Rear end woes

[mark78]

I had a new rear end built about 2 years ago for $500, now it sounds like the pinion and possibly the axle bearings are going bad, I have 2 noticable grinds. We put the car up on the lift and the pinion bearing was so loud it was hard to tell where the other was coming from.

At this point I'm figuring it will probably be around $600 for parts and labor to fix assuming 2 axle bearings and both inner and outer pinion bearing/seals, and there in lies the problem...to fix it is probably gong to be 20% the cost of a new one.

I'd like to start building up the car now that its not a daily driver, so I'm torn on replacing those parts or just getting a new 12-bolt of 9". I have a friend who can do a R&R swap of the rears but hes a Toyota mechanic so won't have the tools and knowhow to set backlash etc on the gears.

Any thoughts?

[Cutlass]

how about a cheap junkyard replacement rear end assembly to hold you over until you can get a 9"?

[mark78]

Still looking at ~$500 no?

[c5z28]

Still looking at ~$500 no?

2-300, but you would have to look.

[Cutlass]

search the junkyards in your area
www.car-part.com