Well, I think it's time for a rear end rebuild. There's so much play in the rear end I'm kinda hoping it doesn't fall apart. A friend who has a blazer also and does a lot of work on it and I put the back end of the truck up on stands and started checking. I can rotate the driveshaft a good half-inch in either direction before there's any catching of the gears and she purrs like a very happy 700 pound cat at about 30 mph.

So I did a search on rebuilding rear ends on the forums but to be honest, I'm really strapped for time today and can't comb over all the posts. So sorry if this has been covered.

But is there any good resources out there on the process of rebuilding the rear end yourself? Books, tutorials, etc.? I'm pretty much a cheap bastard and I don't really want to shell out $1500+ for something that I can learn myself with the purchase of a few tools and gauges to make sure everything is adjusted.

So is this a do-able project for a pretty good wrench like me who happens to never have done a rear end before?

What special tools / feeler gauges / etc, would I need to make sure everything's adjusted properly?

And when I take it apart, what should I look for (besides obvious wearing of metal around the bearings)? Pitting in gears, stuff like that.

And lastly, what would be the single most important thing to remember/know when puting it back together again?

A lot to ask, but hopefully it will save me a lot of cash.

Thanks in advance,

Scott

 

It's very tough to set the lash when totally rebuilding the Pumpkin.
Before getting crazy, With the car in Neutral. Can you lift up and down on the driveshaft closest to the rear axle. See if there is movement like the Yoke nut is loose or the Rear Pinion bearing is shot.
Replacing Pinion Bearings and Races is doable. Replacing the Ring and pinion AND pinion Bearings AND Carrier bearings without special tools is not recommended. You'll never get the lash right