OK, so i have pretty much done what everyone else who has a 9 bolt has done, searched, read every thread 4 times, called every body under the sun for parts, and turned up dry. My Posi has just started slipping, and i have it in the shop getting looked at, i know it is possible to shim it to make it work, but my mechanic is making it sound like thats a bad idea. His actual words were that is "mickey mousing it"?

I have been told, that my posi is not working because my retainer springs are not pushing/or holding enough tension, causing the cone to not engage. I asked him, what needs to be done to it, he said he could replace the springs and eveything would be fine, My gears are alright, my cones look awesome, the bearings and seals are all fine, only thing wrong is the springs. Now in my reading i have never heard of springs in a 9 bolt, I was told something like that would be a dealer only part, so i called GM, knowing they have discoutinued every part for the rear, i was just hoping to get a part number, but he is not showing any listings for springs. My mechanic told me it would cost the same to shim it, as it would to replace the springs, 200$ which is all i have to spend right now, problem is finding the springs? is there even any springs?

Also, how long would shiming a rear end last? I plan at some point in the next two years, building up another rear end, If shimming it wont last long, i will just buy abother rear, ive located a 9 bolt with 3.27"s for 200$ also and for some reason i just really like 9 bolts, especially my current one with 3.45"s which is why im trying so hard to fix it.

 

Find a new shop & buy the 3:27 rear.

 

I rebuilt mine. The reason your posi may not be working correctly is the posi cones are worn to the point where they are hitting the case and causing it to not engage or it has a little too much play going on. I can guide you through rebuilding it with any questions you may have.

I used a lathe and shaved mine evenly to the point where the lip on the cone was goine.

 

See thats this thing, i asked him if everything checked out, specifically if the cones were fine, he said everything was fine, the cones are good, etc, only thing is that my compression springs do not hold enough tension or something along those lines, im going to go down and have a look at it today, and specifically ask him to show me everything, im just confused because i have never heard of springs in a 9 bolt.

And this shop is pretty much the place to rebuild rear ends, i have had my car there before, and my other mechanic actually refered me to him a while back.

Again, the way i see it, it will pretty much boil down to, getting it shimmed, or buying a new "used' one, i wish i had time to rebuild it, but i have to drop my gas tank first, and i lack the necissary tools to rebuild a rear end and more importantly the time. What is the difference between rebuilding it and shimming it? Shimming it is pretty much putting spacers on to make the cones engage isnt it?

 

There are 3 springs... A big one then a medium sized one inside the big one then a small on inside the medium spring. All Are individual though. I cant see how they could be too weak... How many miles are on your rear?

If you decide to get to a 3.27, ill buy your carrier off you as a bolt backed out of my freshly rebuild rear and was shredded and started making a knocking noise... So I think I am going to rebuild it again.

 

Here's a link to the thread on rebuilding/shimming the 9 bolt posi. Post #7 has a link to the pdf with pics-

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/tran...-you-mill.html

 

I dont know how many miles are on the rear, i guess my main question is, if those springs are not providing enough tension, or whatever they are supposed to provide, would it make the posi not work? from the diagrams the springs look like they actually dont matter all that much....

 

My posi was doing the same thing, I put thick washers against my tension springs to tighten them up which almost turns the posi into a spool. (depending on how tight you make it). Been racing for 3 yrs. w/o any problems.

Obviously, a new one is always better.

 

so by putting the thick washers, it effectivly increases the spring rate by compressing the spring? it that basically the jist of it? which would than correct the problem of them causing the posi not to work? you wouldnt happen to have any pictures of it would you?

 

Yeah you got the idea. Any spring that stays compressed over time losses it's tension after a while. The washer adds more tension, basically the quick fix for the springs becoming weaker. Of course, if that is your problem.

Sorry, no pics.....the carriage is all assembled, don't want to take the rear end apart.......