Front Diff

[taxman82]

Well my post about a month ago regarding a front wheel bearing has turned into a front diff bearing issue. I had a local place I have been working with take a look at it. They drove it a bit and then decided to drain and check the oil in the front diff because it just didn't sound quite like a wheel bearing. Turns out he found metal flakes. It runs out fine for the time being but I know i have to do something if I want to keep running it.

Now that I have a diagnosis I am looking for your opinions:
Basics
Miles: 176,200
New Tires, Sending unit replaced, water pump done all recently.

The problem is as you probably all know that this is a labor intensive job and nothing I want to try on my own.

So what should I do:
1) Run it until it goes and junk it
2) Have a used one put in (est $1,200)
3) Go big and have it rebuilt and put back in (no estimates yet)

Thanks for your thoughts.
Greg

[maxwedge]

I can tell you rebuilding this diff is not usually the type of job a regular repair shop will tackle, if you go that route make sure the shop is confident it can do this.

[taxman82]

Well that narrows it down a bit to a used replacement or I guess a reman but should I do it is the question in my mind. We use this mostly is the winter as my wife drives a bit for work and she doesn't like driving my truck. We get at least a few bigger snow storms a year so this has worked out well for the past few years. Wishing I kept the 90 jimmy I had now. Rusted out but never had an issue. Then again she wouldn't drive that either.. LOL

[j cAT]

Originally Posted by taxman82

Well that narrows it down a bit to a used replacement or I guess a reman but should I do it is the question in my mind. We use this mostly is the winter as my wife drives a bit for work and she doesn't like driving my truck. We get at least a few bigger snow storms a year so this has worked out well for the past few years. Wishing I kept the 90 jimmy I had now. Rusted out but never had an issue. Then again she wouldn't drive that either.. LOL

since your up around the 200,ooomi area I would not spend much to repair.

replacing the front dif gear oil more often using a magnetic plug to catch debris would get it to run longer. keep tires evenly inflated and rotated so they all are the same wear .

tires of different sizes damage the gears on 4x4.

the 1990 jimmy is not a good vehicle with the high fuel prices of today.they are in the rust belt a rusted vehicle after 10 yrs.

if you get 200K out of this you did quite well .

[Schurkey]

Originally Posted by taxman82

Well my post about a month ago regarding a front wheel bearing has turned into a front diff bearing issue.

So what should I do:
1) Run it until it goes and junk it
2) Have a used one put in (est $1,200)
3) Go big and have it rebuilt and put back in (no estimates yet)

Thanks for your thoughts.
Greg

How can it cost $1200 to stuff in a used-but-usable front differential unit?

$300 for the part, plus a few hundred in labor. Add some fluid and incidentals. What is the "book time" for this job?

A Trailblazer should go well over 200K miles. The spark plugs last 120K or more.

[taxman82]

schurkey you would be correct in most cases unfortunately for me the trailblazer diff is attached to the side of the oil pan with the passenger side passing through the oil pan. So they have to drop the rack, and basically disassemble the entire underside of the front end to take it out. My brother in law is a GM service writer and the book hours are 8.5 total for removal and installation.

I have been thinking about attempting this with his help but I just don't know how much I want to tear into something with this many miles. Might just look for another used truck eventually. Anyway thanks for the response.