i had this problem about 8 months ago where like 4 ring gear bolts came lose and broke. so i replaced all the bolts and used loctite on them. on tue i was driving along when all of a sudden BANG and then the back wheels just locked up! anyways all the ring gear bolts broke and a few wedged themselves between the carier and housing with one that punctured the housing!

i am wonder if anyone has any ideas as to why these bolts keep coming lose?
Thanks, Ted

 

IDK, i just had my pinion gear break, and go through the housing, so i feel your pain.....got a rear end from a friend to put in mine, and they guy who is rebuilding it for me said the ring bolts were so tight 2 broke off tring to take them out.....you may want to see if they have split locks for the ring gear

here is a set for a dizzy hold down
http://www.jegs.com/i/Breslin/154/200-106/10002/-1

may want to look into something like that

 

Ring gear bolts should not have lock washers but should have red Loctite and be torqued. Over tightening the bolts causes them to stretch.

I believe GM ring gear bolts are left hand thread so you need a torque wrench that can torque LH thread bolts.

Although factory fasteners are fine, I'd recommend an aftermarket fastener such as ARP.

 

Need some more information. Which rear end is this, are you using a ring gear spacer, are the bolts GM or after market? I've had similar problems before, but I need to know what you have. There are several things that can cause this.

 

sorry for the late reply!
its a 7.5 10 bolt with an auburn posi and 3.73 richmond gears with a spacer and also moser 28 spline axles. the whole unit was profesionaly assy. and loctite was used

 

I was pretty sure that you were going to say that there was a spacer. This is common with ring gear spacers and just another reason not to use one. I've seen it many times.

Notice that ALL of the bolts are broke in this one. This is a 12 bolt with a spacer. Click on the picture for a better view.

 

Most experienced rearend builders will tell you to avoid ring gear spacers. Most spacers are poorly machined (i.e. the bolt holes in them are bigger in diameter than the ring gear bolts). This causes the ring gear to move and slip enough to shear the bolts when enough torque is applied to the rearend. Some people even end up using the standard length ring gear bolts with a spacer, which is another disaster waiting to happen. If you need to run a 3 series gear with a 2 series carrier, the better option by far is to buy the "thick" gearset. The ring gear is machined thicker so it'll work with a 2 series carrier while eliminating the need for a spacer ring.