bad 83

iTrader: (3)

Ok, I was wanting to know if a warped axle could be straightend. If I can't get the axle fixed, where would I get a new one? If I can't get a new one, can I use the rear end out of an '80 with drum brakes in my '83 with disk? If I have to use the drum rear end, can I use my Lsd in that rear end? At this piont you are wondering what happend. Good question. About a month ago I decided to take a curve a wee too fast, and put the right rear in a ditch. I hit the ditch hard enough to blow the right rear tire off the rim. I'm sure everyone is thinking it's the rim. Well I put my 17s back on and the vibration problem is still there. I have the rear of the car up on stands with the wheel off and the brake off. You can see the end of the axle wobbling. I almost got sick when I saw that. Anyway, any input on helping me fix my stupidity would be greatly appreciated.

Rotor13B

I have an 83 also and had the same problem (sort of) with the right rear axle. I ended up twisting the splines off the end of the axle drag racing. I replaced the left axle with another 83 axle but herein lies the problem. It took me a month to track down a axle assembly because in 83 they used a smaller bearing on the axle. Supposedly all early years use the small bearing but i'm not sure if this is true or not because all the ones I looked at before had a larger bearing than the 83 had.

bad 83

iTrader: (3)

The 83 LSD with disk brakes uses a 4 bolt flange to retain the axle in the housing. The drum brake rear ends uses a 3 bolt flange to hold the axle. 84-85 GSL-LE's uses a completely different rear end all together. This is the info I have. I do not know if the axle it self can be swapped if you remove the backing plate and the retaining flange. I have a 80 parts car just begging to be raped. I just need to know what will work. I have posted a WTB thread if anyone has one for sale.

bad 83

iTrader: (3)

Well, I picked up a complete rearend today from a guy in a local trading paper. I thought to myself, my prayers are answered. Yeah, right. I pull my axle out and set it beside the axle out off the rearend I just bought. First thing I notice is the axle from the "new" rearend is bigger about halfway down. The bearing is much larger also. I think the splined end is a bit larger also. I was told the rear end came out of a '84 GSL. So what gives? Is this rearend actually out of GSL-SE? I am thinking I can use the whole thing. If anyone has any idea, please feel free to let me know.

steve84GS TII

Lots of confusion going on here.Let me clear this all up.....

79-83........all cars,drum or dics used the small diameter axles and small bearings.
84-85........all cars,drum or disc used the large diameter axles and large bearings.
84-85 GSL-SE......used the same large diameter axles splines,the same bearings AND the exact same housing as the other dics brake 84-85 cars.The difference is in the axle shaft's mounting flange and lug pattern.Its different for the SE's larger disc brakes.

All drum brake cars used 4 bolt backing plates,no matter what year or style.(S or GS)
All disc brake cars used 3 bolt backing plates,no matter what year or style.(GSL or GSL-SE)

bad 83

iTrader: (3)

So------- will I be able to use the whole rear end? And I got confused about the flanges (stupid Haynes manual). You are correct. The disk are a 3 bolt flange. I need to get my baby back on the road!!!!!

Rotor13B

Well it seems that it should fit. Only earlier cars (pre 80?) had different threads on the brake lines. The only thing that's I'm not sure about is if the driveshaft needs to be swapped or not.

steve84GS TII

Usually,its easier just to change the drivehaft flange thats bolted to the front of the differential.That way you can retain the driveline thats already on the car.You just have to be careful when tightening the nut.
Too tight and youll smoke your pinion bearings,too loose and it could come off or you could spin the pinion shaft inside the bearings races.Make a mark first, then remove the nut.After swapping flanges, tighten the nut back to that mark.Not exactly by the book,but its easier than replacing the crush sleeve and doing a full diff teardown.....