CAn someone explain to me how this posi works? I believe this is what I have and it locks from a standstill but as soon the the wheels start spinning it only locks for about 5-10 feet then it looks/feels like one wheel spin from there on out.

Easiest way to find out what you have, is to take off the cover and look.

Changed the fluid lately? I thought so. So while you're catching up on the "deferred maintenance" and getting that fluid that has about 5 times as many miles as it's supposed to on it, make a point of looking at the carrier to see what it is.

And don't forget to look at the gears too; that way your next post won't be something about "I think I have 5.33 gears because my tach reads 5000 RPM at 65 mph where's the code and what web site can I look it up on?"

Lol nope still haven't pulled that damn cover off. Only takes a few minutes I know. I just got the car not too long ago and was trying to figure out what posi acts like that and then I read about to gov lock posi. What rear ends were available in 84? As soon as time permits I'll finally pull that cover off!

10-bolt was the only one.

There were very few posi carriers available that year. Correct one would have been an Auburn. It is said by some that a few Gov-Bombs found their way into these cars but I have never personally witnessed one.

The Grenade-Lok acts the opposite of shat you describe. It is an open, until the difference in the RPMs of the axles exceeds something around 100 RPM, at which point the little weight things no longer counterbalance each other and they fly out and make it lock up with a bang.

Your description sounds like either no posi at all (open), or an Auburn that's wore out; in which case, it's an open, it just weighs a bit more.

You prob. have a Borg-Warner 9 bolt NOT a Eaton gov-loc 10 bolt!

Count the bolts on the cover!

The 9-bolt was not used until 85; and not until later still in the Camaro.

Absolutely positively without a doubt came with a 10-bolt.

Always a good idea to do basic free things like .... count the bolts, though.

I'll count them tonight and possibly pull the cover off. I've never seen an open diff spin two tires before so it's definitely not that. What fluid should I use to refill?

If the suspension is loading both rear tires evenly then a standard differential will spin both tires. A Gov Lock will lock up and stay locked up until you turn a corner or do something to cause the governor to unlock. It shouldn't unlock during a burnout. A Gov Lock will not lock at all after you are going around 10 to 20 MPH and then start spinning one tire. It's set up so that it won't lock up at speed and cause an accident.

The correct oil will depend on which differential you have. Get the cover off and see what is in there. If you have a worn out Auburn then be prepared for a complete rear end flush and a new differential with bearings.

I counted ten bolts

NOPE..............

Note my avatar pic.............
My 84 HO auto 3:73 Borg Warner 9 bolt 100% stock,
If its a BW and won't lock then the cones are worn out.
3:73s were only offered in the BW 9 bolt rear and not the corp. 10 or 12 bolts.
(maybe only true with the L-69s ?)

Info is confusing as to which/when/yada rear is used.
Count the bolts to be sure!

If its a GM corporate 10 bolt then is a "gov-bomb" and it only stays locked till
x-rpm/mph just like the GM pickups

No 9 bolt was used in '82 and '83. Those were 7.5 10 bolts only. I can't say for sure about '84, but the first I know of was in '85.

Uh, you mean 3.70...right?

Virtually EVERY SINGLE WORD in this post is WRONG. This is a perfect example of how people become misinformed. For anyone who wants to know THE TRUTH, all you have to do is look at this guy's post, then you'll at least know what's NOT true.

No 9-bolts in 84.

The 9-bolt appeared in 85, and only in Firebirds. Wasn't used in any Camaro until a coupla years later.

If you have a 84 Camaro w a 9-bolt, it was swapped in.

The 9-bolt doesn't even have a 3.73 gear, from the factory. (only aftermarket and I'm not sure even that is available any more) In the VERY FEW 85 FIrebirds w L69, the ONLY application that got that combo, they used a 3.70.

LOTS of 10-bolts have 3.73s. My 83 L69 car does. LOTS AND LOTS of S trucks have em too.

The truck sitting in my driveway w 8.5 10-bolt has 3.73s.

The stock posi for the 10-bolt in the early years of these cars was the Auburn; while I've heard that the Grenade-Lock slipped into a few, I've never seen one like that that wasn't a swap.

It's amazing how much WRONG stuff gets posted on the Internet by PEOPLE WHO WEREN'T THERE AT THE TIME, and therefore have NO CLUE how these cars ACTUALLY came from the factory.

The Gov-Lock works by the difference in RPMS of the axles. At about 100 RPM of DIFFERENCE, the rear LOCKS UP, and stays locked up until torque is removed. (hopefully... sometimes not) Just like every other word in that post, the description of how that thing works, is WRONG.

Oh BTW, I have one of THOSE sitting in my driveway too. Along with my 83 L69 with the 3.73s that I've had since probably a decade before the guy that doesn't know what he's talking about was born.

So if I have a posi, what oil should I use??

Any kind of 75W-90 gear lube, with a bottle of posi additive. I prefer the GM whale juice and Mobil1 gear lube.

But if all you have is a Gov-Lock, it doesn't need the additive.

Post of the year!

Sorry Sofa...........................

I got a 84 in the garage!
9 bolt BW Numbers on the axle tube decode to 3:73s

Tech forms here show a BW rear depending on year/ratio 83 up to 89
otherwise its a GM corporate rear.

My 72 pontiac is a 10 bolt "posi" and has a tag calling for limited slip additive.
Can't recall is my Z has one so will have to look and take the decode #s again
to post here.

My 07 chevy truck has the gov-loc "posi" and specifically calls for NO additive
needed!

As far as my post being TOTALLY wrong...................I doubt it!

Sonjaab, did you buy the 84 new?

No you don't have what you are claiming you have.

Your car DID NOT come with a later model rear than the car it's installed in.

BLEE DAT.

Your "codes" (GT4 I presume) "decode" to a 10-bolt 3.73; one of the likely options that would have come in the car.

Has NOTHING WHATSOEVER to do with the later-model rear that's in there now.

I've been on this planet now for quite some time. It's a pretty odd place I'll agree, but one thing I figured out A LONG TIME AGO, not terribly long after arriving on it, is that there's no such thing as "features from the future" in a mass-produced artifact. Being on familiar terms with the space aliens as I am, I can assure you, they have no sense of humor, and aren't "testing" humans for potentially avoiding self-immolation; they don't take breaks from creating crop circles and Elvis sightings, just to invade an assembly plant late at night and slip a non-existent, at the time, but subject to later inclusion in the same finished product family, part onto the line, just to see if the humans on the line notice. Ain't happenin like that.

Sorry to yank you out of Fantasy Land and back to Earth.

And of course, I'm assuming you've pulled the cover and ACTUALLY know what's ACTUALLY in whatever later-model rear is ACTUALLY in your car but didn't come in it; right? How many teeth did YOU SEE on the gears? What's the production date stamped on them?

Note that I DON'T GIVE A RIP about a bunch of "tech forums"; don't have to. Don't need to "read" about how these cars were built back then. I WAS THERE AT THE TIME. UNLIKE YOU obviously. Remember?

And yes I know about 72 Pontiacs and 07 trucks; I WAS THERE in 1972, and I have a late-model truck not far different in age from yours, with a Gov-Lock, which is why I also posted

and

Sorry, son; there's a time and a place for arguing this kind of stuff, but for you, this ain't it. If I may quote the immortal Samuel Clemens, "It's better to be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt." You'll realize that when you reach adulthood. (hopefully)

Oh BTW... no need to look at your "tag" to see if you need to buy the lube when you summon the courage to LOOK AT THE PARTS in your car, and admit that you're wrong; the 9-bolt, since its clutches are entirely metal and not any kind of organic composition like .... a posi that would have come in your car, or ..... your 70s 8.2" 10-bolt, it doesn't need additive, so the "tag", if in case it got swapped into your car along with the rear, won't call for it.

I WAS THERE. You weren't.

Post Removed

Thank you for your enlightening contribution. I'm sure it helps everyone clarify the question of how to identify a posi, and how to tell the difference between knowledge of reality, and fantasy of what someone who is mistaken would like to believe.

Would you care to present any actual INFORMATION along with your filthy-mouth? In that case we'd love to hear what you have to say. (speaking strictly for myself of course)

post removed

Edit:



Mrbanados just use what you've got till it blows. Save your nickles and put the gear oil change into a replacement rear end before installing it. Auburn / Gov-loc, don't matter....... most agree that they are not worth fixxing.

The simple fact that you break both tires loose while stepping on the brake and holding straight - then 1 side quits - means your current POSI / rear end is failing and your going to need a replacement if you want to leave 2 stripes again. 'Fat-chance' that an oil change and new additive is going to help that tired-oul Auburn POSI spring pack !

You know that bitter old man who yells at thr kids that walk in 'his' grass?
Sofa is the internets version.

I'll say I've seen others get banned or put on probation for less.

Thanks! That's what I needed to hear! Any recommendations for what to save up for? This is mainly a street car maybe an occasional track car

The Eaton Posi is a very good differential. The Yukon Dura Grip is also very good for a little less money. Both of these are rebuildable if you were ever able to wear one out. The Eaton Truetrac is also good along with the Toresn, but you would have to upgrade to 28 spline axles to use the Torsen. Be sure that you get the correct series for the gear ratio that you have and the 28 spline axle upgrade is also a good idea. DO NOT get an Auburn or Eaton Governor Lock.

not wanting to start a fight but it sounds like normal behavior for a gov lock. works if you keep the wheel speed down like in a truck in the snow. other than that it will open and thats why people dont like it because it is rough on the diff if you dont take it easy on it. why they would put one in a car i have no idea. but you definitely do not want to use limited slip fluid in a gov lock, there is a gm tsb about causing it problems

Init, you can be as trashy and idiotic as you like, and attack me personally as much as you want; doesn't hurt my feelings in the slightest, or diminish the TRUTH in the matter at hand, or excuse the guy who won't listen to reality and insists on arguing about something he's DEAD WRONG about.

And once again, thank you SO MUCH for brightening our day!! I feel uplifted just knowing that I've brought you some happiness.

But however all that might be, it doesn't help out the guy who wants to know about his Gov-Lock. I'd suggest less sniping at those of us who are genuinely trying to HELP OUT and to DEBUNK WRONGNESS that's been posted by others (who however SINCERE their "intentions" may be, are MISTAKEN, and are therefore not of any help whatsoever), and instead, offer constructive assistance.

Look , Sofa , I fully realize that you DO know a whole bunch about these cars , and I have not once yet seen you be wrong in your advice . I do , however , see red when I see you talk down to folks as though they were morons ! There just has GOT to be a better way than to demean the intelligence of the folks your trying to help . Tough love may work with our own children (or grandchildren) but the internet is the WORST medium for pulling sarcasm on folks who don't really know ya and thus have no idea of your true motivations . Couldn't ya dispense your usually good advice without rubbing the recipient's nose in it , akin to potty training a puppy ?

I will agree that I posted in anger and that wasn't right , for that you DO have my apology . Now , could we try to not loose sight of the fact that these are real folks at the other end of the screen and behave as we would in a face to face meeting at some car show or something ? I ain't sayin go around candy coating everything or go kissin folk's butts , just a bit of a backpedal on the (apparent) meanness ?

Anyway , sorry for being a dick in trying to present my point and please think about what I said . These folks DO need your help , they just don't need to be booted in the butt while getting it ....

Enough.
If the OP wants to start a new thread, I don't have a problem with it.
I am locking this one, and requesting personal attacks do not continue.