The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot '60-'66 Trucks Rear end fried?

A while ago I posted about "stiff gearing" in my truck...after driving for a while, it seems to have a gear clicking feeling when going around turns really slow...almost feels like its riding on tracks instead of wheels. A number of you said it likely has a positraction rear end in it, which does this if the wrong fluid is put into the rear end. I was also told that to check to see if it is a positraction, jack the back end up, leave it in neutral, and turn one of the wheels...if the other one turns the same way, its a positraction. I tried that, and the wheels turn in opposite directions. So maybe it's not a posi...in neutral, if I span one wheel clockwise the other one would go counterclockwise, but slower than the wheel I'm spinning. The driveshaft would spin as well. I put it into all four gears, and reverse, and with all gears, the wheels span in different directions, but at the same speed this time, and the driveshaft didn't spin.
Also, while I had the rear wheels in the air, I noticed that both of them have a little bit of play in them...I can move them in and out maybe an eighth of an inch or less. Does this rear end seem normal to you guys?

The truck is a 1961 Chevy half ton. I used to have a different 61 Chevy, and never experienced the "gear clicking and stiffening up" thing around corners like I do with this one.
Just curious to know if I'm looking at replacing the guts in the rear axle, or replacing it entirely maybe. I appreciate your opinions!

Your rear end is a non posi.

1/8" end play on axle shafts can / will lead to worn leaky seals which then leads to oil on brakes and a brake job.

I think I would start doing some looking around at that rear end. First thing I would do is get the shop manual
THEN pull the cover and inspect.

Dan Bentler

Slight axle end play is completely normal for axles retained by C-clips on the inner ends of the axles, which is the system used by almost all Chevy rear ends except a few heavy-duty 1/2 ton Dana/Spicer axles in GMC camper rigs.

Unless it's making really loud grinding noises, I'd suggest pulling the rear cover and doing a good flush with spray solvent, replace the cover with a new gasket, and refill it with fresh lube. It might cure the problem, and even if it doesn't, you're only out of pocket for a gasket, some solvent, and a couple of bottles of 90 weight.
Jerry

I've changed the gear oil already...didnt pull the cover though. It has a drain plug...just drained it and refilled. I used 80W90...is there something else that may work better?

I've used synthetic 85W-140 gear lube with good results - - - -it seems to work better at high temperatures. Taking the cover plate off and flushing any metallic residue out will help keep that displaced metal from being its own grinding compound.
Jerry

You can change the grease all you want & any kind of grease & it is not going to fix it if something is wrong with it.

True, but I've nursed a few extra miles out of one by removing the built-up crud and adding new lube.
Jerry

Basically my question is...what IS wrong with it? Curious to know if I could fix it by replacing only some of the parts inside or If I'm gonna be looking at swapping out the entire rear end.

Until you open it up, there's no way to know. Try calling the doctor and telling him "I've got a headache- - - -what's wrong with me?" He's going to tell you to come in for some diagnostic work. Do you have a brain tumor or a hangover? Our wild guesses aren't any more accurate than his would be.
Jerry

Yeah, true for sure. I will open it up after I move into my own place, which is in a few weeks. I will finally have my own garage to work on it...I'm pretty excited about that. My question came out sounding pretty dumb I guess, ha ha...of course there's no way of knowing yet.