so i picked up a rear end from an 88-90 RS, to rebuild and swap out mine. 2.73 gears and open wheel carrier, 26 spline axles. I bought a 3.42 gear set and limited slip posi. The mechanic said the bearing kit I had was just for the carrier swap and I needed axle bearings since i had everything out anyways. He said he couldnt find the correct axle bearings, can someone help me out with a part number or something??

he also said that the outer pinion bearing was the wrong size... but the inner bearing fit on the pinion gear fine. Can someone help me out with part number for that as well????

Any help will help... I gotta get this car back on the road. Thanks-

 

Sounds like:

1. You got the kit for the 80-back version of this rear instead of the 81-up (or thereabouts... I could be off a year or 2) of the kit, since the difference between the 2 is the pinion tail bearing; and
   
2. Your "mechanic" is on crack, because the axle bearing for that rear (R1563TAV) is the same rear axle bearing that has been in 10-bolts since the 60s.

You can buy the correct pinion bearing by itself easily enough (don't recall the part # for that one off the top of my head but even the AutoZone computer will have it so don't worry about it), you don't "have to" buy a different "kit", unless the one you have is unopened in which case you can just trade it for the right one; and if you do that, just specify that you want the more complete "kit" that includes axle bearings. Otherwise just go down to the corner parts store and pick up a pair of the axle bearings and the seals that go with them.

 

That axle bearing (and seal) has been used in the 8.2 Chevy 10 bolt from '64 to '72, the Chevy car 12 bolt from '65 to '72, the 8.5 10 bolt from '71 to '96 and the 7.5 10 bolt from somewhere around '70 to around '02. It's probably the most comon axle bearing ever made. It's even used in the Ford 8.8 in all of the Mustang rear ends and many others.

 

I don't know if he is on crack or not but he needs to study up on some things.

 

Well I went and bought axle bearings and seals, also a front pinion bearing, and seal.
Now, I looked at the computer with the sales tech. None of the choices showed DA bearing for a 7.5 rear end. The Only two options were 7.625 and 7,75. I bought the smaller of course but I'm hoping they'll work.
What do y'all think?

 

7.5 and 7.625 are pretty much the same thing. GM upgraded the 7.5 to 7.625 around '86, but parts interchange. The 7.75 is the Borg Warner 9 bolt. Completely different rear end, and the axle bearings are very different.

 

Ok, since the axle question is settled, what are y'all's thoughts in the pinion bearing?

Mechanic said the rear pinion bearing fit, but the front bearing did not.... The gear kit I bought had a bearing/ seal kit with it. Why would one not fit? And will a factory replacement fit? The gears are US Standard Gear 3.42, for a 7.5/7.62 GM.

 

The early 7.5 rear end had a smaller outer pinion bearing. You must have a kit for the early rear end. Just get the correct bearing and race for the rear end that you have.

 

I guess I'll take my yoke down to the parts store, because those front pinion bearing fits on the back of the yoke.... Correct?

 

Did you not read what I wrote?


Of course; if you get the right year.

The yoke isn't involved. The bearing goes on the pinion, behind the yoke.

But even taking the pinion won't help. The pinions are all the same; it's the bore in the housing that changed. You'd have to take your housing to be able to match the bearing.

Just look up the part # for about a 81-up 7.5 / 7.625" 10-bolt. No problem. It's REAL common, should be readily available.

 

I agree, taking the yoke to the parts store isn't going to help anything. Any idiot parts man can get you the correct bearing if you give him the correct information about what you are working on.

 

So I acquired a Dana 44 housing with nothing else. Was wondering what my options are for the axel/bearing retainer plates are