Rearend out! Help please

[Jp]

Well tonight I was driving home and I stopped at a stop sign. I pushed the gas down and there was a wierd sound.. So I continued to go and hear the sound. I stopped, put it in park, then back into drive and began going again.

It went as normal for a second but then the noise started again and the car wouldn't go anymore. I stuck it in neutral and the noise stopped and I just cruised into my driveway (luckily I was close to home)

I stopped in the driveway and tried to put it in drive and it was making the god awful grinding noise again from the rearend, I stuck it in neutral again to push it down the driveway and it was still making the noise. So I stopped the car in neutral and pushed it down the driveway.

I started it again and put it in 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and Drive and it did it in all gears so I put it in park and it made an awful grinding noise that came from the engine area like when you're in a manual and you put it in gear w/o pushing the clutch.

I think the universal joint in the rearend is out b/c the seal that is between the driveshaft and rearend has been leaking fluid since I got the car, just never got around to fixing it.

So what could be messed up? My gears? My universal Joint? My driveshaft? All of the above?

Where can I get a new rearend from in a hurry? A local junkyard? What years will fit it?

Should I go ahead and see if I can upgrade it to rear disc brakes, lsd, and 3.42's? I'd love to do that since I might have to replace the rearend anyways. What year/make can I pull an upgraded rearend from? Can I get it from a camaro?

Anyways let me know so I can call some junkyards and get it towed to a shop please.

Thanks

Jp

[96 T-Top Bird]

I had the same problem.

Leaky rear end seal so i got it replaced.

A few weeks later SAME noises happened that happend to you.

Turns out i blew 2 pinion bearings..there are 4. Needed those replaced...its a $300-$400 job...if i had to do it all over again i would just a whole new rear end.

I payed $450 to have all the bearings in my rear end replaced...it was a last resort kinda thing due to the fact that i was on vaction while the car was at the shop.

If im not mistaken, there are 4 pinion bearings like where the driveshaft meets the differentail, by the "yolk". If that IS your problem, go w/ a new rear end, its a lot cheaper [img]smile.gif[/img]

[Jp]

Ok I had a mechanic come over and look at it.

He said it was definitely the rear end and it would have to be replaced.

There's a local junkyard that has a similar rearend (3.08, open differential, drum brakes) for $250

$150-200 labor depending on what all is involved.

Is that too high for labor? I called another mechanic and he gave me the same price.

I thought it was a simple bolt off/bolt on deal?

They said the biggest problem was the emergency brake cable. That they'd have to take apart all the brakes to get to where they need to connect that cable to.

Couldnt they just unbolt the cable from the engine area and do it easier that way?

Can someone please give me some info on what is invovled in changing out the rearend?

Do you think I should just get the same rearend or should I try to upgrade to 3.42's, LSD, and disc brakes? That $150-200 labor charge would look a lot nicer if the rearend was an upgrade...

Anyways please give me some feedback.

[96 T-Top Bird]

I would pay about another $100 more and get the 3.42 w/ disk..i've seen them go for around $300-$400.

I heard it takes around 4 hrs to do a rear end swap. Lot of disconnecting things....im not sure what is involved..sorry i couldnt be of more help.

Good luck [img]graemlins/thumbsup.gif[/img]

[DominusEtDeusNatus]

Swap is very easy, do it yourself. I would get a 3.42 rear end.

[DominusEtDeusNatus]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...tem=1817669230

[Blue Flame V6]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by 96 T-Top Bird:
I heard it takes around 4 hrs to do a rear end swap. Lot of disconnecting things....im not sure what is involved..sorry i couldnt be of more help.

Good luck [img]graemlins/thumbsup.gif[/img] <hr></blockquote>

Took me 3 hours to drop my rear off and put it back on.

[MustangEater8251]

took e about 8 hours? of work but I was by myself and doing all the stuff between the hours of 1am and 5 am at night, over 3 days. an i have never done it before.

Upgrade for sure, mine was $408 shipped from ohio with a 1 piece steel driveshaft, its a definete worthwhile mod. Off settig the cost of a replacement one, you are upgrading to 4 wheel disc brakes, 3.42s, and limited slip for like $100-200. Very good mod to do.

[Jp]

*sighs*

i wish i had a choice in this matter but it seems i don't.

i can't find anywhere local with a 3.42 rearend and i can't afford to wait for it to be shipped here b/c i have no transportation to work and am losing $100 every day I am out of a vehicle.

It is going to be fixed today and tomorrow and unfortunately they are just going to replace my rearend with a similar one =(

I wish I could upgrade it in the process but I can't afford to be greedy...

[MustangEater8251]

I know waht you mean, my girlfriend let me pimp her cavalier for the 2 weeks I was out of a car.

[DominusEtDeusNatus]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Jp:
*sighs*

i wish i had a choice in this matter but it seems i don't.

i can't find anywhere local with a 3.42 rearend and i can't afford to wait for it to be shipped here b/c i have no transportation to work and am losing $100 every day I am out of a vehicle.

It is going to be fixed today and tomorrow and unfortunately they are just going to replace my rearend with a similar one =(

I wish I could upgrade it in the process but I can't afford to be greedy...<hr></blockquote>


Why can't they order 3.42 one instead of 3.08? Should be the same price.

[Jp]

don't have time to wait for an order to go through

they found one from a local junkyard but it has 3.08's in it =(

he said it MIGHT have 3.23's in it, they are going to pull it tomorrow and will check to see if it's out of an auto or manual. they said it definitely has drums in back so that means no 3.42's =( but 3.23's are still better then 3.08's right?