front diff

[98k1500]

in my 98 k1500 z71, i...uh...split the upper left mounting brace for the diff carrier, can i have it welded or should i get a new or remanned front diff? it is aluminum, i dont really want this diff any more, i replaced a seal in the right axle tube that was leaking, started leaking again, less the 500miles later, has to be a bad bearing, the shaft probably isnt riding center in the bearing and has already worn down the seal. will have to fix that too... does anyone make rebuild kits for an entire front diff? what can i do?

how in the **** do you crack the mounting brace on the pumpkin of the front diff? how in the he!! is this possible, i never noticed it before, but i dont abuse the truck, have only fed cows........ never mind think i maybe know how it happened, tell me if this senario is possible cause...

in december i was coming home from christmas shopping, it was snowy, the highway was fine, but i pulled into the turn lane and was fine until the intersection, the corner was slick, my abs kicked in and i knew i couldnt make the turn without hitting the ditch, so i straightened out and went off the road into the grass and went out the other side and on my way,
about a week later, i was going down a dirt road that had packed snow on it and i started to fish tail the rear end on purpose, i was driving in the middle of the road, flat spot before going up a slight hill so i can see anyone who is coming down the grade a half mile away... any way the rear end caught the left ditch and i slowed down till i got my traction back... aint done anything since... it dont take much of a thrill to put the fight out of me... do you think this could have done it, still, there was no volitile impact on either trip... just slid and went fourwheelin, didnt hit anything either time... i m lost as to what caused this, any and all help would be much appreciated

[keithr0005005]

from what you described there is no way in **** that you cracked it doin that. i wheel my truck and beat the cr@p out of it all the time and i have never done that and i have tons of friends who are ten times worse with the same model truck that have never done that. you'r best bet is to go to the junk yard and get another one just make sure its the same gear ratio.

gu6 = 3.42
gt4 = 3.73
gt5= 3.73
gt6= 4.10

i can almost guarentee you if its a z71 its most likely 373 the vin codes are in the glove box

[98k1500]

i know the codes in the box and i have 373s... i want to know wtf could have put so much stress on the mount that it split from the carrier? do you know what kind of stress it would take to split that? not any part of the diff is broken, twisted, nothing... i dont want to spend alot of money fixing it, but i do know a welder that can tell me if it will hold... he's pro so he knows what will hold, break, line up... i am going to try this first... but i still want to know what could have caused that?

[keithr0005005]

well it is cast aluminum so they are fragile. i'm sure a solid whack in the right spot can split one i've just never personally seen it done.

[98k1500]

thanks man... still think i will have it welded first, tight for cash right now, after pay day and tax return, will think about replacing, will probably just rebuild though,, thanks again

[jimbo543]

weld it, have seen repairables welded, work fine