Differential Fun now with even more car-nage pics!

[Indigo04]

The rear diff on my 04 CC decided to crap out on me. So that leads me to this question since s10 4x4 rears are like hens teeth out here. Can I use a 98+ Blazer diff to replace this junky one I have now? All 98+have rear disc brakes as does my 04 CC. Is there anything goofy I need to know about as well.



Thanks,
Don

[killian96ss]

I would upgrade to a ZR2 8.5" 10 bolt instead of putting another 7.6 back there. It is a bolt in upgrade.

Steve

[Indigo04]

Only problem is I have the 3.42 gears and all zr2's are 3.73. The only mods on this truck are chopped up air box and I removed the hemi thingy off the TB blade with a dremel. I don't wanna pay a extra $100 for hp tuners credits to fix the speedo.

[HenryJ]

What "crapped out"? Can you just swap guts?

Otherwise, as long as it was a 4x4, you should be able to swap.

[Indigo04]

Long story short, the rear diff locked up on me coming to a stop sign. Made it to my destination with the truck in 4x4, front diff exploded and quit pulling the truck about 4 miles later. Now both of the driveshafts can spin freely and the truck don't move.

[HenryJ]

If you need both ends, swap to the ZR2 stuff.

[Indigo04]

I swapped the guts from a 98 g80 axle into my once open rear diff today. Works great, now for my next question is I have vacuum at the actuator all the time 2wd or4 it don't matter so I'm sure that has contributed to the death of the 4wd front diff. I'm guessing that with having the vacuum all the time something has gotten chewed up like in this video. Vac switch was bad and has been replaced. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4AnKG3aOIw

Hopefully it's something stupid as to why the actuator has vacuum all the time. If worst case I had to swap out the front diff I got as well from the 98 blazer, how bad of a job is the front to swap out?

Also I rebuilt the entire rear axle with new races, seals and wheel bearings. It is nice and quiet back there now. I forgot to mention the 98 blazer my new stuff came from had only 98K miles on it.

Now for the carnage pics.

[Indigo04]

And more, I found the cause of the front diffs death.

[barch97]

There is a bright side to this. At least you know that magnet in the differential cover is working.

[Indigo04]

I Don't think there was a magnet on the broken diff cover. I do know that the donor axle diff cover has a magnet on it and it works, as it is on the truck now.

Also now that I swapped the vacuum switch the truck don't feel like it's draggin a anchor behind it.

[Indigo04]

Mmmm more broken parts from the front diff!


Stub gear thingie sheared in half!






Seems to work good now with a new front diff, lol Photobucket changed their editor, i need to figure it out...right click and view image.





Now to change the ball joints, idler arm, fab up a steering damper and get some decent A/T tires.

[ApproachMedium]

Interesting, your passenger side door has a dent in it, in exactly the same location mine does. I figured our old idiot neighbor backed in to it, I think she drove by braille.

[Indigo04]

I think there is a dent in the same spot on the drivers side too. They were on the truck when I got it. I have to admit though, I cracked up at the drive by braille comment.

[ApproachMedium]

Hahha glad that made you laugh. One of the older members in my model railroad club was telling me how much he likes the backup sonar on his new chevy cruze because hes now 76 years old cant see so great and has to drive by braille. Keep going till you feel the bump them stop. So thats where I stole it from lol.