97 Tahoe shifts hard and rear clunk

I have a 97 Tahoe with 97000miles that I have had since new. The transmission has started to shift very hard after an extended drive (about 45min). I replaced the fluid and filter at 45K and 90K the fluid has always looked good (bright red). I ocasionally pull a car trailer but not much else except commuting. Another problem that I do not know if is related is a vibration from the rear brakes with pressure applied at slow speeds. After I come to a stop and let off the brake you hear a clunk from the rear. Any help would be appreciated.

I just bought my 97 Tahoe in Apr with 55k on it. It has 59k on it now and I just changed the u-joints. Anyway I had a hard time figuring out what the problem was and I took it to a Transmission place to have them tell me that it was the u-joint. The guy there gave me the low down on this transmission. He said "Expect to replace it anywhere between 90k and 125K." He said there is nothing you can do about it. Even if you keep up on the servicing and never pull anything. I guess the rebuild will last another 100k. There's always the exceptions but he said most of them die around a 100k. Hope this isn't you man. Good Luck keep us informed as to what you find out.

do not think it is the trans pulled rear diff cover and I have some type of posi with also what looks like spider gears. these gears are very loose and when the drive shaft is rotated back and forth you can hear the clunk I was talking about. Do I have to replace the whole limited slip carrier or are parts available for this and if I pull this will I need any special tools to set it back up.

Dude when I opened my diff. the other day it looked foreign to me too. It took me a minute to figure out how to release the axles. I finally got it but I was looking at it I thought to myself, "man I hope I never have to tear into that." I have never broke one down before. Actually it would be pretty cool to learn how to do rebuild one. I'm sure you can get parts for it. Probably a rebuild kit for it.

tk

Are you sure that you have a 'Posi'?

A common problem on the 8.5 'OPEN' rears is that the side and spider gears get worn--real bad. Look at the teeth. Do they have bad 'pitting'? This is the source of you're 'clunk'.

GM sells a gear kit. Don't know the part number off hand.

They give you new side gears, spider gears, thrust washers, cross pin, and locking bolt.

The clunk is combined from the pinion gear to ring gear, cross pin to spider gear, spider gear to side gear, side gear to axle.

Simple repair for the experienced. Less than 1 hour. Kit is roughly $150.

Hey All. I have a 1996 Tahoe and when I turn slow and accelerate I feel a slight grind and when I come out of my turn the rear end clunks. Anyone know what that could be?