Bearings went out in the Rear end in July....installed all new ones...no problems with the gears or anything else...(took 3 days to go out) Headed down the freeway on Halloween and start hearing that lovely sound...pull off the freeway trying to get to some place a tow truck is gonna make it into that isnt inside the ghetto....it says uh huh not moving no more...sounded like there were chains rolling around back there...so this time it took all of 10 minutes to go...Any idea WHY its eating rear ends? Im replaceing EVERYTHING this time...car is my weekend driver Its got speed but Im not looking to blow the sound barrier or my bank account....any ideas on what gears/bearings I should use? upgrading to 373.

 

This is what I got http://www.thunderracing.com/catalog...&vid=4&pcid=68.

 

Was the rearend work professionally done by a shop? Setting one up is tricky, it almost sounds like that is the case where it wasn't put together correctly. My other guess is that your car is making more power then the rearend can handle, but you don't have a signature with basic info on your car, might not be a bad idea to add one.

 

Yea, if it wasn't installed properly that would easily explain your issues.......to tell you the truth, even half of the shops out there(or more), aren't any good at setting a rear end up properly... many of them end up breaking prematurely, well under the power level at which they should break, and whining heavily after a gear install........If you want it to be as perfect as possible, find a shop that specializes in JUST rear axles and ring and pinion installations and that will take the time to use marking compound and adjust for the correct gear mesh(both coast, and on power)............oh and I've always had the best results from www.precisiongear.com for ring and pinion gears, they do tend to run a bit more money , but well worth it..... Joe

 

Sounds like an improper install to me.

 

What kind of backlash are you setting them up at? Sounds like they are in a serious bind when you are putting them together.

 

seeing as you have to replace it all and you should, look into the richmond pre built. they are nice, and go 3.73 or youll tank your gas milage.

 

Are you sure the shop topped the fluid off completely??? May seem like a silly question but low fluid can cause bearings to heat up and fail prematurly.

 

Sorry about the little info...Its a stock 96 LT1 Trans Am, Havent done any mods to it since it is the daily driver....all mods are on my 68 Nova...The works was done proffessionally by the only good driveline shop around here, but since they only offer a 90 day warranty of course I get to pay all over....only this time got a buddy who only works on F Bodies and Rears happen to be a specialty of his....soooo thats where its going this time...he gave some ideas on why it was eating my gears but I thought I would ask for some more insight...so THANK YOU...

 

i got some brand new richmond 373's for sale just pm me