Gears blown out poll

[kenny-1907]

Ok, i figured i would start a poll about the gears going in your silverado's ect. It is more of an information poll rather than having alot of choices to vote on, the more info the better.

Did you buy your truck new or used, if used what was the mileage.
Did you ever change the gear oil, if so how often.
At what mileage did they blow up.
Was there a posi in at the time.
Were you being "rough" on it at the time.
What gearing and tire size.

That is about all i can think of at the moment but feel free to add what ever you feel is important info.

[kenny-1907]

well i guess i will toss my info in.

Bought the truck used with aporox 70,000 km's on it.
Had the gear oil changed shortly after purchase.
Gears blew out at just over 97,000 km's.
No posi was in at the time.
Was not abusing it at the time and for what some might call abusing, i have been alot rougher on past trucks with larger tires and same size diff's/ gears without problems.
Tires are 255/85/16's with 3.73 gears.

[99redsilverado]

bought it used with 79k miles
changed the gear oil every 30k since it was new
it blew up at 100k miles
factory posi
i was not being rough at all
285/75/16s with 3.73 gearing

[HanibalTheCannibal]

bought with 38K miles
Have had it for 3K miles.
Will change diff fluid at recommended intervals.

I better not lose my rear-end

[kenny-1907]

Originally Posted by HanibalTheCannibal

bought with 38K miles
Have had it for 3K miles.
Will change diff fluid at recommended intervals.

I better not lose my rear-end

Well you won't be changing your gear oil then. I just read my manual and at 7500 miles it says to change the oil if you use it for towing and the change is recommended after the break in period which is 500 miles of towing, and that is it. All the way up to 200,000 miles , 332,000 kilmoeters it does not recommend changing it again , just check the level and add as necessary.

[jers99z]

I have 80k on my truck and i have never changed the diff oil. It gets checked every oil change, but its never low. Now my question is: Was a different rear-end put in the different model trucks, it seem that most of you with the problem have truck with the 4.8 set up. Now i have a Z-71 Off Road w/ a towing package and a 5.3. Is it possible that the rear ends in these trucks have stronger parts.

[kenny-1907]

Interesting how the poll is almost even.

[broughy84]

A friend of mine on the Fire Department has a 2000 GMC Sierra, (basicly the same truck) He bought it used 2 years ago with 45k on the clock, I had to replace his gears at 52k. He was furious. He babied this thing and it was own by an old man here in town who babied it too. There is no way there was any abuse on the truck. The gears are just plain out and out junk. He showed me the gears after he had them replaced for $800, and they were absolutley destroyed.

[kenny-1907]

Originally Posted by broughy84

A friend of mine on the Fire Department has a 2000 GMC Sierra, (basicly the same truck) He bought it used 2 years ago with 45k on the clock, I had to replace his gears at 52k. He was furious. He babied this thing and it was own by an old man here in town who babied it too. There is no way there was any abuse on the truck. The gears are just plain out and out junk. He showed me the gears after he had them replaced for $800, and they were absolutley destroyed.

Did they look something like this ?

[tRustyK5]

I have to assume the majority of you have 10 bolt rears with Gov-locks. That is a very marginal diff, with a fragile locker...especially in a fullsize truck with a decent amount of power.

You can wring your hands all you like, change the lube as often as you want and chances are it'll still frag itself well before it should.

2 things you should all be aware of. 10 bolts are weak, and Gov-locks suck (as well as being weak). You don't have to believe me...just start another poll asking guys with 3/4 tons how often they blow chunks through the diff cover...

Rene

[kenny-1907]

Originally Posted by tRustyK5

I have to assume the majority of you have 10 bolt rears with Gov-locks. That is a very marginal diff, with a fragile locker...especially in a fullsize truck with a decent amount of power.

You can wring your hands all you like, change the lube as often as you want and chances are it'll still frag itself well before it should.

2 things you should all be aware of. 10 bolts are weak, and Gov-locks suck (as well as being weak). You don't have to believe me...just start another poll asking guys with 3/4 tons how often they blow chunks through the diff cover...

Rene

Oh hell , there is no doubt or even a debate that the 10 bolt is a weak diff as well as the governor style locker. Anyone than has owned a vehilce with a 10 bolt in it that has put any kind of decent power to it has most likely upgraded the diff to a larger one. I used to own a full size jimmy that had a 10 bolt in it and stock 350, 3:73 gears with 33's and it destroyed them as well. After going to 4:10's and posi front and rear i did not have any problems. 3/4 ton trucks at the very least have a 12 bolt which is a hell of alot stronger of a diff. But we are getting off topic of what this poll was started for, it would not have been started if there was some debate as to the product reliability and strength. I just wanted to collect some info from people that have had the same problem and to kinda show like you said as well , change the oil all you want , baby it all you want, it WILL happen to most cause it is a weak link, just like the frames at the stering boxes on the older full size blazers and jimmys.

[broughy84]

Originally Posted by kenny-1907

Did they look something like this ?

Pretty much something like that!

[greenz71]

bought my mine used with 32000 milesand now has 180000. it had a complete rearend put in under warranty before i bought it. hasn't had any fluid put in it since then. im very rough on it haven't had any problems runnin 35x12.50s with 373 gears. my cousin had a truck just like mine but with 265s on it and his rear end went out at 40, 90, and 130 thousand miles and we hasn't no where near as hard on his as i am.

[nicez71]

i bought my truck with 35k on it, it now has 73k on it, i beat the ever living piss out of it and havent changed the fluid yet although i plan to soon. havent had a signle issue yet with any of the truck. 03 z71 with 31" bfg a/t's

[silverado122775]

Originally Posted by jers99z

I have 80k on my truck and i have never changed the diff oil. It gets checked every oil change, but its never low. Now my question is: Was a different rear-end put in the different model trucks, it seem that most of you with the problem have truck with the 4.8 set up. Now i have a Z-71 Off Road w/ a towing package and a 5.3. Is it possible that the rear ends in these trucks have stronger parts.

Nope, because my rear-end locked up at 150K miles. Never changed oil.
I installed a Jasper rearend. So far it has been great!