Rear Differential problems.

[LaVaughn Hamilton]

Good day all. My name is LaVaughn and I live in the Bahamas. I just recently purchased a 2001 Tahoe LT RWD 5.3 v8 for my lawn care business and then 'life' happened.

Long story short I was driving down the road one day and then my rear wheels locked up. I am not a professional mechanic by any means but I am willing to learn as much as I can even if just for my business.

I was told to check my rear differential and needless to say the fluid had pretty much drained out.

Now here comes the funny part. I jacked up my wheels, engaged Park-brake and engaged the drive gear, it can move and then it locks. In reverse it moves much more than going forward. I tried to see if the driveshaft had any play to it, to check for pinion problems, but it was tight. some of the spider gears had grinded down a little bit but it still holds from my view. So if the differential had failed I wouldnt have been able to go anywhere according to my online research but for whatever reason I can reverse a pretty distance like 50-70m but going forward it just gets stuck at a point.

TBH living in this country things are expensive. there is basically a 72% tax that I must pay for car parts so DIY seems to be a more viable option honestly. Should I just try and fill it with oil and see if that can help or should I just walk it out until, this vehicle being down is costing me so much especially at the beginning of the warm season so any thing can help at this point.

 

[BG1988]

Good day all. My name is LaVaughn and I live in the Bahamas. I just recently purchased a 2001 Tahoe LT RWD 5.3 v8 for my lawn care business and then 'life' happened.

Long story short I was driving down the road one day and then my rear wheels locked up. I am not a professional mechanic by any means but I am willing to learn as much as I can even if just for my business.

I was told to check my rear differential and needless to say the fluid had pretty much drained out.

Now here comes the funny part. I jacked up my wheels, engaged Park-brake and engaged the drive gear, it can move and then it locks. In reverse it moves much more than going forward. I tried to see if the driveshaft had any play to it, to check for pinion problems, but it was tight. some of the spider gears had grinded down a little bit but it still holds from my view. So if the differential had failed I wouldnt have been able to go anywhere according to my online research but for whatever reason I can reverse a pretty distance like 50-70m but going forward it just gets stuck at a point.

TBH living in this country things are expensive. there is basically a 72% tax that I must pay for car parts so DIY seems to be a more viable option honestly. Should I just try and fill it with oil and see if that can help or should I just walk it out until, this vehicle being down is costing me so much especially at the beginning of the warm season so any thing can help at this point.

check salvage yards

 

[LaVaughn Hamilton]

We have some but for some reason I am so hesistant. One rear differential is from a Yukon of the same year. I am not sure of the gear ratio if that is even a concern. The other is from a silverado truck. Will they be compatible?

 

[Kraig]

The Yukon diff will bolt right in. Is yours 4wd? If so the gear ratio must match the front

 

[Doubeleive]

check the rpo code's to see if they match

 

[swathdiver]

The entire axle from the Yukon will swap, the center section from the pickup will swap too. Check the "G" codes in the glovebox door and see if they match.

 

[Erickk120]

Yup, it will save you time and money to just swap the yukon rear end. Check your glove box and see what kind of gears you need, and what gears the yukon has.

We cant assess what kind of damage your diff suffered, could be as simple as spider gears to ring and pinion to bearings.

Since you have the cover off you can probably rotate the yoke by hand and see whats binding.

Although I suspect the bearings took damage since you ran it low on oil.

 

[LaVaughn Hamilton]

Will make sure to check the codes. I have a 2WD -GU6 which is a 3.42 gear ratio from my research. I need this to tow a utility trailer for my lawn care company so I am desperate right now.

So if the codes/gear ratios dont match should I still use them or no?

Yup, it will save you time and money to just swap the yukon rear end. Check your glove box and see what kind of gears you need, and what gears the yukon has.

We cant assess what kind of damage your diff suffered, could be as simple as spider gears to ring and pinion to bearings.

Since you have the cover off you can probably rotate the yoke by hand and see whats binding.

Although I suspect the bearings took damage since you ran it low on oil.

 

[Erickk120]

Will make sure to check the codes. I have a 2WD -GU6 which is a 3.42 gear ratio from my research. I need this to tow a utility trailer for my lawn care company so I am desperate right now.

So if the codes/gear ratios dont match should I still use them or no?

If your truck is 2wd, it shouldnt be a problem, if it is 4wd you can still use it as long as you dont use 4wd. If the gear ratio is different your speedometer will be off but it can be reprogrammed later with a tuner.