I need to know my exact rear axle size and.

Tiny
JESSEHDORMAN
  • MEMBER
  • 1994 PONTIAC FIREBIRD
  • 231,000 MILES
I need to know my exact rear axle size and spline number for this car before I replace the spider gears with a mini spool, there is a ton of popping from my rear axle and a lot of play in the wheels when up on stands. My u-joints are still good
Sunday, November 18th, 2012 AT 5:40 PM

14 Replies

Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
Remove the axle and measure and count.

There should be a tag on the rear. Use those numbers as well

Roy
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Sunday, November 18th, 2012 AT 6:39 PM
Tiny
JESSEHDORMAN
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  • 8 POSTS
My tag is missing
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Sunday, November 18th, 2012 AT 6:40 PM
Tiny
JESSEHDORMAN
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And what part do I count, yeah, I sound dumb, but ive never delt with axle issues
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Sunday, November 18th, 2012 AT 6:42 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
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Count the splines on the end, length and diameter

Roy
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Sunday, November 18th, 2012 AT 6:44 PM
Tiny
JESSEHDORMAN
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Shouldnt it be a 7.5" 10 bolt rear end? Im just trying to find out the number of spline I have, whether its 26, 28, or 30 before I open the case up and lose all the oil
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Sunday, November 18th, 2012 AT 6:54 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
You need to open it up to remove axle and then count the splines.

You never know what the factory put in there.

Roy
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Sunday, November 18th, 2012 AT 6:57 PM
Tiny
JESSEHDORMAN
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Good point, thanks
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Sunday, November 18th, 2012 AT 7:03 PM
Tiny
CJ MEDEVAC
  • MECHANIC
  • 11,004 POSTS
WHEN YOU'VE GOT IT UP IN THE AIR

AND TURN THE REAR WHEEL ON ONE SIDE

WHICH DIRECTION DOES THE OTHER WHEEL GO?

THE MEDIC
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Monday, November 19th, 2012 AT 12:30 AM
Tiny
JESSEHDORMAN
  • MEMBER
  • 8 POSTS
It turns the opposite direction
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Monday, November 19th, 2012 AT 3:26 AM
Tiny
CJ MEDEVAC
  • MECHANIC
  • 11,004 POSTS
"POPPING" IS ALSO A SYMPTOM OF A "POSITIVE TRACTION" DIFFERENTIAL'S CLUTCHES LACKING LUBRICATION

THE POSSIBLE FIX MIGHT BE INSURING THE POSITIVE TRACTION ADDITIVE "WAS INSTALLED" WITH THE GEAR OIL----AND HAS BEEN MAINTAINED (WITH NO POSI-JUICE ADDITIVE, THE CLUTCH PACKS GET EAT UP AND THEN CAUSE SLOP)

DRIVING REALLY TIGHT FIGURE "8s", OVER AND OVER (LIKE 10 TIMES) GET'S THE PACKS LUBRICATED AND THE "POPPING" STOPS

MOST UNFORTUNATELY, WITH YOUR WHEELS "GOING IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS", RULES YOU OUT FROM HAVING A POSITIVE TRACTION SYSTEM

. SORRY! I THOUGHT I'D CHECK

YOUR VIN NUMBER MAY ALSO CLUE YOU IN ON YOUR AXLE AND RATIO

AS WELL AS POSSIBLY SCRAPING THE RUST AND CRAP OFF OF THE AXLE TUBES NEAR THE DIFF---NUMBERS MIGHT BE FOUND STAMPED ON THE FRONT SIDE OR THE BACKSIDE OF THE TUBES

THE MEDIC
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Monday, November 19th, 2012 AT 3:45 AM
Tiny
JESSEHDORMAN
  • MEMBER
  • 8 POSTS
Thank you for your guys feedback, I was however curious if my course of action will possibly fix my problem if my spider gears are damaged also, I was considering replacing them with a mini spool to create posi trac and eliminate the bad gears, im really hopinbg my ring and pinion arent going bad, since my rear also whines a bit in reverse and while in drive, I have a automatic tranny.
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Monday, November 19th, 2012 AT 4:07 AM
Tiny
CJ MEDEVAC
  • MECHANIC
  • 11,004 POSTS
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ARE A DIYer

I REALLY DON'T KNOW A LOT ABOUT HOW YOUR REAR IS SET UP

I DO SUGGEST YOU DO SOME MORE RESEARCH, MAYBE GET YOU A REPAIR MANUAL IF YOU DON'T HAVE ONE

I, NOT TOO LONG AGO WAS "CHATTING" WITH A JEEP CJ GUY, WHO, FROM TIME TO TIME UPDATES ME ON HIS FIXES, OR ASKS ME MORE QUESTIONS

THIS GUY IS A REAL "GO GETTER" AND HAS REBUILT HIS STANDARD JEEP REAR AXLE.....DIY!

THE COOL THING IS HE SENT BACK LINKS AND MADE PICS AS HE WENT

HE WAS SO VERY CAREFUL, AND DID HIS TASKS BY THE BOOK, "CLOSE ENOUGH" WAS REALLY NOT PART OF HIS VOCABULARY......HE GOT IT PERFECT!.....A LOT WAS JUST "STICKING TO IT"

https://www.2carpros.com/questions/1985-jeep-cj7-inconsistent-curb-idle-low-power-hi-rpms/page/9

THIS IS PAGE 9, WHERE WE SORTA START HITTING THE SUBJECT

ALTHOUGH THE "JEEP SETUP" IS MOST NOT EXACTLY LIKELY LIKE YOURS (BUT SIMILAR)---YOU WILL SEE HIS CONCERNS AND HOW HE GETS IT DONE (JUST THE PART WE SEE) THIS KINDA TASK REALLY NEEDS TO BE AS PERFECT AS POSSIBLE, THIS IS THE LAST TRANSITION OF POWER TO THE WHEELS......AND IS CONSTANTLY IN MOTION

THE MEDIC
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Monday, November 19th, 2012 AT 5:20 AM
Tiny
JESSEHDORMAN
  • MEMBER
  • 8 POSTS
My car I found on craigslist out of valley center, ks for $1,000 running and driving, they failed to mention that it had been in a rear end wreck at some point and it was hit from the side straight into the rear wheel im thinking thats where my damage was caused. Not to mention and I do quote litterally ever single bushing front to back is shot and banging and squeaking, lol. I got took on this one, lol. But hell thatnks to gm shutting pontiac down and killing trans ams and firebirds in 2002, I know ask myself is this collector worth fixing right now? Lol
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Monday, November 19th, 2012 AT 5:30 AM
Tiny
JOSHSTONE1992
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
I also need help in determinating what exactly rear end I have. I know I have a 373 10 bolt rear end. 30 spline I belive. I have a 373 rear end already out their and I tried replacing with my 1999 gmc sierra 1500 373 rear end but the races were different. And bearrings were different as well. But its a 373 so I'm not sure what the problem is. I just measured the race. And its 2.8. Somethen. Its one notch away from being 3 inches outer diameter race. I just need to know what spider gears I purchase to fix my truck. Thanks for anybody who replies.
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Tuesday, May 10th, 2016 AT 10:51 AM

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