So I recently got my Suburban back from the shop ('97 GMC K1500) after getting new brake lines and a new master cylinder installed. Was backing out of a parking spot a few days later and noticed something strange. As I turned the steering wheel backing up, I heard a small pop and the truck slowed down. Almost felt like 4WD was engaged, but it wasn't. Once I straightened the wheel and put the truck in drive it seemed fine so I didn't think too much of it. Fast forward another 24hrs or so, and it's doing the same thing in drive during tighter turns. I drove it back up to my mechanic's shop (probably a bad idea, won't do that again knowing what I know now) and it turns out that my G80 has stripped nearly all the teeth off the spider gears.
I briefly considered swapping in a junkyard 14 bolt axle, but I'd like to have this truck up and running again ASAP and I've never been a fan of the G80s anyway. So I decided to pull the trigger on an Eaton TrueTrac for the 8.5" 10 bolt. Parts list is as follows, Just ordered everything.
1.) Eaton TrueTrac carrier, part number 913A481 ($560 from Quick Performance on Amazon)
2.) Eaton master differential install kit, part number K-GM8.5SR ($140 from Summit Racing)
3.) Richmond Gear 3.73 ring and pinion, part number 49-0041-1 ($280 from Amazon)
Did some brief research this morning before ordering and I think these are pretty decent selections for what's on the market as of today. I was going to use the Motive R10REMKT master install kit as they're supposed to come with Timken bearings, but I saw a note on Summit Racing that basically says they can't guarantee the brand of the bearing supplier so I decided to go with the Eaton kit. No idea what bearing supplier Eaton uses in their kits, but I'd like to think it should be decent. The Richmond Gear R&P set is supposedly made in Italy, I'll verify when they show up.
I'll update this thread with the results and let everyone know if any issues arise. Basically just posting this to vent and share experiences but if anyone has any input I'm all ears.
Didn't really want to spend all that cash at the moment but oh well, at least the 'burb should do better burnouts now.
I briefly considered swapping in a junkyard 14 bolt axle, but I'd like to have this truck up and running again ASAP and I've never been a fan of the G80s anyway. So I decided to pull the trigger on an Eaton TrueTrac for the 8.5" 10 bolt. Parts list is as follows, Just ordered everything.
1.) Eaton TrueTrac carrier, part number 913A481 ($560 from Quick Performance on Amazon)
2.) Eaton master differential install kit, part number K-GM8.5SR ($140 from Summit Racing)
3.) Richmond Gear 3.73 ring and pinion, part number 49-0041-1 ($280 from Amazon)
Did some brief research this morning before ordering and I think these are pretty decent selections for what's on the market as of today. I was going to use the Motive R10REMKT master install kit as they're supposed to come with Timken bearings, but I saw a note on Summit Racing that basically says they can't guarantee the brand of the bearing supplier so I decided to go with the Eaton kit. No idea what bearing supplier Eaton uses in their kits, but I'd like to think it should be decent. The Richmond Gear R&P set is supposedly made in Italy, I'll verify when they show up.
I'll update this thread with the results and let everyone know if any issues arise. Basically just posting this to vent and share experiences but if anyone has any input I'm all ears.
Didn't really want to spend all that cash at the moment but oh well, at least the 'burb should do better burnouts now.
