Rear end problem with 1985 Chevy Silverado
65

Asked by Quinton Jun 27, 2011 at 05:18 PM about the Chevrolet Silverado 1500

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

I  have a '85  Silverado and I think I broke the pinion gear in the rear end but i'm not 100% sure. I was going about 20 and romped on it hard and then i heard a bang and grinding noise from the back of the truck and the back end started shuddering. I stopped and thought I broke a U-joint but was able to continue to drive so I knew it wasnt that but it would clunk and grind every 5-10ft. My friend pulled me into a parkinglot while in neutral but it continued to grind from the back so that told me it wasnt anything with my transmission. I went out to look at it the next day and it was leaking fluid from that i think is the pinion seal where the back driveshaft meets the diff. It still drives in forward and reverse but I refuse to drive it in fear of something  else breaking. it i I think it could be the pinion gear but does anyone else have any other sugestions as to what it could be? The truck has a 10 bolt rear with 4.10 gears and a Detroit Truetrac limited slip.

3 Answers
60

Crown_Vic_Seller answered 12 years ago

Me thinks you're right. If you remove the drive shaft and the pinion is broken the fron part of the pinion will likely come out is you tug on it fairly hard. There may be enough plan in the drive shaft at the support bearing end to see in the pinion is coming in and out of the rear end. It should not move at all. Another way you might check it is to put the car in Neutral and try and spin the driveshaft. It should turn just a little bit (1/8 to maybe 1/4 in). If it turns more that that the pinion is broker or something is other sort of damage has occurred in the rear end. You can also remove the rear cover and see if all of the teeth on the gears look good. They should be shiny and smooth. If they show the slightest bit of being chewed up you need to fix the rear-end.

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papa answered 12 years ago

just pull the rearend cover see what it looks like inside.it may have broken a gear.

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one2cole answered 9 years ago

I had that problem, it was the rear axle gear, had it replaced and I think I'm having the same problem today. I am about to replace the fluid and hope for the best. Anybody now the w to use 90w or higher?

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