Is This Differential Doomed? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

AcampoDave · 03-02-2019, 05:02 PM

We had a bit of a flood and although I tried to save it, it still got some rust. The worst of it is on the ring gear. I pressure washed all the gunk out and took these pics of the worst part. I'd be happy to just get down the road for a little while with it, maybe a few thousand miles.

**mongocanfly** · 03-02-2019, 05:40 PM

It may get down the road as you say...but I'd be more worried about the bearings than I would be the gears...

AcampoDave · 03-02-2019, 05:53 PM

It does turn freely but the rusty part has a slight glitch at the pinion if you are turning it slowly. Looking at the cover , the damage apperars to done more by condensation as oppose to being wet. The rusty part occured above the oil level.

**truckster** · 03-02-2019, 06:28 PM

I'd clean as much as possible with some brake parts cleaner and then run it. Give it a few hundred miles and change the fluid again and see what you've got.

Dead Parrot · 03-02-2019, 09:04 PM

Clean it, dry it, new oil, run it. Make sure some fresh oil gets to both sets of bearings. Inspect the bearings if you can. As others have said, they are the more likely fail point.

Make sure your vent hose isn't full of flood crap.

Before cars were full of fancy electronics, floods weren't car killers. You just had to drain and replace the fluids before too much rust set in.

Plain old kerosene makes a good cleaner if you can find some. Diesel will work as well but kinda stinks.

sweetk30 · 03-02-2019, 09:43 PM

also can hit the teeth with a zippy pad scotch bright wheel to scuff off the rust and polish them up .

i have done it before and no problems .

as said tho if the bearings got rusty then game over .

AcampoDave · 03-02-2019, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweetk30

also can hit the teeth with a zippy pad scotch bright wheel to scuff off the rust and polish them up .

i have done it before and no problems .

as said tho if the bearings got rusty then game over .

you mean these? Thanks
https://www.ebay.com/i/332678390342?...72f7d7ffdd6d4e

sweetk30 · 03-02-2019, 11:11 PM

na these guys

'63GENIII · 03-03-2019, 12:03 AM

The 44 in the front of my 63 has been full of water a few times. When I first got it, it had been full of water and oil for several years.

When I went through it last year, I did the carrier bearings. Just kept track of the shims. Pinions were fine. i hit the teeth with a brass brush and went through a 55 gallon drum of brake kleen cleaning it. Id pop the caps off of it to get at the carrier bearings and flush em out good.

**mongocanfly** · 03-03-2019, 01:15 AM

the ones that sweetk30 is showing are 3M rolocs

Tom · 03-08-2019, 02:23 PM

Driving should wear that rust right off the gears. Change fluid fairly quickly after getting it going again.

hjewell2 · 03-09-2019, 07:35 PM

post #4 and post #11 are the right choices.

AcampoDave · 03-10-2019, 06:19 PM

So as to bring this saga to a close.....Doomed. it's kinda loud now and has some previous wear issues anyhow. It will work long enough to test out a different transmission I've been planning, and then if the ratio plays well with the new trans it'll be off to the rebuilders.

03-02-2019, 05:40 PM	#2
mongocanfly Post Whore Join Date: May 2015 Location: Alabama Posts: 14,585	Re: Is This Differential Doomed? It may get down the road as you say...but I'd be more worried about the bearings than I would be the gears... __________________ Mongo...aka Greg RIP Dad RIP Jesse 1981 C30 LQ9 NV4500..http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=753598 Mongos AD- LS3 TR6060...http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...34#post8522334 Columbus..the 1957 IH 4x4...http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...63#post8082563 2023 Chevy Z71..daily driver

03-02-2019, 05:53 PM	#3
AcampoDave Registered User Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: central California Posts: 2,726	Re: Is This Differential Doomed? It does turn freely but the rusty part has a slight glitch at the pinion if you are turning it slowly. Looking at the cover , the damage apperars to done more by condensation as oppose to being wet. The rusty part occured above the oil level.

03-02-2019, 09:04 PM	#5
Dead Parrot Registered User Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Oklahoma City, OK Posts: 2,478	Re: Is This Differential Doomed? Clean it, dry it, new oil, run it. Make sure some fresh oil gets to both sets of bearings. Inspect the bearings if you can. As others have said, they are the more likely fail point. Make sure your vent hose isn't full of flood crap. Before cars were full of fancy electronics, floods weren't car killers. You just had to drain and replace the fluids before too much rust set in. Plain old kerosene makes a good cleaner if you can find some. Diesel will work as well but kinda stinks.

03-02-2019, 09:43 PM	#6
sweetk30 Registered User Join Date: May 2012 Location: horseheads,ny rust belt Posts: 2,794	Re: Is This Differential Doomed? also can hit the teeth with a zippy pad scotch bright wheel to scuff off the rust and polish them up . i have done it before and no problems . as said tho if the bearings got rusty then game over . __________________ 77-k30lb BIG truck build . 87-k30lb budget beater build . 85-k30lb the plow machine build . 85-c10sb summer fun toy . ----------------------------- HOLLEY SNIPER efi = worst case of p.i.t.a i ever had . EDELBROCK pro flo 4 = best deal going so far . love my setup works great.

03-02-2019, 11:11 PM	#8
sweetk30 Registered User Join Date: May 2012 Location: horseheads,ny rust belt Posts: 2,794	Re: Is This Differential Doomed? na these guys Attached Images __________________ 77-k30lb BIG truck build . 87-k30lb budget beater build . 85-k30lb the plow machine build . 85-c10sb summer fun toy . ----------------------------- HOLLEY SNIPER efi = worst case of p.i.t.a i ever had . EDELBROCK pro flo 4 = best deal going so far . love my setup works great.

03-02-2019, 05:02 PM	#1
AcampoDave Registered User Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: central California Posts: 2,726	Is This Differential Doomed? We had a bit of a flood and although I tried to save it, it still got some rust. The worst of it is on the ring gear. I pressure washed all the gunk out and took these pics of the worst part. I'd be happy to just get down the road for a little while with it, maybe a few thousand miles. Attached Images Last edited by AcampoDave; 03-02-2019 at 05:55 PM. Reason: Typo

03-02-2019, 06:28 PM	#4
truckster Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Orem, Utah Posts: 7,798	Re: Is This Differential Doomed? I'd clean as much as possible with some brake parts cleaner and then run it. Give it a few hundred miles and change the fluid again and see what you've got. __________________ I have sworn upon the altar of God, eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man. - Thomas Jefferson

03-03-2019, 12:03 AM	#9
'63GENIII Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: San Carlos, Ca. Posts: 3,048	Re: Is This Differential Doomed? The 44 in the front of my 63 has been full of water a few times. When I first got it, it had been full of water and oil for several years. When I went through it last year, I did the carrier bearings. Just kept track of the shims. Pinions were fine. i hit the teeth with a brass brush and went through a 55 gallon drum of brake kleen cleaning it. Id pop the caps off of it to get at the carrier bearings and flush em out good. __________________ Chris '63 k15 long step Vortec 7.4 - L29 Blackbear tune, Five 0 Motorsports injectors, Chris Straub Cam, NV4500, divorced 205 52" front and 63" rear spring swap D44 / 14bff - disc axles Milemarker 9K and 10.5K hydraulic winches 63" & B52 Spring Install http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ng+swap+thread NV4500 Reverse Build Thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=reverse+build L29 - 7.4 Vortec Build http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...&highlight=L29

03-03-2019, 01:15 AM	#10
mongocanfly Post Whore Join Date: May 2015 Location: Alabama Posts: 14,585	Re: Is This Differential Doomed? the ones that sweetk30 is showing are 3M rolocs __________________ Mongo...aka Greg RIP Dad RIP Jesse 1981 C30 LQ9 NV4500..http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=753598 Mongos AD- LS3 TR6060...http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...34#post8522334 Columbus..the 1957 IH 4x4...http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...63#post8082563 2023 Chevy Z71..daily driver

03-08-2019, 02:23 PM	#11
Tom driving is in my blood Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Mesa AZ Posts: 5,692	Re: Is This Differential Doomed? Driving should wear that rust right off the gears. Change fluid fairly quickly after getting it going again. __________________ -78 c10 short/step: 388cid, M20, 5/5 drop, lots more. Playtoy and first vehicle. -98 c1500 x-cab: 5.7L, 17" rims, 5/6 drop, flowmaster, helper bags,NBS rear disk brakes. -02 Suburban 4x4: leveled front -CBR600F4i, CBR600RR, CBR1000RR, and standup skis DISCLAIMER: I cant spell for the life of me.

03-09-2019, 07:35 PM	#12
hjewell2 Registered User Join Date: May 2011 Location: mich Posts: 654	Re: Is This Differential Doomed? post #4 and post #11 are the right choices.

03-10-2019, 06:19 PM	#13
AcampoDave Registered User Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: central California Posts: 2,726	Re: Is This Differential Doomed? So as to bring this saga to a close.....Doomed. it's kinda loud now and has some previous wear issues anyhow. It will work long enough to test out a different transmission I've been planning, and then if the ratio plays well with the new trans it'll be off to the rebuilders.



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