Now that you've learned how to diagnose the snap, crackle, and pop coming from under your rig, here are some companies that offer the parts you'll need to set things straight. These parts range from those you can carry with you on the trail to those that may be beyond a shadetree-mechanic's ability to install, but all of them may be required to repair your drivetrain woes.
The 8.25-inch front axles under the '88-to-current GM four-wheel-drive fullsize trucks and '91-to-current Suburbans and Blazers have caused many headaches when the owner considers a ring-and-pinion swap. In addition to nearly everything else you could need for your truck's drivetrain, Drive Train Specialists (DTS) now offers a custom bearing installation kit designed just for this application. The kit includes new ring bolts, bearings, seals, shims, a pinion nut, and marking compound so you can get the job done correctly. For more information, contact Drive Train Specialists, Dept. 4x4, 26400 Groesbeck Hwy., Warren, MI 48089, 800/521-0628 or 313/778-0540.
For the off-road enthusiast who frequently removes the driveshafts the advantages of the new Strange two-piece slip yoke are obvious. Simply remove the four Grade 8 bolts, and drop the driveshaft. The slip yoke holds the rear U-joint's caps in place, thus preventing the tiny needle bearings from spilling onto the ground. The front slip yoke remains in the transfer case, thus eliminating the mess caused when the fluid leaks out. The yoke is constructed of 4140 hardened steel and is precision-broached and ground for perfect alignment and seal. The coupler is matched to the yoke with a tight-tolerance slip-fit and uses a super-duty 1350 U-joint. Contact Strange Engineering, Dept. 4x4, 1611 Church St., Evanston, IL 60201, 847/869-7010.
Motive Gear stocks about any drivetrain related rebuild part you may need for popular applications such as the 7.5-, 8-, 8.8-, and 9-inch Ford and 10- and 12-bolt GM axle assemblies. It also offers ring-and-pinion master kits that net you the ring-and-pinion gears and an installation kit that provides all the parts you'll need for a swap. For more information, contact Motive Gear, Dept. 4x4, 4200 S. Morgan, Chicago, IL 60609, 800/934-2727.
Are you changing the gearset or completely rebuilding your Ford 9-inch rearend? If so, Moroso has packaged a complete kit of American-made components for Ford 9-inch rearends with 2.9687-inch bore cases such as those used in 4x4 applications. The kit (PN 84000) includes Grade 8 hardware, O-rings, gaskets, shims, a carrier-and-pinion support bearing, a pinion seal, an adjustable pinion spacer, thread-locking compound, gasket sealer, and gear-marking compound used to verify the gear contact pattern. Axle bearings are not included in the kit. Contact Moroso Performance Products, Dept. 4x4, 80 Carter Dr., Guilford, CT 06437, 203/453-6571.
A machine is only as strong as its weakest link. You can't build a brutal engine and forget about the driveshafts between it and the axles.
U-joint explosions can easily be avoided with the installation of high-perf U-joints such as those offered by Lakewood. Designed for most Chrysler, Ford, and GM vehicles, the Lakewood units are constructed of chrome-nickel molybdenum and are heat-treated. For added strength, the U-joints are not cross-drilled. Contact Lakewood Industries, Dept. 4x4, 8700 Brookpark Rd., Brooklyn, OH 44129, 216/398-8300.