 1-2 miles while fixing Bubba issues. Hope Bubba did not drive it much after the ring came off. RA
That's kind of what I thought. If I had the small block, I would not even ask, but the 454 transplant has so much torque that I am looking at preventative measures to stop breakage of parts. RA
The heavy duty aspect has nothing to do with torque, it's the ears breaking off when you install it.
That said, have a really good look at your existing cover where the water/dirt/crud can sit.
I've seen ones that didn't have broken ears but did have rust flakes in where the ears and center web connect to to the bowl part. Digging the flakes out with a screw driver and they can get pretty deep to the point where they break through to the inside. If it's questionable, change it. If it looks fine, it is fine, leave it.
Ron, I also agree with the folks here, if you do not have a broken ear, or stripped threads there really isn't any reason to change out the rear cover for the heavy duty one. However... picture courtesy of Corvette Central
the inside of the cover has is a web on one side that does provide strength to the cover. I've seen the web on more than a few rear covers with large pieces missing and or large gouges in it. This is the result of the ring gear bolts backing out and striking the web. Not an uncommon problem to have encountered in these rears.
At some point they were being assembled without lock washers (presumably locktite was being used) and the bolts came loose. If yours is broken or gouged, by all means check the security of the ring gear bolts. I've opened them up in the past and found significant gouging, but no debris, with brand new looking lock washers installed.
I need to remove the rear diff cover to replace the snap ring that has apparently come off the end of my left side axle yoke, which has shifted out and is showing a half inch of nice shiny polished steel. Sort of like having your underwear showing while wearing a nice suit. Hoping it just is resting in the bottom of the housing. Has anyone found the so-called heavy duty rear covers are worth the money? Easy to install while I have the stock cover removed. Opinions? RA
My original diff cover broke the ears off with a mild shift kit, if you can afford it and are removing it anyway I'd recomend it.
opinion needed on HD diff cover
