2001 silverado 4x4 backing plates

I have the same problem, if you use the two piece after market can they be installed without pulling the axles? Any links to the two piece replacements?

Al Bottoms Up Divers

I recently did the same thing. I have a 2002 Z71 Suburban. This has a locking rear differential. While you are pulling the axels replace the seals. The whole job took about 2 hours, including replacing the rotors with new OEM (Better quality than any aftermarket) OEM pads, and replacing the caliper locating/sliding pins and seals. I'm not sure about the "positraction" rear you are talking about. The locking rear diff. is very easy to remove the C clips. My advice is to go to your local chevy parts counter and ask for an exploded view of the rear. They have these diagrams available for free. You just need to ask.

Remove the center pin of the spider gear housing by unscrewing the retaining pin that goes through it. Do not rotate the spider gear housing once the center pin is out. Push the axle in slightly to expose the C clip. Sometimes the axle needs to be guided into the opening in the spider gear housing while pushing. Better to have two people to do this. The shaft seal wants to push the shaft back out, so it will not stay by itself. I had to use a magnet to pull the clip out, but again it was easy. If you have a true positraction, I would expect to find clutch packs that need to be compressed to get the axles out. I was lucky not to have these. One of the mechanics at Sun Chevrolet, Bohemia, NY told me about this, so I have no direct exp. with these. Locking rear diff. has a govenor that spins, and when it spins fast enough (one wheel spinning faster that the other) it solidly locks the axles together.

Hope this helps.

You might prime and paint the new backing plates with a rust preventive paint too as it will extend their service life. Left bare they will not last long in salt.

----------------- TheSnoMan.com

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Clean and paint the diff. cover too while you have it off. My '99 Yukon's dif. cover rusted through, smelled lube and thought a seal was leaking but it had a pin hole in it from corrosion. Dealer had the cover in stock so you know it's a common NY salt thing.