Anybody know what this is?

 

Are there any broken teeth on the ring or pinion gear? Are the C clips still there?

 

All the teeth look to be ok. This piece is very thin, about 1/16" thick.

 

Found another thread, looks like the same exact piece is broken.

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/tran...ferential.html

 

When you said it was only about 1/16" thick, I started thinking the same thing mentioned in the other thread. It looks like the washer that is behind the spider gears.

Here is a good one. Its from a Ford axle so the size may be a little different, but the shape is the same.

 

How difficult are the washers behind the spiders gears to replace? I've never worked on the inside of a Differential before, and the thought f setting up gears properly scares me.

Think I could make it through the summer on this axle?

 

If thats the only thing that needs to be replaced its not a big deal. Finding someone who sells just the washers will probably be the hardest part.

Is this an open differential (one wheel wonder)? If so then its not hard.

You dont have to take everything out so there is no setting up the gears. All you need to do is take the small bolt (I think its a 5/16 head) that holds the big pin in in the middle of the carrier. Then spin one of the axles and you will see the top and bottom gear spin out of the carrier. The washers are on top of these gears. Just put the new washers on and line the gears back up and spin the axle the other way to put the gears back in. It would probably be easier if after you take the pin bolt out to turn everything so that the opening in the picture above is facing up and down rather than at you.

 

Thank you that post was very helpful. I just went out and checked the spider gears again, 3 of them have no play, and one of them I can wiggle bacl and fourth. Looks like I have to buy a kit withe gears to get the washers though.

 

Sounds like you found the problem then. Just to be clear though, the two side gears in the spider gear assembly do not have these washers. The one at the top and bottom of the picture you posted do have the washers.

 

yup, it's one of those, it wasn't on an axle shaft side.

 

If your spider gears and the center pin still look to be in good shape, I'd honestly just go to the junkyard and snag a washer out of another open rear. A new spider gear set is kinda spendy if you just need one washer. You could also maybe check with a couple of places that sell drivetrain stuff and see if they could just sell you the washer. Just ask them if they sell "spider gear thrust washers" separately.

 

Is it ok to re-use thrust washers? Does anybody know any online places I can get these parts?

 

I'd say you're probably ok to reuse one as long as it looks pretty decent. They're not a super-critical part tolerance wise. As far as online, you could always go on ebay and type in "gm 7.5 10 bolt" in the search bar, then find the store sellers. I doubt they'll have an auction for the washer, so you'll have to click on "ask seller a question", and ask them if they can sell you the washer. Here's the usernames of a few of the big rearend parts guys on ebay. Try "diff-man", "justdifferentials", and "drivetrain_parts". If anyone on ebay has that washer, it'll be one of those 3 sellers.

 

I'm guessing that because you have the cover with a magnet on it that you don't have a standard differential. GM usually didn't put the magnet in a standard rear end. They did use the magnet with the Governor Lock and Auburn. If you have one of these then replacing the washer is going to be a little more difficult, and the washer is harder to find. Do you know which differential you have?

 

See the pic he posted above. It's a standard, open carrier. There seems to be no rhyme or reason to which f-body rears GM decided to equip with the magnet. I had a plain-jane, open rear out of an 85 Camaro, and it had the magnet too. It did come out of a Z/28, but it wasn't posi or gov-loc. Only fancy stuff on it was aluminum drums and a big sway bar.

 

I completely missed that picture. Yea, it's a standard differnetial. Changing the washer will not be very hard.

 

Does this look like the right kit? The axle is from a 1991 Camaro, 3.23 gears.

http://www.justdifferentials.com/ind...oducts_id=1826

 

As the description says, you'll have to look at both the openings in your carrier(where you slip the spider gears in place), and if one opening is larger than the other then it's the right kit. If everything else in your carrier is still in good shape though, I have to reiterate that the whole kit is a huge waste of money!

 

Well, I figure I'd rather just replace the spider gears and both washers now, while the axle is out of the car. Plus I haven't been able to find just the washer anywhere.

 

Yeah, I see where you're coming from. If you don't mind spending the money, it doesn't hurt to put all brand new stuff back in there. But I know how I am (i.e. cheapskate). I'd just go to my local yard and pop a washer out of a junk 3rd gen. Only cost would be the gas to drive to the junkyard. Don't get me wrong, I don't scrimp on the really important parts, but I would on a spider gear washer. You can get an entire open carrier, spider gears and all, used off ebay for probably about $25. On the other hand, the brand new stuff would last a long time provided you don't grenade the rear end hot rodding it later on!

 

Have you checked a chevy dealer for just the washer? I had to replace them in an axle at work (Ford dealer) and we were able to get just the washers.

 

I've got a pile of that stuff in my shop. I think I have several sets of 28 spline gears and I've got some spare washers. The biggest problem with these rear ends is that they changed the design of the gears a few times. I don't know if the washers changed much or not.

 

Alright, I got the spiders gears out, here's the broken washer. Maybe I'll head up to the dealer later and see if I can buy the washers. The spider gears do look fine. Does this sound like what I need? http://www.ringpinion.com/ProductDet...px?ProdID=1191 And is that the GM part number I can go up to the dealer with?

 

Yeah the Chevy dealer is worth a shot. If that doesn't pan out you could always mail your washer to Big Gear Head so he can match it up and send you back a good one. I used to have an extra one myself, but I ended up selling it along with the spider gears and center pin to a member on here a while back. I replaced that open carrier with a Torsen unit, so I parted out the spider gear set and threw the carrier itself in the scrap heap.