GM 14-bolt FF Rear End with 149k miles
Hi to all, Our TV is a GMT400 1997 GMC K2500 7.4L Burb with 149k miles. It is 8-lug, 3.73, GVWR 8,600, with GAWR RR of 6,000 lbs for the full floater rear axle. We believe the rear end also has 149...
Forum Discussion
It has been my experience that differentials are not very prone to wearing out... although I did have a friend that was able to grenade the front Dana 30 in his jeep 3 times before he finally upgraded to a Dana 44 (A Dana 30 doesn't care for 36" Swamper tires).
At 150K I would guess the clutches are worn out but once the clutch pack is gone it should function at a regular differential for just about ever.
A 20 year old differential should not be very expensive at the local junk yard if it does blow up on you but being stranded sucks! When I upgraded the front of my 67 F100 with an 82 Ford 1 ton front end with power steering I think I paid all of $200 for the rear Dana 60 so my front and rear bolt patterns would match.
I would look at the wheel bearings before I fretted over the diff too much. Changing the bearings in an axle generally isn't too difficult. The full floaters I have worked on had C clips holding the axles in the carrier in the diff so I had to remove the diff cover to get the axles out. Some axles lubricate the wheel bearings with the diff oil and don't require packing with grease.
At 150K I would guess the clutches are worn out but once the clutch pack is gone it should function at a regular differential for just about ever.
A 20 year old differential should not be very expensive at the local junk yard if it does blow up on you but being stranded sucks! When I upgraded the front of my 67 F100 with an 82 Ford 1 ton front end with power steering I think I paid all of $200 for the rear Dana 60 so my front and rear bolt patterns would match.
I would look at the wheel bearings before I fretted over the diff too much. Changing the bearings in an axle generally isn't too difficult. The full floaters I have worked on had C clips holding the axles in the carrier in the diff so I had to remove the diff cover to get the axles out. Some axles lubricate the wheel bearings with the diff oil and don't require packing with grease.
