Ok, here's the story -

I've got a 3.42 '88 rear end in right now.

I've got a '92 rear end (spare) but I don't know what rear gear it has.

I'm gonna get the SLP Posi.

I believe my current rear end is a 26 spline right? The 92 is a 28, I know. Can I get away with yanking the axles, and put them in my rear with the posi unit, and not need anything done by a shop (pressing anything, etc)?

 

First off, the easiest way to do this would be to swap the 28 spline axles into the 88 rear with the Zexel-Torsen (or your choice) of posi carrier.

You will be re using your existing ring and pinion, and all you are doing is this: Remove cover, remove the 5/16" bolt that retains the cross pin. Remove cross pin, then you will see two "C" clips, one on the end of each axle. Remove them, pull the axles out of the housing. Then unbolt the bearing caps, pull the ring gear and carrier out as an assembley. Unbolt the ring gear from the carrier, bolt it to the new posi carrier. Reinstall it in the housing, torque the caps. Install the 28 spline axles, C clips, etc.

This sounds complicated but I think there is a tech article with pictures that will make it more clear than I just did!

This way you keep from having to unbolt the entire rear, deal with bleeding brakes, etc or going through a gear swap entailing having to remove the pinion and go through the set up of the backlash etc.

Eric

 

Technically, you should check all the settings, anyway. But lots of guys on thirdgen.org have gotten away with doing just what Eric mentioned; swapping the carrier in.

 

the ring gear bolts are reverse thread. I found that out the hard way. I have to take my rear apart again soon because i didn't get the pinion depth exact and now it whines. Be careful about this because it's a pain in the a$$ to get the bolts from chevy. for some reason they always have 7-9 of them. Pepboys doesn't even cary them.

 

I have gotten away with a LOT of stuff over the years

If you re-use the same shims and don't disturb the pinion, then the backlash should not have changed from what it was with the old carrier.

eric