Rear End Questions

[Smitch320]

Hey Fellas,

My old chevy has leaked gear oil out the center chunk in the rear for some time. I top it off and roll, and everything seems to still be fine.

In the future, I plan on going up to a 33'' tire and will be occasionally towing a tandem axle trailer with a Ford 8N tractor.

If I get the seals and what not done, would it be smart to "re-gear" or would i be ok staying the same ratio?

Thanks as always.

 

[PrairieDrifter]

Depending on the ratio, but most likely you'll want to regear.

 

[MadOgre]

Hey Fellas,

My old chevy has leaked gear oil out the center chunk in the rear for some time. I top it off and roll, and everything seems to still be fine.

In the future, I plan on going up to a 33'' tire and will be occasionally towing a tandem axle trailer with a Ford 8N tractor.

If I get the seals and what not done, would it be smart to "re-gear" or would i be ok staying the same ratio?

Thanks as always.

What gears do you currently have ?

 

[Smitch320]

I currently have 3.73 gears in an 86 K10 4wd with a muncie sm465

 

[MadOgre]

OH no 3.73s will be fine with 33" rubber.

The problem though with the oil seal is that you probably have a groove worn into the collar of the pinion so changing just the seal likely will not fix the problem

 

[PrairieDrifter]

If there is a groove on the pinion from the seal they make a kit for it, it's just a thin piece of metal the size of the pinion that slides over it, and you tap it on then you have to tear the outer lip of it off and it's designed to do it that way so the tear is very clean, so then you have a new surface for the seal. I did one last year it was pretty slick, and the 3.73's should be good enough!

 

[MadOgre]

If there is a groove on the pinion from the seal they make a kit for it, it's just a thin piece of metal the size of the pinion that slides over it, and you tap it on then you have to tear the outer lip of it off and it's designed to do it that way so the tear is very clean, so then you have a new surface for the seal. I did one last year it was pretty slick, and the 3.73's should be good enough!

Oh cool I wasn't aware of one for the pinion. They make them for the balancer on the engine and they work good!

Yep I wouldn't worry to much about 3.73s unless you find that towing its not enough.

Ive towed all kinds of loads with a TH400 3.42s and 33" rubber with out any real issues.

What axles do you have ? out of curiosity

 

[Smitch320]

**** I maid a mistake, I've got 3.42 gears in the rear axle.

 

[MadOgre]

Well you might want to get 3.73 then but its usually wayyyyyyy cheaper to just find a set of axles with the gears you desire and swap em in

 

[PrairieDrifter]

Personally I would just go with 1 ton axles but they are cheaper in my area than most places.

 

[Smitch320]

What would give me more trouble, the tires or the towing? This is very occasional towing I might add.

 

[MadOgre]

Towing! The tires are not an issue at all especially with your granny low

 

[Smitch320]

Mhmm. Thanks fellas.

 

[Smitch320]

Time for a stupid question,

If i find and axle from a same year truck that say came out a k20 and is 3.73 or 4.11 (idk which would of come in that truck) would it be a "direct" swap? or would brakes be different and what not?

Don't know much about drivelines

 

[MadOgre]

Should be but you need both axles to have the same gear ratio