Topic: Need some differential advice for a friend...

[Sine Deviance]

Hey all. A friend of mine has a Chevy G20 conversion van and the rear pumpkin has excessive wear. The gears are a little chewy but the bearings seem to be serviceable. It's rebuild time, but what he wants to do is to keep it working for another couple thousand miles because he's saving up to buy a new car. He's heard of shimming the rear end to get a little more life out of it, but neither he nor I have any idea how this works.

Can anyone shed some light on options? What's the "$75 redneck 'just get me by' band-aid fix" in this case?

[sharpxmen]

Hey all. A friend of mine has a Chevy G20 conversion van and the rear pumpkin has excessive wear. The gears are a little chewy but the bearings seem to be serviceable. It's rebuild time, but what he wants to do is to keep it working for another couple thousand miles because he's saving up to buy a new car. He's heard of shimming the rear end to get a little more life out of it, but neither he nor I have any idea how this works.

Can anyone shed some light on options? What's the "$75 redneck 'just get me by' band-aid fix" in this case?

my best guess is that it means re-arranging or setting the carrier shims to move the ring more into the pinion so there's less backlash.

[Jeffy]

For $75 you can probably buy a used 12 bolt rear-end.

[YJmechanic]

yeah if ur gonna cheap it,  just find a junkyard axle and through it in

[JohnnyO]

A legendary crooked used car lot fix is to pack the diff with sawdust and banana peels.  I don't know that you'd get a couple thousand miles out of it though.

[Sine Deviance]

He found a 12-bolt on craigslist for $50. Insides looked good, fixed him right up. It even bolted right up. Thanks Jeffy!  

A legendary crooked used car lot fix is to pack the diff with sawdust and banana peels.  I don't know that you'd get a couple thousand miles out of it though.

 

[Jeffy]

He found a 12-bolt on craigslist for $50. Insides looked good, fixed him right up. It even bolted right up. Thanks Jeffy! 

 

Yeah, 10 and 12 bolts aren't sought after and are a dime a dozen.  It's only the 14 that is a bit harder to find.  Still easier then a Dana 60.

[Sine Deviance]

Yeah, 10 and 12 bolts aren't sought after and are a dime a dozen.  It's only the 14 that is a bit harder to find.  Still easier then a Dana 60.

How would a 12-bolt compare to, say, a D44? Would it be stronger or weaker? Would there be downsides?

[FourbangerYJ]

How would a 12-bolt compare to, say, a D44? Would it be stronger or weaker? Would there be downsides?

They are about the same, but the 12B has C-clips. Not sure on the tube strength.