Ok, so at 260,000+ miles, parts are getting little tired. Rear end is making some howling noises so since I am going to change out the fuel pump and have pull the rear end I am thinking about a rebuild on it. This is a daily driver so I like the mileage. It is a stock 10 bolt from the factory so I think it has 3.23 gears and 28 spline to go with the stock 3.1L and 5 speed manual trans but I haven't had it open to confirm that. I am second owner but it only had 20k on it when I bought so doubt anything was done to it before I got it (I haven't changed it).

I plan to keep the car like forever so what is the best rebuild on this rear end? Parts, upgrades, convert to posi, or just replace the stock parts, etc.?

Thanks...

 

Easy enough to change out all the bearings, if you keep the same gears especially. Which likely are fine if the fluid has been kept full and clean.

Get a "gear install kit". Put back the same shim thickness behind the pinion head bearing that came there (99.999% chance it's a .035" anyway) except of course, a new one. Tighten the pinion nut until there's about 20 - 24 in-lbs of drag in the new bearings, packed with good NON-FIBER grease like Mobil1 or the like. Set the backlash to .008" - .010", and try to get at least .010" of preload on the carrier bearings. Replace the axles since they're almost certainly wore out in the place the bearings ride on them. Use these. http://www.summitracing.com/parts/SAG-EV10-4/

Whether you should put in a posi is up to you; if you decide to, either find one out of a LS1 car, or buy one of these. http://www.summitracing.com/parts/ETN-19599-010/

 

Thanks for all the info. Do you know if Summit Racing has a "rebuild kit" that includes the bearings (pinion, carrier, races, shims, crush sleeve, etc.) for this diff? I looked but could only come up with a pinion bearing.

Thanks..

 

Summit has the kits, but there are better kits available. The Summit kits don't have the good shims in them. Randy's Ring & Pinion, DTS and Tom's Differentials have better kits. They also have better prices on the Eaton Posi. Tom's is the largest Eaton distributor in the country and he also has AAM axles. Randy's has the Yukon Dura Grip, which is a very good posi at a lower price than the Eaton if you want something cheaper and much better than the Auburn.