Last winter (yes i have to drive my car in snow) I got stuck on a unplowed road. In the process trying to get unstuck I started hearing a very strange sound from the rear, and then noticed that one of my tires was not spinning!! When I got out to take a look, I saw that one tire had dug itself down to bare street while one was sitting on ice. After pushing my way out with a couple friends I noticed that the posi wasnt working at all. I thought I had blown the posi. Then spring comes and my posi mysteriously starts working again. I had to do a little brake torque to check it out and it sure is working great. I have had no problems with it since. (and am glad i dont have replace it $$$) Im sure it was NOT working all winter or at least when it was snowing. How can this be? will I have the same problem this winter?
thanks

 

Well, there may have been such a difference in the traction of the surface you were driving on. One tire could have been on solid ice and the other on a not so slick surface. Just because its a posi dosent mean the rear axles are "locked" together, such as a spool.

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1983 T-top Trans Am. All stock (for now) LG4/auto/3.73 posi. 70,000 original miles. White w/ light blue int.

 

It was not just the one time when I got stuck that the posi was not working. For a while I couldnt get it to work at all. I checked in rain, more snow, and even on dry pavement during the winter...the result one wheel would spin the other one would shake and a bad sound came from the rear. Someone told me it was the clutch packs in the posi unit and that it would need to be rebuilt. It works now, but with winter aproaching sooner than I want I would like to have the posi again. (it was much easier to get through the snow before it "broke") could this be caused by cold weather?
thanks

 

It sounds like the posi is in need of a re-shimming. There is an article on this board that goes into how it is done. Mine is in need of a rebuild too... I get the one wheel peal!

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1984 z28 w/ a 357 cu in. monster engine which is looking like the posterchild for Edelbrock with the exception of the Holley 750vac... all the suspension stuff... 9-bolt posi disk is in...

-=ICON Motorsports=-

 

9 bolts don't have clutch packs, they have cones. Also, you can shim them if they are slightly worn, as outlined in the GM manuals, but once you get past the thickest shim (in the manual) the cones start to bottom out. Then it's time for a new carrier.

Miles

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88 427 Camaro
12.18 @ 113mph 1.75 60ft
Currently installing 3.73's into my 9 bolt (YES, it is a 9 bolt & YES they are 3.73's, not 3.70. I currently have 4.10 gear sets and new series 3 carriers in stock for 9 bolts )
www.koolmeister.com

[This message has been edited by 88 427 Camaro (edited August 24, 2001).]