Thats exactly the usual death knell of these axles.
I just about got away with mine doing that.
My installer removed all the guts from my axel after the fine silvery powdery aluminium was found everywhere in my diff. Fluid....internals ...... and the magnet etc.
He then replaced all the bearings and seal and put in a DTT.
He saifd the caps were scored on mine but, theres still plenty of housing to suuport them.
So, that's how I've been running now for over 23,000 miles or so.
Al.

 

Interesting thread. Im glad I pulled and replaced my LSD though

 

That's the plan I came up with last night. If I still have good bearing support then I'll yank all the remaining clips (both on the driver's side are OK) and drive like that until I either sell the truck or score a used axle to build up.

I have a question about the bearing cap though. What's with the bolt in the middle of it? The only diff I've ever torn into was a Ford 8.8 and it had no such thing. I gather they set preload. If so can I disturb one side without disturbing the other?

 

I pulled the retaining clips out of mine about a month ago and I have not heard any weird clunks or anything when taking off from a stop.

 

Ive never heard or seen anyone coming in here saying their LSD failed or gave issues because they pulled them. Thats not to say there isnt wear in them as described but no one I know has take extensive pics of thier LSD, pulled the clips, sealed the rear and driven for x amount of miles and pulled it back apart just to see.

 

reason enough?

 

So it's been a while since anyone posted updates, was wondering how long I got until the clutch pack fails if I completely remove the clips, and also one of them are still in tact but it's pushed out and wearing down the casing bracket on the passenger side.. can i just hammer it back in flush and call that one good? The other it completely gone

 

I think you can get just the clips. I would replace both, and run it as long as the rear seems to be working properly.

 

Its already not working properly. The limited slip doesn't engage and it acts like an open differential..
I just bought it a few weeks ago and it appears like it's been a problem before I had it seeing how the pin is wearing into the carrier bracket.. Looks like I have to replace the clutch pack

 

You wanna get that done then, before it gets any worse.