Wear on Diff case
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 115
Likes: 6
From: Carlyle IL
Wear on Diff case
The u-joint bolt is wearing on the case. Never noticed or heard anything while driving. Just replaced that sides trailing arm. Rebuilt because of a bad bearing and noticed this wear during the reassembly.
Is this from bad yoke end play?
Last edited by Jayson77; Sep 23, 2022 at 10:46 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 3,409
Likes: 1,821
From: Apple Valley, MN
Your profile says you have a 77 so you likely have badly worn stub axles, due to poor GM quality control during that period. The heat treatment of the axles during manufacture was not to design standards, resulting in softer axles. They rub against the posi cross shaft, which is a lot harder, and wear. You will need to pull the differential and replace the axles at a minimum.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 15,173
Likes: 3,982
From: Connecticut, USA
The amount of wear you have is close to the snap ring. If it's past the snap ring they're junk. Some will core and rebuild axles- buyer beware. Some use hardened tips - some of those are good if you know how to check them, otherwise.
You need to rebuild the diff. 77 also had bad ring gear bolts and clutches. Posi cases need to be checked.
Then you have the question of what axle will you buy, new or rebuilt? Issues with both. If you install a replacement axle and end up with 020+ endplay that's not too good. I set them for 005-007" that's where they should be.
You need to rebuild the diff. 77 also had bad ring gear bolts and clutches. Posi cases need to be checked.
Then you have the question of what axle will you buy, new or rebuilt? Issues with both. If you install a replacement axle and end up with 020+ endplay that's not too good. I set them for 005-007" that's where they should be.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 3,409
Likes: 1,821
From: Apple Valley, MN
Rebuilding these correctly takes a fair amount of specialized tools and experience. Gary Ramadei (gtr1999) is the best there is and is extremely helpful in guiding you through the process should you decide to go down that path. You can, of course, elect to swap it out with a “rebuilt” unit but you really need to know about the rebuilder and what they use for parts and what practices they employ. Most of these rebuilders don’t know how to/refuse to “tune” a posi and you may end up with a unit that is inferior to what you have now.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 21,953
Likes: 1,445
From: Reno Nevada
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
My 79 wore away my diff case in less than 50,000 miles. It was past the snap rings and totally trashed the rearend with metal in the oil. So I didn't even get a core charge return on a new diff. I ended up throwing it in the dumpster.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 115
Likes: 6
From: Carlyle IL
Was your wear similar to mine or worse?
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 15,173
Likes: 3,982
From: Connecticut, USA
I wrote this 15 years ago, it will help you check things. I wrote several how do threads over the years. Some may still be here they're still on DC.
https://www.digitalcorvettes.com/thr...pection.77316/
https://www.digitalcorvettes.com/thr...pection.77316/
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 21,953
Likes: 1,445
From: Reno Nevada
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 115
Likes: 6
From: Carlyle IL