I had my second green bearing fail last week. Not so bad over 17 years and who know how many miles but I think these failures can be prevented. Zilla is always reminding us to take the thrust block out of the differential to prevent the bearings from being side loaded. I had never done this so I pulled the carrier yesterday and it appears that this can only be accomplished by removing the differential (I have an Auburn limited slip) and then removing the ring gear. Is this right, has anybody ever removed a thrust block?

I really don't want to do this and my left handed torque wrench is broken. What if I just grind about .030 off the end of each axle? This would probably make them unusable with stock type bearings but I can't see that being a problem for me. Any thoughts on this?

Based on some information on this site and the internet I am going to use new snap ring bearings on both sides replacing the type that has the retainer staked on.

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If you didn't drive it there, it's not a street car.

I just spaced the axles back using ~0.040" washers under the axle/bearing mount flanges and filled the gaps with RTV and/or foam gasket. This was on the Slantkota with the snap ring bearings. I never removed a thrust block. When I got the truck, they were just bolted in with the axle under thrust load. When I went to swap carriers (different ratio), I decided I better relieve the stress on the bearings and axle mount flanges and the washers were the easiest way to do that.

Lou

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Home of Slant6-powered fun machines since 1988

I don't see a problem with shaving the axles if you want to, Seymour.
Mind the heat, of course, and it's a one-way trip as you said, but other than that you should be fine.

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"A mechanic is Somebody."
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