1970 blazer 4/4 rear end help?

[paul blair]

ALL THE BOLT SHEERED OFF THE RING GEAR THE LAST BEACH RIDE! MADE IT HOME ON FRONT END. I don't see any damage to the pinion or ring gear. I am thinking of trying to remove the broken ring gear bolts and reassemble if I don't find any other damage. Use a drill press-easy out and heat? Living on a small island and low budget so I want to repair my self with out going through preload and shimming. Gear set only has around 10k since new. Thanks for any information or advise! HAPPY TRAILS

[nonstop]

Don't want to be the bearer of bad news.....buuuuuuut

A few things come to mind. The ring gear bolts will probably be a bear to get out. There is a chance they are in with red loc tite or something similar. Beyond that, there will likely be odd wear to the gears once they are pulled out, since they were likely loose before shearing. The ring gear looks like it has some odd wear already. In the event you can save the gear set, you SHOULD get the right carrier and get rid of that spacer they are junk and can cause all sorts of problems. The spacer is likely what caused your current problem, and is likely to cause it again if you put it back in.

I know it's not what you want to hear, but you are risking another failure (possibly catastrophic) and more expensive repair using it again.

[paul blair]

Thanks NONSTOP, All good information--I am learning--1st time working on rear end--A shop changed them about 20 years ago. That spacer? So the correct carrier would eliminate that spacer? No rear end shops here, I am on a small island 30 miles at sea! Maybe I will get lucky and find local help.