You know, for all the internet can help you locate stuff, there's still
places that don't do any business there.  Junkyards are one type of
business that doesn't.  Some of the high-end joints will do that, but
you get what you get that way, you don't get to pick and chose what
vehicle your part comes off of, they typically will have everything
disassembled and racked, you pay big for that.  The U-Pullits around
here don't even know what they've got out in the yard.  Charge you a
buck to get in and what you see is what they've got.  Rotate stock
every week or so, stuff gets crushed whether it's stripped or not.
Rear ends are typically $17-20 around here, hardly worth messing with
bearings, shims, backlash, etc.  If the vehicle is popular in the area,
they've got lots of wrecks.  Sometimes you just have to get out from in
front of the computer and go track stuff down in person.  I usually get
my buck's worth by picking up discarded trim fasteners even if there's
nothing on the lot I can use.

Stan

You know, that is definitely a possibility. I did spend some time on
some site like car-parts.com or some such, trying to find a rear axle,
and did not find any, and did not pursue this further.

I think that if my attempt at alignment does not work, I will
definitely look in this direction.

i

Jeez, Iggy- instead of fixing the thing on the installment plan, why not
find an axle at a wrecking yard and replace the whole thing?
It's an easy job.

If the gear mesh has been wrong since Day One, then you will wind up
replacing the ring and pinion ($$$).

-Carl

OK guys... My plan for now is as follows.

0. The noises that I have are of two distinct kinds, a whining noise
that appears when I ease the gas pedal, and grinding noise that I hear
at low speeds.

1. I received the adjuster lock tab replacement from the dealer.

2. I will take off the diff cover again, and will try to adjust the
adjuster lock to reduce backlash to spec, using a dial indicator to
measure backlash. I hope (and would like you to confirm) that I can do
it using a screwdriver through the access hole.

3. If I cannot get a screwdriver through the hole, I could pull the
axle, and make a tool that goes through the axle hole and turns the
adjuster. I would make it out of some materials, I have a welder. What
I will need to know is dimensions of the tool (ie where to place the
pins etc).

4. After I do that, I will drive around to verify that the whining
noise is gone. If not, I will take the truck to a dealer. I realize
that the grinding noise at low speeds may remain, could be due to
trashed bearings.

5. If the whining noise is gone, I will take the diff apart and
replace the bearings that may have caused the grinding noise. I am
not, yet, sure whether it is easy or not to put it back together
correctly.

Does this plan make sense?

i