Technical 55-64 GM Pass Car Rear End Gasket Replacment

This is probably really easy to do but just want some verification. How to change the third member gasket on a 55-64 passenger car rear differential. This is a 10 bolt 8.2" drop out style third member. Any help would be great. Thanks

 

You need to pull both axles out first. There is a hole for a socket in the axle flanges, so you can get to the nuts. Then flip the drum around backwards and put the nuts on a few threads, then use the drum as a slide hammer to free the axles.

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Thanks for the tip. Now once I get the axles out just pull the 10 nuts off the housing clean surfaces replace gasket and reverse process? What about axle seals or bearings, pinion seals or bearings?

 

Made a gasket out of a Wheaties box years ago and with RTV it doesn't leak.
If you intend on driving some serious mileage get rid of the question marks, inspect, replace everything you mentioned.

 

Good point. Thanks for your tips and knowledge. You would think that with all the videos on YouTube you would think I would be able to find one. But nope haha

 

If the bearings feel good, leave them alone unless you're able to find US made replacement parts ...

 

Like F&J said....Easy enough that I used to drive my '56 Chevy to the drags with 3.08 pumpkin in it and jack it up in the pits, pull the axles ( Used a 3 foot logging chain on a lug nut, snapped it back)installed a 4.56 positraction drop in..RACED...jack it up do it all over again...Drive the 80 miles home again....

..only did the Wheaties box gasket 1 time on a 50 Chevy when we broke an axle on the sand dunes at the coast...Boy was that rear end toast when we got home, heard of sawdust in the rear end...but SAND, not good !!

 

Had an old gent teach me that back in the day when you was a poor teen you'd clean the pumpkin and housing, set it in place with about a 1/4" gap then take a piece of kite string and wrap around the housing studs and tie it around the top stud, Smear permatex on the string and push the pumpkin tight and tighten the nuts and go.

Actually tried it years ago on a 9" ford and it worked great actually.

 

Back in the day 80 miles with a 4.56 was no big deal. A early 50s 3 speed chevy came factory with 4.11 at 60 mph which is happier a 235 at 2960 or a SBC at 3300 rpm

 

Cosmo49 has it correctly. Since you have the rear apart, replace what ever is there, or whatever doesn't look good. You know the old saying, pay me now, or pay me later.

 

heres photos of mine apart.........because we like pictures.......