2000 Z71 Blew Out Rear End

[AlaskanZ71]

So after work on Friday I was out wheeling with some buddies and I got hung up a little in 2wd while running down a mudded up creek. I was attempting to pull back in reverse and then decided to put the truck into 4 Low well when I had it in neutral engaged in 4 Low I “very slightly” revved the engine and then dropped it into drive. I did not intend to, so call, neutral drop my truck by any means this was a complete accident. Well when it stopped banging after a few seconds it did drive out of the hole and I then didn’t think I had damaged anything, wrong when I went back into 2wd the truck went no were. O shit! Well I guess I needed a new locker anyway. Yea so my rear end is destroyed the carrier is ok but the spider gears are all in pieces plus the mechanism that operates the locking operation of the carrier is ripped to shreds so I will be taking it to a gear shop on Monday to be rebuilt, or calling somewhere and ordering a Detroit Locker depending on the price of a rebuild. I am in Fairbanks Alaska and there is ONE gear shop in this city. So my second opinion is limited for prices, does anyone have a past with a problem like this? Thanks O and soon I will post pics of the parts and pieces. I do think its cool having a front wheel drive truck though. LOL the only thing I could do was laugh and think damn I wish the U joints would have blown first, you know. O well

[skipr]

Yea, I had this happen but alot worse. I was getting a bad bump/clunk sound on right turns. then it finnaly just made a horriable load bump! the truck was completely unmovable. got it towed, to the local high school auto shop ( it was summer and I had a set of keys to the school) I opened up rear end and it looks like a bowl of chilli running out, little pieces of the entire carrier. when carrier snaped the ring gear turned all of the parts like a blender, pinion gear was stripped of most its teeth too.I repaired the entire rear (diff.,pinion w/all new bearings, seals,ring gear) and left the mess for the kids when they return in september.lesson learned....get a diff with a strong case, and never trust me with the keys to your school.

[jumpingjack66]

I've been told these GM lockers are very fragile although i've been unable to blow mine up yet. I would say if aftermaket reAR end is cheaper or close i go with that...JJ