First I must admit I have to ask questions as my mechanical abilaty is limited.Most times its better to have a pro do the work.
However what I am doing now is simple to many of you and I am asking for help as all I want to do is remove all the gears in the rear end so I can turn my old faithfull but no longer usable truck box into a trailer.Rather than destroy something that may be of value to someone could someone explain or send me a link to show pictures of how to on the rear end.I know there are repair manuals at the library I could access this but its just like why look thru the yellow pages when someone in the room knows the number I need.So if anyone could just give me a simple explination I would deeply apreciate it.My truck had a 318 does anyone know what the name of gears in this rear end would have been?Is it true it is Dana?Is this something someone else could use if I can take out right without damage?Or is it something I should just toss out for scrap.

 

I have to laugh at my own post I am new to the forum and see under My username it says" back seat driver" and how true LOL.I have a dissabilaty and my wife does most of the driving.Thus my reason for asking for help simple things are hard for me.

 

Ok I got the drums and brakes off and found the c clips to and pulled axels out.I removed the bearing retainers so getting to this point halts me at not knowing how to pull the whole rear end unit out.My object is to remove ring gear and pinion.Can I remove enough to get each axel to spin freely.Or can I only remove the ring gear of its hub as it looks like the hub is needed to keep rear end bearing in place and save the axel clip.But then the rear axel would still turn as one unit??? Thus not making each wheel spin independant.Any tips.

 

I'd leave the pinion in there. It sounds like you've got a semi floating axle, so the axle shafts themselves support the weight, and I think you'll need the carrier and c-clips to keep the tires from wandering off on you. Without a pinion gear you'll lose gear oil and get water and dirt in it and you'll have a catastropic failure eventually. You don't really need to do anything if it's an open diff, just keep it full of gear oil and it'll be fine.

 

You are right what I thought I needed to do was remove the ring gear.Thus the pinion would no longer turn.the bearings and individual axel drive gears look like they have to stay in place in order for the axel clips to hold after center pin is put back in.My problem is not understanding how to pull the whole carrier so I can take the ring gear off.I took of both bearing retainers.I have read some manuals but lots of them just say remove this to replace without specific instructions.If I stick the trouble light under and take a good look I think it will be easier to figure out.I was just looking for any tips as its better to ask than do wrong.
horatio102 I think very highly of you for offering imf.I do not understand when so many professional and knowledged people are on a forum and view the threads why they are not willing to respond to something that should be so simple to them.
Thank You much

 

No problem.

So I think what you'll need to do is pull the axles out and then remove the bearing caps and grab a pry bar to get the carrier out. You may want to use a rope and tie it to the spare tire mount or something to keep it from hitting the floor. My buddy pulled his carrier out a half dozen times and iirc it's a tight fit.

 

horatio102
I found out what the problem was.I needed to take a light under their so I could see what I was doing lol.I just had to reach through the holes in side of pumpin and spin back the bearing retainer with a screw driver and it came right out.I removed the ring gear and put some grease on axel ends.I do not know if seperating the ring gear and pinion were even enough to make the axels spin more freely.But now I have a ring gear to hold the dogs bowl in one spot so he does not run off with it.lol
Thanks if you ever need any help I can come over with my trouble light those things really make it easy to see what you are doing.