Howdy all,

I need to buy a new/remanufactured differential for my vehicle as the one on it is failing and I'm moving 1000 miles away and towing my belongings here at the end of July. I found several ones online but this unit from Jegs/ATK has a 36 month/unlimited mileage warranty and is $2780 out the door, but core is $250, and I have a promo code for $150 which leaves me at $2380. Alternatively there is a Zumbrota unit from Autozone that only has a 26 month/unlimited mileage warranty and doesn't come with backing plates or axle shafts and is not sealed, which comes to $3300 out the door with a $400 core charge, so $2900. Does anyone have any experience with these manufactures or are there any other better remanned units out there? I was originally just going to do it myself and upgrade to an LSD from my open differential but considering the distance I'm going to be hauling and my inexperience with rear ends I think the option with a warranty sounds a bit better. Any thoughts?

Thanks!

 

I'd be more inclined to pickup a good used differential from a salvage yard. You can find them via car-part.com or at a local pick and pay salvage yard. It will definitely be much cheaper and there should be plenty of lower mileage differentials available in the salvage yards. With the options you're looking at, in my humble opinion, you're paying quite a bit of $$$$ for a warrantied differential. Since you're swapping out the differential, now is a good time to consider optimal gearing for your 'new' rear differential. What size tires are you running or plan to run?

Since you'll be towing a good distance with your move, I'd be more concerned with the condition of your 46RE transmission to make sure that it's been properly maintained to make the trip in the heat of late July/early August (ie: make sure that the transmission has a good external cooler on it and that the transmission fluid and filter has been changed and the band adjusted).

 

Either that, or rebuild what you have......

 

Yeah I looked on their a few months ago and even though there were some “A” rated parts they can still be up to 200k miles so I’m a bit worried that I’d still be buying something that would fail on the sooner side. And unfortunately the local scrap yard closed shop so I’d be driving 3 hours roundtrip to try to find a usable one, but it may be worth my while I suppose. My concern with my differential is the two times I’ve opened it up I’ve found quarter sized chunks of metal from something, and a ton of metal shavings so I don’t think it’s long for this world.

Regarding my transmission, it was rebuilt with a shift kit and new parts and has less than 500 miles on it with no issues so far. Didn’t do the check valve delete but I’ll probably do it when I get a temp sensor installed and have to mess with the lines anyway. I have the tow package so it has the stock auxiliary cooler on it as well so I’m hoping it’ll be okay.

 

That's going to need a full rebuild. May want look on craigs list ebay etc for a used one. If you have any places you can take the rear buy what's needed and have them rebuild it.

 

I would think it would be cheaper, though maybe not by much.... just to take the truck to a good shop, and have the rear rebuilt. no need to pull it/transport it.

 

Zumbrota over ATK. But seriously, find a used one at a JY or FB MP. The 9.25 is surprisingly durable and I would not necessarily be scared by mileage

Allow time for proper break-in if you buy new.

 

Thanks for the updates regarding your transmission. Sounds like your 46RE is ready to go.

As for the replacement rear axle, as others have said, check Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist. Sometimes, I'm surprised what I find in those forums not too far from my location. Please be sure that your replacement axle will have the same or better gear ratio to make towing enjoyable. I upgraded from 3.54 to 4.10 gearing several years ago and it makes my truck much more enjoyable to drive.

 

A couple of months ago I got some quotes over the phone that were about $2300 for a rebuild without an LSD, with one was like $2900 to $3500 which is what led me down the path to just buying a new one and doing it myself (already replaced leaf spring bushings, shocks, and u bolts so I’m familiar with what to do).

The downside to the shop is I’d be having it done in southern CA then moving 1000 miles away so any warranty on work would be worthless, whereas the 3 year warranty on the new unit would be redeemable anywhere since they just ship me a new one 🤷‍♂️

 

Does your rear axle currently have a LSD unit in it?