Chevrolet Repair: 1989 chevy truck gears, rear driveshaft, reputable repair shop

Question
I have a '89 chevy truck  4X4 model CK14
vin# 2GCEK14K4K1204549. I was told my gears in the rear end where out.  Can you give me any info on what I am looking for?  Please email  any Questions I know you will have.  Thanks, Deb

Answer
Hello Deb,
If you look under the truck from the rear bumper area, that big round thing in the center of the rear axle housing, is where the gears would be located. That is called the rear end.
There is a cover there, which you can remove, (catch the oil...about three pints), and look inside. If the gears are really out, there will be pieces and chunks laying in the bottom, and with a rear wheel jacked up, you can rotate it, and move the gears in there.

Repairing it isn't something you want to do yourself, but it wouldn't hurt a thing to look in there.

My first question would be....who told you they were out? A mechanic who actually looked and listened, or someone who had a friend, who had a different friend, who had a rear end problem that turned out to be his gears?

Yours is a 4X4, and there are gears in the front axle housing, as well as a transfer case full of gears, so you need to get to the correct area, for the correct problem, which is.....????

Does it not move?
Does it grind and grate while moving?
Does it clunk and jerk?


If it doesn't move....is the rear driveshaft turning, even if the truck isn't moving?

A detailed description of exactly what seems to be the problem would be a good start.
Example:     "It starts and runs fine, but when I put it in gear, I can feel the transmission engage, and some clunking and clattering back under the truck. It jerks, grabs, and sometimes lunges, but now just kinda makes a rubbing noise. The rear driveshaft is turning, but the truck just doesn't move.
If I engage 4 wheel drive, it will then move because the front wheels are pulling it.
I took it to a mechanic, at a reputable repair shop where my parents have dealt for years, and I trust completely, who looked under it, and removed a cover from the rear axle and showed me a bunch of gear pieces, and he said "Your gears are gone""

Something along that line.

Van