2002 DRW rear end issue!

Hey guys had my rims swapped a while back and about 10min after leaving I notice this..



So I tighten the bolts that somehow all got extremely loose.. Have driven it 3 times for a total of probably 50 miles and notice this after I get home from work..



So I'm looking for what I'd need to swap out the seal and maybe loctite to keep the bolts from backing? Also what would be the best oil to put in the rear end after I drain it?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

All you need is the axle shaft gasket. NAPA will have it. Use blue loctite on the bolts and torque to 95ft lbs. Unless you tow heavy all the time just use the gear oil weight recommended in the owners manual and a friction modifier for the limited slip


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Didn't notice this was a chevy. Thought it was a dana 80.Shouldn't need the friction modifier. I've had zero luck getting any aam parts from my local napa . May have to order it online


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

GM spec is 136 ft/lbs on those bolts on the 11.5 AAM.

x2 on the blue loctite and NAPA metal gasket.

TheBac said:

GM spec is 136 ft/lbs on those bolts on the 11.5 AAM.

x2 on the blue loctite and NAPA metal gasket.

Click to expand...

Is that the same torque for the aam in a dodge? I know the dana 80 is 95 and have had a few of them break from over tightening. Same bolts for the 2 axles


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Not sure on the Dodge, but yeah....its a lot. Surprised me the first time I had to change out my axle seals.

Who did the wheel exchange?

Just so happens the bolts that hold the axle to the hub are 3/4"/19mm just like most GM cars of that era. Some kid with an impact may have hit those bolts and wondered why the wheel didn't come off.

I only say/suggest it because I've seen the quick lube kids at my shop accomplish the exact same thing. They didn't say anything, let the truck go after they figured out how to tighten the axle back up and rotate the tires, truck was back in a hour or so looking just like your pictures... I tried to zoom in on your picture and I don't really see any evidence of the bolts being loosened up, but it gets pretty blurry on my phone.

smokinVE said:

Who did the wheel exchange?

Just so happens the bolts that hold the axle to the hub are 3/4"/19mm just like most GM cars of that era. Some kid with an impact may have hit those bolts and wondered why the wheel didn't come off.

I only say/suggest it because I've seen the quick lube kids at my shop accomplish the exact same thing. They didn't say anything, let the truck go after they figured out how to tighten the axle back up and rotate the tires, truck was back in a hour or so looking just like your pictures... I tried to zoom in on your picture and I don't really see any evidence of the bolts being loosened up, but it gets pretty blurry on my phone.

Click to expand...

I took it to Ralph and Sons Tire in Chickasha, OK and I was talking to the guy I traded rims with while they were doing the swap for us. Of course I did not watch every small thing they were doing..

I took it back the next morning to ask if they knew what might have caused that and the manager talked to me like I was stupid for thinking that had anything to do with them switching the rims around.. But they ALL were loose enough to twist them by hand about 20mins after I left the tire shop.. He said "what if we change a tire and someone's radio stops working do we fix it too?" lol I called him an idiot for comparing the two


I tightened the bolts and then took that picture but every one of them I could twist with my fingers.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Sorry to hear, chalk it up to lesson learned. 50$ in gaskets, lockTite, gear oil and lots of Dawn to clean all that mess up.

Okay guys I did all the steps I thought I needed to take and when I initially went to put the axle shaft back in I couldn't get the holes to match up.. I even made a mark on them so I knew what hole went where(don't know if that matters).. I noticed all the splines were the same and eventually got it in and bolted down..

Will that cause an issue considering the same holes I marked did not match up??

Thanks!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

No it will not cause any issues.