Well, I'm back on the road, with a 3.42/open/drum axle from an '88 Camaro V6. What a shame! I can definately tell the difference between my old 3.73's and this 3.42 rear.

The brakes were, as usual, hell for me. I could not get the drums off. The drum brake shoes weren't over-expanded and holding the drums, either- I retracted them all the way. I think the drums rusted to the axle hubs. I used a ton of penetrant, and was whacking the drums as hard as I could (I was pissed off near the end), and they didn't budge. So I'm not sure of the condition of the rear brakes. I'll try looking at them again this weekend; maybe they need some heat/vibration to loosen up.

I used my V12 Phoenix Injector ( http://www.brakebleeder.com ) on the rear axle. It was beautiful! I bought a new rear brake hose, and put it on the axle. Then, I just hooked the tool up to the brake hose, and bled the axle while it was off the car. (I had plugged up the brake line from the car.) As I squeezed the tool, the old fluid came pouring out of the right rear bleeder screw- beautiful! I didn't have to do any pedal pushing at all. When clean fluid appeared, I closed the bleeder, and removed the V12. Then I put the axle under the car, and unplugged the car's brake line. I connected the hose to the brake line, and had perfect brakes!

Er, well, not perfect. I had a perfect "pedal". Notice I just mentioned the right rear bleeder screw. The left drum brake's line was crushed by something; fluid won't flow to the left rear brakes. I'll have to go to a junkyard and try to find a rear line for that side.

All in all, and aside from missing 2 days of work, the axle cost me $100, the brake hose was $30, and new rear fluid (80w90) was $8. Now, I just have to work on the brakes this weekend... and sometime during the spring, "fix" my disk brake rear. I miss that 3.73 AND the discs!!

 

Explain why you went back to a open drum rear?

 

The posi blew up: https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...threadid=90997

 

At least your up and about! I hate when I work on my car, because it's almost like it's sick and you have to care for it. So when it's all better, you get so happy! :lala:

 

I know, right? I'm so glad to be back in the Firebird after being in the Taurus for 3 days.. sheesh. I especially loved how I'd turn the wheel of the Taurus, and it wouldn't turn as sharp as my Firebird. My first turn nearly landed me in a curb! And the wheels wouldn't straighten out after a turn, either... my girlfriend was laughing at me trying to drive that thing.