GM 10 Bolt / 8.5" / Posi Differential Overhaul

[@bercar5457]

Hello from Puerto Rico 🇵🇷USA🇺🇸 I’m working on my 2002 Chevy avalanche rear differential and following you step by step. You are my master mechanic. Happy thanksgiving to you and your family.

[@threeriverswrench]

@@bercar5457 Thank you so much!!! Happy holidays!!!🇵🇷🇺🇸

[@kellywidener9799]

I have watched many videos on this installation. I think that yours is the best by far. Very informative and very professional . Thanks and keep up the great work.

[@threeriverswrench]

Appreciate it! Thanks for watching!

[@SteveIngalls-zm5ig]

I agree Kelly! Brian and Three Rivers Wrench are excellent, his episodes are entertaining, informative and helpful. He's a pro not only in how he approaches the project and the mechanics, but also a pro in how he delivers the content.

[@WinterWonderland-s8z]

Awesome work Brian. You make it look easy. First class rebuilding and restoration all the way.

[@garysurovec]

Thanks for this series, i had a 77 coupe and did just about everyting you're doing. Brings back a lot of memories. Nice to see someone who knows how to set up gears, the only thing i do different is use shim packs to set pinion bearing pre load, takes a few times in and out but beats trying to crush that sleeve and overshooting.

[@threeriverswrench]

Absolutely! Thanks so much for watching!

[@olschoolkarate1]

Awesome video. Will definitely reference when do my 68 camaro 8.5 10 bolt.

[@AngelCastillo-xe4zm]

Very specific 👌🫡

[@deltabravo5719]

Thank you for the hours honesty and the real time tool/process helps! Well Done!

[@lordsauto]

Excellent as always 👌

[@dalemihocik4732]

Very impressive video. Your knowledge is off the charts, thanks for sharing a bit of it with us amateurs.

[@RPMlegacy513]

Killer tutorial, thank you! I'm rebuilding an 87 squarebody and redoing the rear end was going to cost me a ton to have someone do it. Understanding pinion gear depth now makes me more comfortable doing this myself, and I picked up the ratech tool to help. Thanks again!

[@threeriverswrench]

@@RPMlegacy513 Great to hear! Glad I could help!

[@pseudosmith9945]

You need to reorient the bearing separator on the press @5:00.. the way your did it loads the threaded rods and tends to bend them.. need to clock the threaded rods another 90° clockwise (OR counter clockwise) and use the "X" plates leaning up next to your setup on both sides to clear the pinion gear to concentrate the load being applied on the solid ends of the separator plates as opposed to the threaded rods... 👍

[@threeriverswrench]

@@pseudosmith9945 Makes sense! Never knew that! Thanks!🙏🏻

[@pseudosmith9945]

Most welcome brother.. great video by the way.. ✌️

[@ron7922]

Like others have commented, very informative. Before this video i was 40% confident in doing my own re-gearing. Now I'm 99% sure i can do it! Thanks for the class!

[@yachtsteve]

Thanks for taking the extra time to cover all the steps. I've watched two or four videos already and they'll cover a lot of the steps, and they'll be a camera edit and then the opinions just installed and they'll go okay we'll set up the backlash, and I'll still be scratching my head thinking we'll wait how did the pinion get in there hahaha anyway this clued me in I'm confident I can handle it now.

[@CHA1NxREACTIONS]

That little trick at 22:30 is pretty nifty 👌

[@racerx7057]

WOW! Absolutely the best. Thanks for making it.

[@chvfrk]

Awesomer, but ,put oil/grease on pinion iner bearing during final assembly, been 20yrs since ive done this so thanks for the remainder of the procedure 😊

[@keithpeverill8521]

Wow, impressive video. Very instructive and much appreciated. Subscribed.

[@threeriverswrench]

@@keithpeverill8521 Thank you!!🙏🏻

[@josecastrejon414]

What a guy ! Awesome video very informative, well presented! I enjoyed watching it

[@threeriverswrench]

@@josecastrejon414 Thank you!!

[@RangariraiTakaendesa]

Perfect

[@JakeOfAllTrades03]

Brother this video is awesome! By far the best I have seen (and I've watched tons at this point). Thank you so much for the in depth explanation and taking the time to share your knowledge with us all. This is going to same me a TON of time and headache when I tackle this project. Keep em' comin!

[@threeriverswrench]

So glad to hear!!Thanks for the positive feedback!! I’ll do my best!!

[@SteveIngalls-zm5ig]

Awesome work Brian, "legendary"!!!!

[@threeriverswrench]

Thank you!!

[@diesel1586]

Thanks for the work, I’m gearing up to do this soon, a little apprehensive, excuse the pun

[@threeriverswrench]

👍🏻Thanks for watching!!

[@bradankney3948]

Or, just measure head of known good pinion set up, with shim and measure new and subtract them to get the same final cluster thickness.

[@reedrobb]

Appreciate the video. I’m in the early stages of converting my 2001 Tahoe to an Apache pick up truck. I’m doing brakes and it has snowballed into considering a rebuild of the rear end. It has 240k on it. This is a weird scraping sound when unloaded, sounds like a spring dragging. Is there an upgrade of gears and housing I should be considering or is stock ok? I’m only running the stock 5.3 vortec and 4l60e. I may want to do some burn outs some day but it will mostly be for cruising my future grand kids

[@andrij66]

Measure! 3/4 ton & above could have 10 bolts, they are more circular & are obviously way bigger than 8.5 The bigger rear ends are HO 50 & HO 52 I'd just like to put this in here for those who are new to the older trucks

[@leewalker120]

i don't remember seeing you put the spring assy back between the side gears.

[@threeriverswrench]

@@leewalker120 Correct. The new unit installed was a different style and did not use that particular part.

[@markt9438]

I'm curious, you did not mention if you do have the number on the pinion gear. In my case I do now what do you do when you have this number?

[@Eluderatnight]

Thats distance from plan on head of pinion to ring axis. You could use the $400 diff tool, the $150 diff tool, a 12" digital caliper and an aluminum bar with a hole in it, or as demonstrated.

[@markt9438]

@@Eluderatnight would be nice if you would show it done ! THX

[@dwainebryant6436]

After you put the shims on the pinion gear and install it was you right on it and what do you think about that tool for checking pinion distance

[@threeriverswrench]

Measurements were within specifications. Tool worked great! I was surprised. Just take your measurements several times to be sure.

[@thesetruths1404]

I've got a 2005 GMC Yukon 5.3L 4x4 with 234,000 miles, all stock. It makes a clicking noise that I can usually only hear with windows down and driving next to something like a wall or tall curb. It only does it when applying gas though, and in a forward gear. I have examined the u-joints and driveshafts and they look fine and tight. It does look original. Do you think this is the issue? Thanks!

[@threeriverswrench]

@@thesetruths1404 Definitely a possibility.

[@John375PD]

Hi, I have a G80 10-bolt and a machine shop removed the pinion bearing for me. Long story short they claimed there was no shim. Does the tool you used determine the correct shim you would need?

[@threeriverswrench]

Yes it will. Keep in mind, it’s rare,but sometimes there is no shim. Doesn’t hurt to check though. Thanks for watching!

[@billdantes1640]

I'm restoring a 70" Nova and am now ready to install brand new diff, pinion & axles on my 8.5 10 bolt housing that I stripped down, cut off the leaf spring seats and welded 4-link brackets and repainted and now ready for all the innards. When you heated up the bearings and put them on the pinion & diff. Was that method done on both sides of the diff & pinion? And was that info in that book you mentioned? Very informational video. Thank you for making it! it explained in detail allot. I have a great understanding of doing this myself now with confidence. I will be watching this several times and most likely while I am installing all my new parts.

[@threeriverswrench]

Yes, heated both bearings to install on the carrier, and you only have to heat the “bottom” bearing on the pinion gear.

[@grahamrice5375]

excellent 😅

[@infamousnova]

So what happens if you can't get the c clips back in to seat 😂

[@threeriverswrench]

Well…..sometimes you can tap the end of the axle with a hammer to push it further in. Don’t swing with both hands though, no He-Man stuff!😄 If that doesn’t work, time to take things back apart and make sure everything’s right.

[@infamousnova]

@@threeriverswrench my problem is getting the c clip on and seated. Can't get the axle to pull c clip in the pocket