Hey Guys!

I hate to start another rear axle / Diff thread, but I have looked for many hours and connot find anything on this point.

Issue: After replacing the rear passenger side axle bearnig 3 times over the past 18 mos and replacing the half shaft, I am admitting defeat and going to swap-out the entire rear axle housing. When the OEM bearnig went bad 18 mos ago, it damaged the axle tube and now every bearnig / seal that has been put in (by me or shop) leaks and/or wears out after a short while.

I have a 3.42 ratio and 8.5" ring gear with a limited slip Differential...which I am finding out is not very common. Seems most 8.5 are for the ZR2 w/3.73.

I've compared other 3.42 w/ 7.625" ring to mine and the biggest differences are that the axle tubes coming out of the Diff housing are different. My 8.5" has axle tubes that start larger at the Difff housing and then the tubes step down in size in a couple of places, like where the U-Bolts are located. Other big difference is the Diff housing is longer (i.e., from rear diff cover to tip on yoke) and surrounding the yoke is a rubber balancing ring (at least I'm assuming it is there for balancing purposes) about 2" thick. None of the 7.625's have this. Consequently, I could not put in the 7.625 set-up without changing the drive shaft.

My question: Has anyone else seen this set-up? I have not been able to find a salvage yard that has the axle housing I need. The 4 axle housings I have looked at were supposed to be 8.5" gear set-up w/ 3.42 ratio (per the VIN and GU6 RPO code)...but they did not match mine. The Diff housing looked more like a 7.625" and not 8.5".

Mine is a '96 4X4, 2DR with a 5-sp manual - not a ZR2. I know this was not common and dealer had to go 2 states away to get it back in '96 when I bought it. If anyone else has seen this set-up, I would be interested to know if it is from a 2DR or 4DR. I'm thinking only the 2DR had this goofy matching of larger ring gear with still having the 3.42 ratio...which means fewer available in the salvage yards.

Also, if anyone has experineced a similar consistent bearing / seal problem and found an actual Fix, I'd really be interested in that. I'd love to not have to swap out the Axle housing!! Oh yea, I also tried putting in a Timken "repair" bearing / seal combo. That didn't work. The problem seems to be with the bearing not being able to seat properly in the axle tube.

 

Maybe a good machine shop could help you....but I dunno co$t.

 

Try looking for other 2 door 5-speed, non ZR2 trucks...

They'll probably have the similar setup.

My truck has the 3.42s and 8.5 as well... And my locker still works! lol

 

really an old thread, but what happened?

i blew the rear diff in my '92 Jimmy (see sig) every year. rebuilt it the first 2 times, but after that, i just swapped it out with a wrecker unit.

never had any issues with finding them, or having them fit.

 

Hello SCPratt,

I have, with my rear pasanger side axle bearing, exast, the same situation that you had one year ago.

After searching for three weeks for :
"GU6 3.42 Ratio, 8.5/8.625 Limited slip", which is the rear axle housing for my 1996 SUV 4DR 4WD Chevy Blazer"..it looks that it is very difficult to find one.

Please let me know about your solution.
What you did?

Your experience will be very-very helpfull for me.
Please answer asap that you can.

Anybody else is very welcome with his/her advice.

Thank you.

 

my blazer is a 2001 LS 2 DR 5 Speed 8.5 ring gear 342 gears
i had a hard time finding a rear axle for it because its 30 spline
and 28/13/16 long so i bought 2 for 210.00

 

just a little FYI rbrace, the OP hasn't been back to the forum since June 1st, 2009.

and Gimmy is a one time poster. i doubt he'll be back either.


huh? you bought 2 what? 2 new (used) axles?

why? 'cause it was so hard to find one in the first place?

 

Yea i bought 2 axles because i
had a hard time finding 1
nobody in my state carried 1
for my blazer

 

no, thanks needed. sometimes we all miss the date of some postings.

good score on the axles btw.