rebuilding a GM 14bolt rear end

[highdesertranger]

did a little more work today.  I have to buy some 1/4" x 4" flat bar and the metal yard isn't open until Monday.  once I get the flat bar and cut it to length I can start welding.  I did get the other air bag ready to weld up today.

this is the upper bracket that came with the kit.  the ears must be cut off.  this is what you saw me doing with the mikita in the last set of pics.

bracket with the ears removed.

here's the two pieces that mount the air bag and the air bag.

here they all are temporarily put together.

here is everything set in place.  with the 1/4" flat bar I will tie the upper air bag mount to the new cross member.  there are two crossbars(the piece held in place with the clamps). hopefully tomorrow.  highdesertranger

 

[SternWake]

That is certainly one Burly Axle.

I'd feel better with a full floating axle rather than a semi floating axle. The 3/4 ton Dodges are kind of Iffy with a semi floating 9.25 axle and 5 stud wheel patterns rather than 8 studs.

when my original 8 3/8 axle failed, I got a junkyard 9.25 with the same 3.55 gearing. It was louder than my 8 3/8.

After researching it, and seeing all these special tools needed, I called a driveline shop and just bit the bullett. Turns out the junkyard Axle had a bent housing. they straightened it and did a good job painting it too, as it still looks good 7 years later. But it cost my 800$ on top of the 500$ for the junkyard axle.

That was the last place to work on my Van.

 

[highdesertranger]

yeah full floating axles are nice. the load is not supported by the axle shaft but the wheel bearings and they are huge compared to a semi floating axle. the 14bolt has a 10.5" ring gear, pretty massive. highdesertranger

 

[highdesertranger]

ok got round up done,  and got a break in work,  so got some more done on the axle today.  I got the new cross member all tack welded up and got all the brackets tacked on the axle.  I wanted to get the welding done but after doing all the tack welds I was done for the day.  all the tacking was done in place under the truck and I am not as young as I used to be,  what a pain in the ......  anyway here we go.

the brackets before welding 3/8 flat bar,  cut to fit.  these tie the upper air bag mount to the cross member.

portable welder

the air bag assembly,  lower mount,  air bag,  upper mount.  with protection to keep sparks off the rubber air bags.
highdesertranger

 

[highdesertranger]

here's some more.

cross member all tacked up and out from under the truck.

another view.

axle with the brackets tacked on.
tomorrow I hope to get everything welded up.  then painted.  the it's on to install the locker,  ring and pinion.  highdesertranger

 

[highdesertranger]

ok got everything welded up the other day,  today the cross member and the axle got painted. 

of course I needed paint.

axle all primered up.

axle painted.

and the crossmember painted.
now I have to get some more funds.  I am waiting for pay on 3 different jobs so it shouldn't be long.  I need the new ring and pinion and installation kit.  stay tuned.  highdesertranger

 

[highdesertranger]

ok got some more done.  the ring and pinion came in as did the installation kit.  but I still need the crush sleeve eliminator and cover they are due Monday.  plus it rained from about 2pm yesterday until about 1pm today,  so I didn't go under the truck and finish running the air lines.  so today I cleaned up a little around the shop and got the old carrier bearings off.

these are the tools I use for pressed on bearings and I don't have a correct puller.

first I cut the cage and remove the gage and bearings.

then I cut the inner race(the part that is pressed on).  first I make a cut with the mikita then use the dremil tool to finish the cut(more control).  I don't cut all the way through.  that might damage the part the bearing is pressed to.  I cut as much as I feel is safe then take a cold chisel and splt the race.

presto race comes right off.  next I will take the carrier to my buddies and press the bearings on. 
highdesertranger

 

[highdesertranger]

here's some pics of the parts that came in.

installation kit.

ring and pinion

and here's the locker I will show more detail when I install it.
highdesertranger

 

[highdesertranger]

I just know everybody wants to know how I will pump up my air bags.  easy I have on board air.  a York ac compressor.  these are excellent for OBA.


compressor mounted where the old ac compressor was.  I installed this a couple of years ago and boy it works like a horse going home.

not a very good pic of the distribution post,  the dryer,  and a pressure gauge.  well that's about it.  except this guy and my dog were having an argument.

I guess the crow decided not to come down to the ground and my dog decided not to fly up and get him.
it was dark enough at times today that I had to turn the lights on in the shop.

highdesertranger

 

[highdesertranger]

well it's been awhile but I have gotten a lot done.  the ring and pinion are installed.  so here we go.
installing the locker.

the locker parts and a carrier half.  the carrier bearings are installed.

I labeled things here.  note how few parts a Detroit locker has

side gear installed.

next the spring.

meshing the locking gears to the cross.  this is what does the actual locking.
more to follow.  highdesertranger

 

[highdesertranger]

wow that was weird the one pic got inserted everywhere the other pics where supposed to be. highdesertranger

 

[highdesertranger]

let's see if it works this time.

locker ready to go in.

installing the locker.

both halves.

and the other carrier half.  highdesertranger

 

[highdesertranger]

both halves started,  note the long bolt to hold the to halves together just in case I lose it.

everything lined up,  now I have shorter bolts to keep everything together then I tie wire it and remove the bolts.

this pic shows how I lined everything up,  slip an axle in and turn a little while pressing down.  everything falls into place.  I had to stage this one because I lost my camera man.

the ring gear started.

the ring gear installed.  highdesertranger

 

[highdesertranger]

now the pinion.

new pinion,  pinion bearing,  and crush sleeve eliminator.

lubing up the new races in the pinion carrier.

pinion carrier installed.

more lube.  you really can't have enough.

new York,  oops I mean new yoke I have the angels yankee game playing in the background.  highdesertranger

 

[highdesertranger]

more

running the nut down. notice there is no seal installed this is so I can adjust the bearing preload and adjust if need be.  it was needed had to do it five times.

uhm what was that spec again.

checking the end play,  if you have any end play you will not have proper preload.

checking for proper meshing of the gears.  sorry about skipping ahead but I lost my camera man again.  everything got adjusted and the cover got installed.  the axle is ready to be installed.  stay tuned. highdesertranger

 

[highdesertranger]

well it's finally done actually it has been for a couple weeks.  so after the ring and pinion got install,  the cover went on and the axle got installed.

then the brakes got put on.  pretty drum.

then everything got bolted up and the air bags air lines hooked up.

another shot of the air lines.


notice the air lines are run though protective outer hose where it could rub.  well that's about it except for the tires and drive shaft but I figured you all know about putting tires on.  that's it now I need a smog check.  highdesertranger

 

[highdesertranger]

well just off the top of my head I would say between 4 and 5k. but that includes all the parts, it didn't cost me 1/4 of that because I had been acquiring the parts for years. for instance I traded for the Detroit locker, I got the brand new air bag kit for doing another job, the on board air for the air bags was already on my truck I installed that a few years ago. I did end up replacing all of the bearing with Timken bearings just cause why not I was already there. I also bought new shocks, brakes, axle cover and ring and pinion. so my total cost was about 1,200 without the 250 buck driveshaft. of course a shop is going to add about 40-50% to the parts some shops more. oh yeah I am glad it's done now back to my diesel rebuild. highdesertranger

 

[Milk Hauler]

Looks good. I wish I could knock stuff out like that. I'm still running in circles with last years projects. I did finally strip and insulate the tow vehicle. 94 Blazer.Humungus tranny cooler, huge aux oil cooler, and 2ga 100% copper Lead and grounds redone. I'm waiting on carpet and padding, then I gotta tackle a few more. But I'll never have time for that excellent build your doing. [emoji41] I should drop it off at ur place with a case of something in a cooler. [emoji12]

 

[Gary68]

thats straight up top notch work there hdr,you can wrench on my rig anytime

 

[akrvbob]

How do you like the Detroit Locker? I've heard lots of different stories on their road manners.

I have the 14 bolt in my van and have thought about getting one put in.
Bob