1988 Chevrolet Astro rear end replacement

Tiny
GABEAREAL
  • MEMBER
  • 1988 CHEVROLET ASTRO
  • 4.3L
  • 6 CYL
  • RWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 145,000 MILES
My differential went bad recently and I feel it would be cheaper to buy a used whole rear end and I cant find any rear ends for my year but I found a 1994 rear end in great conditions so I'm wondering if it is possible to use it if it isn't the same year.
Sunday, October 11th, 2015 AT 9:00 PM

1 Reply

Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,916 POSTS
Visit any salvage yard and ask them. They all have large "Hollander" guides that give every part a code number. You look that number up in the second half of the book, and it will list every year and model that part fits. There are also some web sites just for regular customers to buy parts listed by salvage yards, and those will usually list the years a part will fit in their listings. I'm sorry that I don't know the names of those web sites, and I don't have access to a Hollander guide.

Remember to have the vehicle sitting at normal ride height on the tires before you tighten the control arm bolts. If you tighten them with the new axle hanging down, you'll clamp those bushings in a permanent twist which will greatly reduce their life.

Also be careful with the brake pedal. You'll be disconnecting brake lines so the system will have to be bled. The best way to do that is by gravity-bleeding. I never use a helper to push the brake pedal, but if you resort to that, never ever push the brake pedal more than half way to the floor. Doing so can damage the master cylinder due to the crud and corrosion that build up in the lower halves of the bores where the pistons don't normally travel.
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Sunday, October 11th, 2015 AT 9:54 PM

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