I believe I have the D60 and possibly a LSD too. If it is failed is it something a half skilled backyard mech can replace? Big big PITA? Expensive? Advice?

The story: Lost rear pinion seal on recent trip up to Kalispell with camper loaded up and trailer in tow. When I got home I swapped out seal and added 3/4 ish quart of the properly friction modified gear oil. Test drive on freeway yields loud racket coming from what sounds like tranny but I'm sure is rear end. Hard to tell exactly where sound is being emitted from my listening position in the drivers seat. It's hard to describe the sound but it really only starts showing up at higher speeds say 4th and 5th gear. Kind of a grinding with some occasional rattliness (?).

Would this be the time to go to 4.56:1's? What all would be involved in such a low budget conversion if it's just a failing bearing?

 

Unfortunately, changing the rear bearing is going to entail all the work/hassle of a gear change..... setting it back up correctly is no trivial undertaking. If you haven't done one before, and don't have someone that has to help you, you would be better off paying someone else to do it.

Also, if you change your rear gears, you MUST do the front as well, otherwise, you will get some really odd behavior when you try to use four wheel drive, and things will likely break......

 

Thanks for the response HeyYou. Your answer was about what I was expecting. Not great news but not unexpected either. It's unfortunate that the failure couldn't have waited until the new gear savings fund had swelled up above the absolute zero level. At least failing parts are a strong motivation to have it done before hell freezes over...around the same time I suppose said fund is actually expected to be full.

 

Yeah, breakdowns never seem to occur when you actually have the money required to fix it....... I hate that.

 

Why isn't there a stimilus package for truck owners?

 

Call your congressman!

 

lol. maybe I'll drag home some more jalopies so I can jack up the size of my weekly truck welfare checks...

hey, what about beer stimulii????

 

Thought beer was a depressant??? (although, really do wonder about that, seeing the behavior of some drunks......)

I need a stimulus stimulus. Give me money so I can spend it, and stimulate the economy.