I got the "new" rear in last week. It went very smooth and took about 4-5 hours at a nice slow pace. I have more pics to add to the page that show the final outcome. I had already removed the torque arm, rear sway bar, and panhard rod prior to the install. All that is easy so there's no need to document that.

Tools I used:
18mm sockets/wrenches (rear LCAs and panhard rod)
21/22mm socket (lower shock mounts)
14mm crowsfoot socket (hard brake line)
13mm wrench (rear upper shock mount nut)
small crescent wrench (Rear shock upper mount and hard brake line)
Penetrating oil
7/16" socket/wrench (rear u-joint)
strap to tie up driveshaft
2 pair jackstands
floorjack to roll rear in/out

I did it alone and had to problems. I will be getting back to the front end soon. I gave up on waiting on the ES poly front coil spring isolators so I got the rubber GM pieces. Now I can get going on it. Plus the wife wants her parking spot back.

Here's the link to the pics:

http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/taramille...tos.yahoo.com/

Ed

 

Excellent !
Tennis clap

 

Very nice! Excellent documentation! But the Yahoo diet lady kept freaking me out! Lol! Just curious... what made you decide to go with the 2.77 gears?

 

Haha w/ the pic about the spring isolater.

I always wondered how people could screw that up also

 

TTT...

Just added more pics. The last one is a great shot of the rear with all the parts on it.

http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/taramille...tos.yahoo.com/


Yeah Charlie, that Yahoo chick is a bit amazing...um...distracting. Yeah, that's it.

I went with the 2.77s for a couple of reasons: First, I needed to keep my budget down as much as I could so I couldn't swing a gear install at this time. I am in the process of getting another '89 9 bolt housing to build up. I already have a set of 3.27s and a carrier to go in it. I may just get a complete 3.27 rear so I won't have to mess with a gear install anyway.
Second, I have been debating on putting another rear in my '91 RS which has the open 2.73 10 bolt. The gear ratio is the same so there's no speedo problem to mess with. Since it's just a driver and not a "hot rod", I'll probably just put the newly installed 9 bolt into it when I get around to doing the 3.27 rearend swap in the Iroc.

 

what kind of isolators are those. are they GM?

I too recently started using rubber gloves. this way I can play with the ***** cat at night time.

 

Nothing wrong with a 2:77 BW 9-bolt for a daily driver when you have the Horsepower & Torque to go with. More 2:77's out there
then 3:73's. Good choice EB

 

Larry: ROFLMFAO!!!!! That was great. Yes, those isolators are new GM units, right at $11 each.


Thanks to all for the comments

Ed

 

Here's another question for you guys:

Anyone running these spacers on their car and if so, why? They came on my '89 9 bolt when I picked it up. Are they required to run PBRs on the rear?

Just curious...I put them on.

Ed

 

EB...those came factory on the rear of my 91RS with 16" wheels.

Don't know why.

Anyway I don't run them now with the crosslace wheels.

Glad to see it coming together.

 

I guess I don't feel so bad about my BW 9 bolt w/ 2.77 I installed after the factory rear end (3.23 I believe) went about 2 years ago. Instead of himmin and hawin about a different rear end or gears, maybe I will invest in SLP headers.

 

EB-88
Those are .187 thick spacers used on iron drum brake cars to maintain the wheel spacing after the switch from aluminium drums and the 16" wheels. Enough history and to answer your question.
You DO NOT need them with your BW 9-bolt disk rear.

Sell them on e-bay for $20 for the pair like I did with mine.

 

my 89 WS6 car didn't come with spacers fronm the factory, I have no idea why your rear has them.

what kind of green brake pads are those?

Larry

 

actually those spacers may come in handy if you auto-x in stock class. You can run rims within 1/4" stock offset, so you can leave the spacers in there, get more rear track. you can probably do the same in the front. I think the porsche guys do that??

I have to find out if spacers are legal in stock class. hmmmm.

Larry
who may want them spacers

 

I was thinking about leaving them in just for a wider stance...I know, no one can tell..

Since I have them, why not, right?

The pads are EBC Greenstuff pads, go 'em from Tirerack. I used to run them on my ZX6 Ninja and they stop very well. Go to www.tirerack.com and read all you want. The friction coefficient is .4 something whereas most street pads have about .3.

Ed, tentative sale of spacers pending (Larry)

 

My '91 TransAm came with them also, but I bought the car with 16x9'' aftermarket rims. The stance was nice'n'wide but the lug nuts didn't seem to sit all the way on the studs. Didn't look too safe. Since then I've taken the spacers out, and I'm running Eagle #203's (stock offsets). Anyone else find the lugnuts sitting shallow w/ the spacer hub?

:lala:

 

Yes, I thought the same when I trial fitted them. I might install longer studs in the future. If it's a big problem I just won't put them on.

Ed