I've been chasing a vibration for a few years. (Tugly kind of gig).


I got under the truck as a ritual to lube it front to back including all the joints in the drive line. Out of the blue I just dropped the rear driveshaft to inspect the u-joint closely and repack it manually. I found......(drum roll please) a bead of weld laid against one belly of the yoke. (presumably to take the wallow out of a worn yoke so the u-joint wouldn't shift). Made the truck shake like a cow crapping razor blades at 55 mph.


Moving forward.......I have a 373 open rear end and I plow snow and do a lot of off road (not hard) trips to camp when a posi would be a great benefit.


Anyway. I just ordered a used sterling 10.5 with the right gearing in a locker that came out of a retired (hate to say wrecked) truck.


It will be shipped dry. I know that there is an additive and will do my homework as well before it rolls.


What does the hood say to do before install...(brakes etc are a no brainer). Anything else I should be looking at? I'll blast and paint, etc.


Any ideas besides picking the color pink for paint are appreciated.


Denny

 

You shouldn't need an additive for a locker, only a limited slip.

 

DieselDenny If I were to get a different rear end, The first thing I would do is to remove the rear cover. I would inspect the gears for rust and flaking. I would clean up the inside and inspect for metal. After I cleaned up gears and bearings with brake cleaner, I would spin the bearings to see if they are rough. Worst case I might check the backlash between the pinion and ring gear clearance. Well maybe not worse case, I would check anyway. If it looks good install, put in limited slip additive, gear lube and install.