Found this in Differential! What is it?

[Kclbud123]

Greetings!

This will be my first post since I joined this wonderful forum.  We have a "new to us" 1987 Winnebago Chieftain model 27RU which has been running well for us since we bought it last Summer.  For this Spring, I decided I'd get her ready for the season by replacing fluids, i.e. differential, transmission, brake, motor oil, etc.  I'm not sure what the PO did for these things, so I thought it would be a good idea. 

So the first one to take on was the rear differential fluid which brings me here.  After removing the diff cover and most of the fluid spilling out, I noticed a piece of metal at the bottom of the case.  See pictures. 

I have no clue what this piece is....I don't think me removing the cover knocked it off the differential internals (??).

Can anyone help me out and shed some light on this piece?

Thanks!
KCL

[joev]

is it metal or fibre

[legomybago]

Is it flat?? Maybe a broken piece of shim? idk

[SLEETH]

maybe part of a bearing race/or side diff shim/or part of a positraction plate if equipped/ or part of a seal
looks like metal to me

[Kclbud123]

Yes, this is metal.  Sorry, I should've been more clear on the material.  It's thin metal, but it won't bend at all.

It's not flat either as you can see by the attached picture.

[M & J]

Looks like part of a cone from a limited slip clutch to me.

[SLEETH]

yep part of clutch disc

[Kclbud123]

Okay thank you for the insight....


Hmmm... I was stuck in some mud during the last batch of nasty thunderstorms.  Was moving the rig away from some tress in my backyard, and got stuck in mud.  The rear driver's side wheels were caught in mud, the passenger side was okay.  I was able to get out of the mud by alternating between drive and reverse.  Could this have caused the break?


Sorry, I'm not knowledgeable with differentials and such.


Is this a total rebuild of the differential?  Can I drive it to a shop without causing more damage?

[BrianB]

That should be a Dana 70HD rear end. Look at the differential from the driveshaft end, looking back on the upper flange, driver's side it should have the 70HD letters on it to tell for sure.

[SLEETH]

im sure if you reinstalled the fluid= you could drive it to the shop to be repaired

[Kclbud123]

SLEETH: thanks for the insight on that


BrianB:  I'll check tomorrow morning an report back.  I always thought I had the GM Corporate 10.5, guessing from the number of bolts and the shape of the cover.  NOOB question:  What's the difference?

[SLEETH]

take a pic with the cover back on and should be able to confirm dana or gm corporate

[Kclbud123]

Okay will take a picture...


BTW, anyone have tips for getting rid of baked in gasketing from the cover and the case itself?  I know I should not use sand paper or a razor blade...Brake cleaner barely gets the material off.


Thanks

[SLEETH]

small propane torch with wood chisel makes quick work of it
just heat it up & srape

[LJ-TJ]

Or a dermal with a brass wire brush.

[bluebird]

SLEETH: thanks for the insight on that
Won't be no corporate 10.5 rear end in a MH
BrianB:  I'll check tomorrow morning an report back.  I always thought I had the GM Corporate 10.5, guessing from the number of bolts and the shape of the cover.  NOOB question:  What's the difference?

Won't be no corporate 10.5 rear end in a MH  they just aren't heavy enough, 1/2 ton pickup is the heaviest vehicle the 10.5 was in . Probably either  a dana 60 or 70, and that is part of a limited slip package. Don't know how far you have to drive it, but if those parts start coming apart and get between the ring and pinion it will be chewed up and may get in the bearings. Need to get it repaired as soon as possible.

[Kclbud123]

Bluebird thanks for the reply!

[BrianB]

Probably either  a dana 60 or 70

If it's a 27-foot 1987 Chieftain, then I would bet money that it's a Dana 70HD. Because that is what I have in my 31-foot 1986 Chieftain. It has a similar cover shape as the GM 10.5", but you'll note that the Dana 70 has only 10 bolts holding the cover on.


http://www.sierragear.com/differential-identification/ is a good guide for visual identification.

[Kclbud123]

BrianB:  Thanks for the link.  From the images on that site, I do think I have a corporate 10.5.  My diff cover has 14 bolts.

Also, I took a picture of the exterior of the diff case to show the markings that I could find.

[Kclbud123]

Here are some pics of the internals for better reference of what I have.

[M & J]

Would help to see the whole chunk bearing to bearing.

[Kclbud123]

Good point about needing to see the whole diff.
Here goes...

I'm looking through the manual (ST-333-87 Chevrolet Light Duty Truck Unit Repair Manual) that's in the members area and I see page 153 Fig 64 has an exploded view of the corporate 10.5.   From what I can see, my diff matches this one. Not sure where I'd see the limited slip components(??)

Right now, I'm trying to get the old baked on gasket material off the cover.  Propane torch and wood chisel, brake cleaner and some off brand contractor grade Goof Off is s l o w l y making progress.

[bluebird]

That's actually called a 14 bolt, it has a 10.5 inch ring gear. A corporate 10.5 has 10 bolts on the cover and the ring gear is 8.25 inch or close to that.  That does look like a coned type limited slip. That piece probably came out from behind one of the axle gears.


Looks like the ring gear bolts hold the 2 halves of the carrier together. I'd try to find the those pieces before tearing in to this.  Don't know if that was made by eaton or not, but those parts maybe available at a chevy dealer. I bought new clutch packs for my 8.5 10 bolts from our local chevy dealer but they had to order them for me. Wasn't too bad. A new eaton posi is around $600 to 700 bucks. I'll see if I can find a rebuild kit for the 14 bolt.


That may even be a open rear and the parts are readily available for it. Unfortunately you will probably have to tear it down to confirm. Summit and Jeggs both have the spider kits for this rear end. 

[Kclbud123]

Bluebird thanks for any insight you can provide!

I found 2 more pieces about the same size as the first and a little piece.  The pic below shows all the pieces that I could find.  I arranged them by how they look like they could connect (like jigsaw pieces).

Could these pieces come from a thrust washer? 

[HandyDan]

I think a thrust washer is exactly what it is.  Does it look like this?: