1972 1/2 ton 10 bolt rear axle clips - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

vics stuff · 12-13-2019, 04:03 AM

What I have is a original 117,000 mile unmolested 1/2 ton 2 wheel drive truck. The other day i noticed that my real axle had a weird clunking sound. I got home and looked at it. I found out that i had somewhere along the way developed a right rear axle seal leak. I also noticed that when i rock the truck from side to side i hear and see that i have about a 1/4" side play in the axle .
My question is there a shim kit available to shim the rear axle side play . Getting ready to do a complete brake rebuild but now I have rear differential issues.
Any help is appreciated

notsolo · 12-13-2019, 07:10 AM

Not the expert!... Not something you want to shim, the spider gears have shims to center them that's it. There are 2 "C" clips that hold the axles in. That much play could lead to a clip falling out and the axle after it. You need to pull the cover and check whats going on.

vics stuff · 12-13-2019, 11:29 AM

notsolo ! That is what I recall messing with one about 20 years ago but was not sure. My truck is kept 3k miles away from me at another place that I have. I use my truck as transportation when I am down there visiting , this time while down there I had noticed these symptoms. My next trip down , I am going to tear into this and see what is going on. Just wanted to try and get things in place so when I do get there I can fix the problem and be able to enjoy my truck.
Vic

BROWN 70 · 12-13-2019, 03:58 PM

panhard bar bushings? I had to replace mine and it had side to side movement. BROWN 70

*randy500* · 12-14-2019, 01:30 AM

If its posi you can add shims in the clutch pack which brings the gears towards the center tightening up the axles, the c clips get worn and so does the center pin, changing those can help, lots of times the axle end is worn or mushroomed, cant fix that.

vics stuff · 12-15-2019, 01:54 AM

Randy500. Your ideas are exactly what I think is going on with this. I inadvertently did not keep a eye on the diff lube and it was way low. I think the axle clips and the groove are worn from lack of lube. I do have a 12 bolt 72 truck posi that I thought I would install one day. Maybe this is the time.
Will go thru it and replace the axle and pinion seals and do a brake job on this.
Vic

12-13-2019, 04:03 AM	#1
vics stuff Registered User Join Date: May 2011 Location: Reno Nevada Posts: 377	1972 1/2 ton 10 bolt rear axle clips What I have is a original 117,000 mile unmolested 1/2 ton 2 wheel drive truck. The other day i noticed that my real axle had a weird clunking sound. I got home and looked at it. I found out that i had somewhere along the way developed a right rear axle seal leak. I also noticed that when i rock the truck from side to side i hear and see that i have about a 1/4" side play in the axle . My question is there a shim kit available to shim the rear axle side play . Getting ready to do a complete brake rebuild but now I have rear differential issues. Any help is appreciated Last edited by vics stuff; 12-13-2019 at 04:05 AM. Reason: grammar

12-13-2019, 07:10 AM	#2
notsolo Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Md Posts: 2,451	Re: 1972 1/2 ton 10 bolt rear axle clips Not the expert!... Not something you want to shim, the spider gears have shims to center them that's it. There are 2 "C" clips that hold the axles in. That much play could lead to a clip falling out and the axle after it. You need to pull the cover and check whats going on. __________________ http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=635605

12-13-2019, 11:29 AM	#3
vics stuff Registered User Join Date: May 2011 Location: Reno Nevada Posts: 377	Re: 1972 1/2 ton 10 bolt rear axle clips notsolo ! That is what I recall messing with one about 20 years ago but was not sure. My truck is kept 3k miles away from me at another place that I have. I use my truck as transportation when I am down there visiting , this time while down there I had noticed these symptoms. My next trip down , I am going to tear into this and see what is going on. Just wanted to try and get things in place so when I do get there I can fix the problem and be able to enjoy my truck. Vic

12-13-2019, 03:58 PM	#4
BROWN 70 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: central oregon Posts: 145	Re: 1972 1/2 ton 10 bolt rear axle clips panhard bar bushings? I had to replace mine and it had side to side movement. BROWN 70

12-14-2019, 01:30 AM	#5
randy500 Account Suspended Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Tacoma, WA Posts: 6,873	Re: 1972 1/2 ton 10 bolt rear axle clips If its posi you can add shims in the clutch pack which brings the gears towards the center tightening up the axles, the c clips get worn and so does the center pin, changing those can help, lots of times the axle end is worn or mushroomed, cant fix that.

12-15-2019, 01:54 AM	#6
vics stuff Registered User Join Date: May 2011 Location: Reno Nevada Posts: 377	Re: 1972 1/2 ton 10 bolt rear axle clips Randy500. Your ideas are exactly what I think is going on with this. I inadvertently did not keep a eye on the diff lube and it was way low. I think the axle clips and the groove are worn from lack of lube. I do have a 12 bolt 72 truck posi that I thought I would install one day. Maybe this is the time. Will go thru it and replace the axle and pinion seals and do a brake job on this. Vic



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