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Technical flat towing after rear rebuild

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by topher5150, Feb 3, 2021.

  1. topher5150
    Joined: Feb 10, 2017
    Posts: 3,353

    topher5150
    Member

    So I got my diff rebuilt about a year or so ago, haven't put any miles on it other than moving it around the yard. I wanted to get it towed to have some work done on it and was thinking about using a car dolly maybe 5 or 6 miles. Would it hurt anything doing it this way or should I trailer it?
     
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  2. fresh hops
    Joined: Oct 19, 2019
    Posts: 67

    fresh hops

    If the rebuild was done right and you have gear lube in the rear end, you should be fine to tow it 5-6 miles
     
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  3. TheSteamDoc
    Joined: Jul 14, 2018
    Posts: 325

    TheSteamDoc
    Member

    It'll be fine. Make sure its topped off.
     
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  4. oldolds
    Joined: Oct 18, 2010
    Posts: 3,407

    oldolds
    Member

    You should be fine. Does the car run? Maybe put it up in the air and Run it a little bit to throw some oil around with no weight on things. Just be advised that it is a dangerous thing to do. Things can go wrong quickly.
     

  5. greybeard360
    Joined: Feb 28, 2008
    Posts: 2,078

    greybeard360
    Member

    Pull the driveshaft if it's an auto trans.
     
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  6. sunbeam
    Joined: Oct 22, 2010
    Posts: 6,218

    sunbeam
    Member

    You can put the rear wheels on the dolly
     
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  7. jaracer
    Joined: Oct 4, 2008
    Posts: 2,438

    jaracer
    Member

    Your rear axle doesn't care if it is being driven by the pinion gear or the rear wheels. Everything inside turns the same and the ring gear acts as an oil pump distributing lube to all the bearings. A potential problem is if you have a transmission connected to the rear axle. Manual or automatic, you can damage the transmission by flat towing.
     
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  8. topher5150
    Joined: Feb 10, 2017
    Posts: 3,353

    topher5150
    Member

    -I think I put about two things of oil in
    -No drive shaft yet.
     
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  9. t1t2.jpg
     
  10. hemihotrod66
    Joined: May 5, 2019
    Posts: 968

    hemihotrod66
    Member

    In the 70's I flat towed a 34 Ford with the original drivetrain in neutral from Dayton Oh to Clovis NM on the interstates and had no issues...
     
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  11. 1971BB427
    Joined: Mar 6, 2010
    Posts: 8,752

    1971BB427
    Member
    from Oregon

    I've flat towed my Austin to the drags 80 miles away numerous times. No issues ever.
     
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  12. COCONUTS
    Joined: May 5, 2015
    Posts: 1,163

    COCONUTS

    Has anyone ever heard of a 58 Chevy powerglide with a rear pump. You can push start the car, as you would a standard or turn the inners of the transmission if you were towing with the trans in neutral? You could lock the car on a slight hill in gear with the engine compression holding the car in place.
     
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  13. I flat towed my '60 Corvette all over the East Coast......removed the drive shaft from the rear and tied it up. Never had any issues with the POSI differential.
     
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  14. 302GMC
    Joined: Dec 15, 2005
    Posts: 7,867

    302GMC
    Member
    from Idaho

    Pull it regardless of what trans it is ...
    Didn't all iron Powerglides have rear pumps ?
     
    Last edited: Feb 4, 2021
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  15. Budget36
    Joined: Nov 29, 2014
    Posts: 13,230

    Budget36
    Member

    New gears or old gears and new stuff inside? If new gears I wouldn’t do it, in my thinking when towing, the ring and pinion would be constantly on the coast side, but either way the gears wouldn’t be “broken in properly “. If used gears, no issues I could see. Bearings getting oil is all that matters.

    Edit: a few miles your talking about just do it.
     
  16. Flat towing was my choice even after I got a trailer.....usually pull the driveshaft for long distance but sounds like you have that covered.
     
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