replace rear end

I've never pulled the cover off a diff with any kind of mileage that didn't have some "metal flake" to the lube. so the questions that jump to mind are, How big were the "grindings"? Was the diff making noise? How many miles on the odometer? Was it a posi trac diff? did it have the correct fluid in it? Was there excessive play in the axle bearings? Carrier bearings? Pinion bearings? What do you mean by "purchased a replacement from a dealer"? does this mean he went to your local GM Goodwrench house a purchased a brand new rear axle assembly? If so Ouch. Whitelightning

If it is non locking rear end a new chunk ( the rear end internals reassembled) purchased from a dealer then the cost could be around 219.00 dollars to 384.00 dollars according to how much the mechanic marks it up. GM direct shows the price for 219.00 plus shipping. I just changed the rear end and transmission in my play toy. I purchased it from locally in Louisiana at a GM parts supply place in Houma, LA. The part can be found at

What do you think the price would be for a new positrac carrier assembly?

I?ve got a few more answers; more information. Rather than speculating I did what I should have done 3 days ago. I called the mechanic and ASKED him; ?how much is this costing me??. So far, about $600. Parts for the pumpkin ( I thought this was a truck not a coach ) came from a dealer and bearings from somewhere else. The mech?s explanation for all this is as follows: The dealer said this combination was the second one he?d sold that week. The mech?s approach was that there was a design flaw that caused a whole big bunch of these things to go belly-up and if he were to buy one from the junk yard he might be doing this whole job over again in 3 months. He knows me well enough to know that I?m an awful jumpy, anxious guy when it comes to my vehicles not running right. I?m of the opinion that the mech is figuring to give me peace of mind; he?ll do the job extra right, once and for all by putting new parts that DON?T have this design flaw in them. He said the whole rear end was just loaded with little metal parts and it appeared that the mechanism had been running dry for quite a while. Maybe poor maintainence, maybe poor design. No matter. It was shot. He?s got the old parts and even took pictures of the old mechanism to show me. Should be ready this coming week ( AHEM! about time! but can?t rush a good thing ) and all the other stuff that was wrong with it will be fixed, too! Pittman arm, horn, four ways, trailer light plug, brake controller. fuel line sender something leaking, etc. The only thing I?ll have left to do is have the driver?s side arm rest fixed. Unfortunately, he?s not an upholstery man. OK guys. Have at me. I just feel that a) I know my limitations, b) fixing things like this is not among those limitations, c) this guy seems trustworthy and talented and d) it weren?t no good to me the way it was. You are all allowed to have a shot at me for being a) gullible or b) a wimp. Last, I?m going to be towing my horses around with this vehicle. No I?m not rich because I have horses. Just the opposite. EquusKeepusBrokus! But maybe having this thing fixed for a little too much money will give me one less thing to worry about when I?m out on the freeway with the nags. How much is serenity worth? But thanks to everyone who offered advice/insight/observations. Update when I get it back and actually drive it Larry

Naah - I was seriously asking Sarge how much a complete, new, positrac carrier SHOULD cost. (I can't seem to use the gmpartsdirect site 'cause I don't know the part number.) In my opinion, if your mechanic is rebuilding a poisitrac differential, with new parts, for anywhere near $600, it's a hellova deal.

I think they run in the $600 to $700 range. no GM but something like a Eaton posi unit.