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Duramax Suburban - IFS Rebuild

image.jpeg image.jpeg image.jpeg Im reading that the 10.5 has a removable pinion, and the 11.5 doesn't. Guess I got the big dog :-).
 
I was about to say, for sure that's the 11.5 AAM. Nice...this is how GM should have made these burbans...IMO

My brother has the same rear-end in his 2000 3/4 ton burban, but with 4.11 gears (he stole the front end too out of a wrecked truck and swapped both in). But he just rebuilt his 6.0 with some goodies...it still tows really well.

Cool Burb!
 
Well, the burb is down again.

Fiance was driving it when all hell broke loose. Trans isnt' going into gear, brakes are freaking out, speedo is all over, 1 wheel burnouts when in gear, brake warning, etc.

Seems like speed sensors first, then back into the rear axle for the seal that failed again.

Some seems mechanical, some computer. Hopefully my transfer case didn't eat it's speed sensor.

Had to go pick her up, and my parents have to drop the boat back at my house since both trucks I have need work.

Grrr...
 
Well, the burb is down again.

Fiance was driving it when all hell broke loose. Trans isnt' going into gear, brakes are freaking out, speedo is all over, 1 wheel burnouts when in gear, brake warning, etc.

Seems like speed sensors first, then back into the rear axle for the seal that failed again.

Some seems mechanical, some computer. Hopefully my transfer case didn't eat it's speed sensor.

Had to go pick her up, and my parents have to drop the boat back at my house since both trucks I have need work.

Grrr...
I had a buddy that had had a whole list of random things pop up on his 8.1 liter truck and it ended up being a loose connection at a computer.

Something to look at
 
Ok, tore into it. Good and bad.
Transfer case, and associated speed sensor, look physically good. This means that the pump rub problem didn't eat my transfer case.

Ordered speed sensors, can get to them all easily, and will see if that fixes it. Given that it won't go into gear at a stop, i'm thinking the input speed sensor is bad, but i'm replacing all after seeing how badly a malfunction screws the truck up.

Onto the bad. Move the truck into the garage, and notice the drivers rear wheel is crooked. Not good.
A couple weeks ago, i had rear axle seals leaking, and fixed them without incident. Passenger side felt a bit tight when it went back together, but I checked hub temps with a temp gun over the first few hundred miles, and all seemed fine.

Lift up rear, wheel is obviously wobbling. Go to take off shaft, and its broken at the flange, with tons of wear on the shaft from the end of the spindle. Whats left of the shaft won't even come out of the housing, the spindle is so messed up. End of spindle is super egged out = need new axle. Got the nut off, but couldn't pull the bearings. Based on the damage, i'm guessing the bearings weren't seated properly, and loosened up. Adjuster nut and lock were still in tact.

For those keeping score, this is very similar to what i did to my 91 on a wheel bearing job. WTF.

I've got a line on another axle from the guy that built the truck, but need to find it a ride up here. Thinking i'll probably take the donor axle to a shop for a full pro rebuild, as i can't have my truck down like this again, and not sure i trust myself doing it again.

Of course i'm fighting some issues with the 91 too right now, so i'm truckless.

Bad weekend for the truck. And having it down screws up my weekend plans for a bit.
 
I can probably get your axle a ride if I remember everything correctly.

It was the guy up around Boise who did your truck right.

Josh drives to Reno quite a bit. He is there now so it will be a couple weeks before he heads back down.
 
I can probably get your axle a ride if I remember everything correctly.

It was the guy up around Boise who did your truck right.

Josh drives to Reno quite a bit. He is there now so it will be a couple weeks before he heads back down.

Appreciate the offer, but this guy is in CA.

Will be looking for a ride from Atascadero to Truckee or Reno. I'll post up the regional form.
 
The broken shaft totally explains the 1 wheel burn outs, and "slamming" into gear.

Broken shaft, Gov lock rear. Into gear, diff spins until gov lock locks, then breaks other tire loose.
 
For those keeping score, this is very similar to what i did to my 91 on a wheel bearing job. WTF.

I was trying to remember if it was you or someone else who had run into this before. Any idea what went wrong on the bearing install? I'd love to learn from your mistakes if you come up with any advice. :(
 
No idea. The side that went bad was the one that i had the most confidence in.

Looked like this setup was factory original bearings, oil only. No grease. I re-oiled the hell out of them during install, then filled the diff, then dropped each side of the axle down to let it gravity fill with oil for a while, spun the wheel, then did the other side. Topped off gear oil after this event.

I'd love to do this again, and get it right, but i can't afford the down time anymore. Needs to be done once, right. Hopefully I can find a reasonable gear/axle shop in reno to tear my next one down and rebuild before install.
 
Anyone driving up through ca? Willing to make it worth your while to pickup this axle and bring to Truckee!!!
 
Oh man, that does not look good. I can see my blazer like this but my suburban (like yours), a little harder to take. Hope you can get it fixed quickly!
 
The worst part is rear axle bearing work is easy. Why am I incapable of doing it properly?

Doing some mandatory towing with the 91 tomorrow, fingers crossed. Will be fun to be back in the old rig for a bit, but it hasn't left truckee in 6+ months, and has seen zero highway time. Hope it doesn't let me down!
 
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