Woke up this morning with silver glitter in my rear

[Boudroux]

end. It is the D35. There were some water crossings this past weekend in Arrowhead. Sunday and Monday I noticed my LS rear end felt like it wasn't releasing/slipping in tight turns. I figured I would change the oil just to make sure there was no water.

Just prior to me purchasing the owner had 4.10 gearing installed and right after purchasing the rig (4-5 months ago) I put in a lube locker gasket and Lucas full synthetic 75/140.

This morning when draining there was a sheen of silver in the oil that looked like glitter. Definitely no water in there though.

Drove her all day today with no apparent issues. There would be around 8k miles on the oil I took out today and the oil I removed from the previous owner looked brand new.

Are there some kind of plates or such in a LS system that are wear items and this type of stuff is normal or is a 8.8 in my near future?

 

[Chip Clip]

Did you add the friction modifier and I don't think they recommend synthetic for LS.

 

[Boudroux]

Did you add the friction modifier and I don't think they recommend synthetic for LS.

The bottle says no modifier necessary for LS and prior to this past weekend it functioned was functioning properly.

 

[GrimmJeeper]

go by what the OEM says not what the bottle says.

 

[JohnX]

I doubt if the silver is "normal" , or from the LS. I think you have bigger fish to fry. My advice would be to fill it back up and drive it until you find a suitable replacement... 8.25, 8.8, or d44.

 

[cal]

do what johnx says.

 

[KRG.FAB]

Don't the gears have a break in period? How much glitter are we talking about here?

Either way I would drive it and start looking for a 8.8. Can't go wrong with that.

 

[hawkeye 1]

With that thread title, I can't find the words to help you, sorry. :eyes: :laugh:

On a more serious note, a LS always needs a friction additive, but your description of the material in the oil seems to be a more serious condition.
Start looking for a suitable replacement.

 

[karstic]

Were you with Cal or Avery the night before?

 

[jeeperjohn]

Time for an upgrade. Your LS should get you by for a few months but it looks like it is about worn out.

 

[souske]

The 8.8 can be readily found with 4.10s and a lsd

 

[Boudroux]

Yep, I'm going to start the search for a 8.8 rear end. I'm also getting ready to pull the trigger on a rock krawler 4.5" 3 link lift and am debating the coil over for the rear. Hopefully my existing axle will make it another few months for me to find an axle and have it ready for the new lift, which ever direction I go out back.

Thanks everyone.

 

[Boudroux]

So just an update on this.

I've been using the Lucas synthetic gear oil. On the bottle is says clearly that it is good for LS and no additives are necessary. I don't believe that to be the case. Doing research a LS set up does have plates and the glitter I found is the remnants of the plates getting worn down. Just so happened that I put a beating on the plates two weekends in a row. I'm sure they are close to being worn out by now so the hunt for a 8.8 is in the works.

Anyhoo, lesson learned. Even though the bottle says good to go that isn't necessarily the case.

 

[JohnX]

I've got a fair amount of experience with Lucas products, can't say I've ever had any problems. That being said....yes I do still run the additive in my LSD in my tow rig with the Lucas 75w-140 synthetic. I've put about 70k on it that way with no noticed side effects.

Short version (which you clearly already know) ....run the additive no matter what.

 

[jeeperjohn]

So just an update on this.

I've been using the Lucas synthetic gear oil. On the bottle is says clearly that it is good for LS and no additives are necessary. I don't believe that to be the case. Doing research a LS set up does have plates and the glitter I found is the remnants of the plates getting worn down. Just so happened that I put a beating on the plates two weekends in a row. I'm sure they are close to being worn out by now so the hunt for a 8.8 is in the works.

Anyhoo, lesson learned. Even though the bottle says good to go that isn't necessarily the case.

The wrecking yard in San Jacinto has a 8.8 with discs for $250.

 

[JohnX]

That's a sweet deal if its 4.10s

 

[mako my day]

.....so back to the glitter rear end.... any pics?

 

[Boudroux]

.....so back to the glitter rear end.... any pics?

This what you had in mind?

 

[mako my day]

Oh great googly moogly.

 

[Boudroux]

The wrecking yard in San Jacinto has a 8.8 with discs for $250.

Cool I'll look into that. I've found many on line in the 400-500 range with 4.10 gears. I was planning hunting down one this weekend but got a call at noon yesterday from a buddy who got stranded in mammoth with more beer than he can consume alone. I was on the road an hour later.

Beer drinking and coyote hunting was to hard to pass.