Diff rebuild recommendation

[Jack O.]

I'm waffling on whether to simply be done with it and not bother messing with my differential and simply send it out for rebuild. It wasn't causing me any problems and the car only has 72,000 on it but it needs to at least be cleaned up and checked internally.
Any recommendations on who to send it to? How about the half shafts? I'm going to have them done somewhere too.
Thanks,
Jack

[Joe R.]

Re: Diff rebuild recommendation

My recommendation would be to "if it ain't broke why fix it" ? Just send me a cashiers check if you want to burn some money.

Check the oil and if it's not full of metal particles (silverly looking) just replace the oil and add some posi trac additive.

If you feel you need to waste some money, Bair's would be my choice to rebuild the rear end and replace the U-joints.

JR

[Doug L.]

Re: Diff rebuild recommendation

If you are going to do anything with it, I highly recommend Gary Ramadei. Search for his name on this site and you will see reviews of his work. You should find his contact information with a "Member Search". Gary did mine and I couldn't be more pleased. You will hear from him every step of the way, receive photos of everything he does and a full report when he is finished.

[Jack O.]

Re: Diff rebuild recommendation

I hear you Joe

[Jack O.]

Re: Diff rebuild recommendation

Thanks Doug. Yes, I saw a lot of posts from Gary so I had already sent him a message.

[Randy C.]

Re: Diff rebuild recommendation

At 123K miles and a careful inspection, all I did was change the differential fluid. The rear end isn't giving me any problems at all - no whines, no weeps, seeps or drips!

Randy C.

[Michael G.]

Re: Diff rebuild recommendation

I'm waffling on whether to simply be done with it and not bother messing with my differential and simply send it out for rebuild. It wasn't causing me any problems and the car only has 72,000 on it but it needs to at least be cleaned up and checked internally.
Any recommendations on who to send it to? How about the half shafts? I'm going to have them done somewhere too.
Thanks,
Jack

Not saying a rebuild is immenient but (at least) have it inspected for wear, replace the fluid and replace ALL the seals. When mine was out inspected the internals, replaced the fluid, swapped the side seals and passed on swapping the pinion shaft seal. Body was dropped, resto completed and guess what started leaking.....pinion shaft seal. Well let me tell ya pod 'na, try changin' that seal with the body on . What a chore it was. Change 'em all.

[Stephen B.]

Re: Diff rebuild recommendation

Just got mine back in. Replace all the seals and stub axles due to the fact lots of side movement, After that, all good and new fluid and additive.

[Ed S.]

Re: Diff rebuild recommendation

Talk to Gary Ramadei, he's a great guy, he will give you some time. I suspect that he will ask you some questions about your car, year, ratio, engine, etc, how its been driven, etc, and what it is doing now (regarding your diff) and then he will give you his best advice. This is a guy that doesn't have to look for work so you can take some comfort in knowing that he is not going to tell you that you need to have it rebuilt just to drum up some business. Good luck.

[Richard G.]

Re: Diff rebuild recommendation

Having worked in Predictive Maintenance and the Reliability fields for 20 years this has always been the sixty five dollar question (rebuild or inspection). In industry it is been quantified and studied to the ninth degree. The short story is most will do inspections and leave well enough alone till the inspections indicate an issue, then a rebuild is scheduled. One part of the reason for this is infant mortality issues. Studies have proved over and over infant mortality is real issue. I used to think equipment failures were in some variation of bell curve with most failures happening at the top of the curve. That of course it true but there is a failure bump at the beginning of the curve and it's called "infant mortality". So there is a real scientific reason to Joe Ray's "if it ain't broke why fix it". If it was mine I would replace all the seals. That will also require pulling the spider pin for inspection. If the mechanical and oil looked good I would likely leave the internals alone. If you need/decide to get it rebuilt Gary would be the guy. I will add that I really appreciate his knowledge sharing on this board.
Rick