I’ve got a 1997 Chevy Astro, anyone know how to repair the rear-end, or the drive shaft?
November 7, 2009 · Print This Article
I was backing out of a parking space, on a bit of a slope, and when I shifted into Drive, it wouldn’t engage(in any gear) and started making awful noises. Even in Park, i continued to roll down the slope. Initially I thought it was the transmission, but when I looked under the rear end, I saw and heard, that it was coming from the drive shaft area. The towtruck driver looked when he got there and said it looked like it was the rear end($1000?) I need to know how to replace/repair the drive shaft, and the rear end assembly.I’d just as soon go to a junk yard, get the parts, and do it myself. I’m just not really familiar with this van, as far as repairing it goes. Anyone know where to look up repair manual instructions, for free?
By: crazyleogirl72
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By: crazyleogirl72
About the Author:
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If its making awful noises in park that pretty well eliminates the drive shaft or the rear end unless you mean it still rolled in park. You can take the cover off the rear end and check out the gear oil as it drains. If its full of metal flakes it is shot. And once you get the cover off you can see what kind of shape it is in.
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Yeah,go to car parts place and buy a manual.
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If your rear axle is turning freely while the transmission is in Park you definitley have a problem.
Did you check the U-joints?
If you broke a U-joint when you shifted from Reverse to Drive, the change of direction cold have broken a weak U-joint. These cost about 10-15 Dollars each at most parts stores.
You could probably find the parts (drivehaft and rear axle) at a junk yard for a few hundred Dollars. It will most likely be cheaper to swap out the broken parts for used parts in this case.
Changing out the rear axle and driveshaft is not that hard, just make sure you get the correct year/model replacement parts from the salvage yard. Also make sure you (try) to get the same rear axle gear ratio otherwise your speedo will be off. Most junk yards can answer this for you as some are more common than others.
Free instruction manuals are HARD to find Save yourself a lot of frustration and pick up a repair manual from a parts store. There’s a few out there like Haynes, Chiltons, Mitchell.