Rear axle seal/rear end ??????

[TonyBuckets]

Hey everyone, the rear axle seal went on my 97 Tahoe 4x4 driver side rear wheel. and while I was trying to get it back to my house the drum brakes got red hot, and were smoking alot, so i stopped driving and got a tow to the mechanic and from first glance he said i'm better off getting a whole new rear end. My question is whats the stock gears and is it worth it to upgrade to something bigger, this truck is my daily driver for work, i don't do any off road driving strictly highway. Also how hard is this to change your self?

 

[laredo1307]

If it's just the seal than i would replace that along with the wheel bearing. You need to remove the cover plate of the axle housing, remove the c-clip on that side and then you can slide the axle shaft out.

This should give you a real good idea of what it takes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6OfNMfqyMs

 

[arctic388]

did he removed brakes and check condition of the tube end?

you should find RPO code in glove box that will tell you what gear you have i.e. GU6 is 3.42 and GT4 is 3.73 and GT5 is 4.10 if is has another number G80 it is a mechanical locker type also.

i bet the tube is messed up from axle bearing going out and if so you would need to find a replacement rear end. good luck.

 

[TonyBuckets]

Thanks guys, I actually haven't had the time to take it apart yet. hoping to get to it sometime this week.