I lowered my car using Vogtland springs and founders upper relocation pan hard bar, adjustable pan hard bar, adjustable tractions bars and traction bar relocation brackets. My question is now after changing all that and getting the axle centered w/ the pan hard bar along with centered in the wheel well. My axle is now clunking from reverse to drive. I did change the gear oil while I was under. I used 80-90 lucas with additive, since it's a posi eaton unit. It also whines only when I let off the gas. I'd say between 45-20. What would cause this to all of the sudden happen? Otherwise the diff. is fine. Any help would be great. Thanks

I have a pretty good idea that the whining is the pinion gear but would like some opinions. The Clunking maybe the torque arm bushing. I know after getting it all aligned properly and with it being 26yrs old there will be some play but it sounds like it is coming from the diff area.

 

As mentioned in your other thread, yes, the whine is probably the pinion bearings. No it is probably not sudden; rather, your noticing it is.

It's odd you left the stock torque arm bushing in there while changing all that other stuff out. But yes, that, or the trans mount, can cause all manner of clunking, thumping, clanking, etc. underneath the car. Change em both out.

The fact you already thought you needed to change the seal is telling... that means, the bearings have been bad AT LEAST that long. The seal almost never goes bad, rather, it leaks because the bearings allow the pinion to flop around inside it so much that it can't maintain contact and do its job. Sometimes changing the seal works somewhat for a little while, but eventually it goes right back to leaking again. And of course the bearings continue to be bad.

The pinion itself is probably just fine. All it needs is bearings. However, this represents a total tear-down, replacement, setup, and reassembly of the whole axle.

Age is not really an issue as far as creating play. 26 yrs by itself isn't a problem. Wear is however. Miles, lack of lube (or lube full of metal dust that needs to be changed), water in the fluid, etc. take their toll over time. No real cure other than replacing the worn-out parts. Sitting still for long periods with water in the fluid is particularly damaging: the bearing races get little rust spots where they sit touching each other, and then when you start to run it again, they immediately spall and brinnell. That's the most likely scenario for a rear that was perfect when laid up, then made noise after return to service; but since you already had to change the seal, the bearings have obviously been bad for a very long time.

You might also find your axles are destroyed... usually that's the first thing that gets ate up when the rear runs dry not least because they're ABOVE the level of the fluid and rely on centrifugal force going around turns to throw some up in there which of course becomes impossible when the fluid level gets too low, and they then shed MASSIVE amounts of metal chips into the fluid which then eats up everything else. Filling back up with new fluid washes all that debris out of the ends of the tubes and into general circulation inside there. Gears tend to stand up to that fairly well as they're super hardened, MUCH harder than the axle material (especially crappy stock ones); but bearings get trashed in a hurry. Check em out, only takes a few minutes to pop em out.

 

When I changed the fluid. I didn't see any metal floating etc. in the diff. Just cleaned the magnet off. Which didn't have anything on it really either. The pinion didnt move at all when I had to replace the seal. However if I replace the bearings and everything else looks fine with no scaring,grooves etc. My question is could I reuse the sleeves and shims. Reason is for the correct back lash and proper seating. I know I will have to mark with the yellow paint for proper crush and even wear on the ring and pinion.

Thank you for your help

 

I know the right answer but had to ask.

 

Sleeves, no. Shims, maybe.

OTOH new ones come in kits; what's the benefit in re-using ANY of it?

I HIGHLY recommend a crush sleeve eliminator, rather than a crush sleeve.