S-10 pinion bearing failure

Post by **kyswede** » Mon Jul 16, 2012 11:36 pm

My S-10 started whining on the way to New Haven Saturday, got real bad on way home. Had to pull off interstate about 35 miles from home and bring it home on a trailer. Today my SIL and I took rear end apart and found the problem. Pinion bearing rollers are actually square instead of round. Truck has 201k miles on it. Should have it back together with new front and rear pinion bearings tomorrow evening.

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Post by **inthewaterky** » Mon Jul 16, 2012 11:43 pm

Love the smell of diff fluid in the evening... Good luck getting it back together...

Post by **Ian** » Mon Jul 16, 2012 11:48 pm

Burnt dif fluid is the key here. Always smells the best.

Post by **kyswede** » Mon Jul 16, 2012 11:50 pm

When we pulled the cover off, about 4-6 oz. of diff. oil came out. I smelled burnt diff. oil for about 10 miles before stopping on the side of the road. SIL looked under truck and said rear housing was bone dry even though it was raining. Water dripping on it would turn to steam. Gears and axles look great.

Post by **inthewaterky** » Tue Jul 17, 2012 12:03 am

Don't over tighten the pinion nut

Post by **justang1997** » Tue Jul 17, 2012 1:03 pm

Can rear gears be changed without special tools?

Post by **nogomoto** » Tue Jul 17, 2012 4:47 pm

They can be. But it's not preferred if you've had little to no experience with them. There is a marker that you can buy that will show you where your teeth mesh together and you can guage your crush sleeve and shims by that. The other way is to listen for the whine (not recommended).

Post by **kyswede** » Tue Jul 17, 2012 10:19 pm

Had to get the bearings from KY Motors' warehouse. Got them this afternoon. Had to go to Chevy dealer for the pinion nut. Gonna put it back together tomorrow evening. Need to find my inch-pound torque wrench to set pinion drag.

Kentucky Armory Club