i recently went to get an oil change and fuel filter. as soon as they raised my car, i noticed something had leaked all over the bottom around the rear end. i pointed this out, and they checked the oil in the rear end, sure enough, it was dry. i'm lucky i went when i did, or elsei would be paying a crapload for another one. it's the pinion seal, but i'm waiting to have it put on(it's not leaking that badly, it can wait a little bit, i just have to keep a check on it) because i need anew driveshaft. i thought the u-joint was going bad, turns out it's the carrier bearing that connects the driveshaft in the middle. i had to go to a dealer, and apparently you can't buy ONLY the carrier bearing, you have to buy at least the whole front part of the driveshaft. they wanted 700 bucks for it, so now i'm out lookin around in junkyards needless to say. other than that, my car is running great. i just got an egr valve, and it needs a mass air sensor(i think that's what it's called), but the check engine light only comes on once a month for that, so it can wait a few more weeks.

 

same problem here....Friday I am ripping out the rearend from a 95 Z28 and replacing the one in my 99. There is so much play, I can lift the driveshaft up and drain the rearend. Your right, it does suck...You know how many boneyards I had to search to find a rearend.......

 

There is a cheaper way, The two piece shaft can be junked and a new one piece built any driveline shop can do this for around $350, we have done this repair numerous times. You wont find a good shaft at a junk yard. As for the pinion leak, just pop a $5 seal in, check the yoke if it has a groove cut in it you will need a repair sleeve for it. all are avail from your parts supplier.

 

The one piece drive shafts will fit. And look long enough you might be able to find one in decent shape. The rear u-joint can be replaced but you'll need a good parts man to find the right U-joint for your shaft. GM says they can't be replaced because they're glued in.

Replacing the pinion seal is easy, but the ring backlash is adjusted by how tight you make the pinion nut. Too loose and the diff will whine worst then my wife on her birthday and too tight you'll have scrap for a ring and pinion.

 

Dont go through all that trouble. Find aone piece drive shaft out of a Camaro or Firebird from 1982 to 2002. They are all the same length, just take the bracket off for the carrier bearing and put it in.