8.5 housing photos

[-83MONTESS-]

Does anyone have a cut away photo of a GM 8.5 rear housing? Preferably near the pinion. Sounds weird but I lost 2 of the 4 springs to my locker assembly and they fell down the top side of the housing and out of sight near the pinion. I cant reach them with a magnet because of the angle and broke it when I tried to bend it :x Needless to say its been a hell of a night and I'll be damned if im tearing this thing apart for 2 small springs.

 

[ssn696]

Can you flip it pinion up and hose them out of the nethers with a spray of brake cleaner?

 

[-83MONTESS-]

Can you flip it pinion up and hose them out of the nethers with a spray of brake cleaner?

I tried that but I cant even see them at all. I just ordered a flexible magnet so hopefully its here thursday. I just dont know what the path looks like in there or where any nooks are. I know some older service manuals have cutaway photos of engines and transmission so I was hoping someone had one of a differential housing.

 

[klaird]

"Out of the nevers"...never heard that one before. Can you explain the origin of this saying?

 

[ssn696]

'Nethers' = nether regions = the dark place one reached up into to pull out...random ideas. Or in this case, small parts.
As long as I have weld slag burn holes in my T-shirts and car grime under my fingernails, is it okay to use uppity language?

ssn696

 

[klaird]

Anybody with grease on their hands and burn holes in their clothes is fee to use whatever language they like. Thanks! I had the same thing happen to me the other day except it was the 8mm pin bolt that fell into the pinion area.

 

[Bonnewagon]

I don't have a pic but yeah, there is a shallow cavity at the front of the case, beneath the pinion bearing area. I can see something small getting jammed up in there. If the springs are carbon steel a magnet should get them out, but if stainless, no. A long *ss needle nose pliers should get at them.

 

[565bbchevy]

I have a Harbor Freight flexible shaft magnet that I use for things like that it even has a built in light on the end and the magnet is pretty strong.
You could also use a piece of tie wire and put a small hook on the end to grab them, you might be able to fish them out without actually seeing them.

 

[-83MONTESS-]

Well I got them out. I sprayed about a half can of engine degreaser in there and let it sit for a couple minutes. Then I put a "super" magnet in the housing near the pan mating surface and tipped the housing up. It took a while for them to roll down because of the oil but when they did the magnet grabbed them. I was so relieved and it only took 1 beer to do it! All im waiting on is a new pinion shaft retainer(thats a whole different story on that little b*st*rd) then I can button it up. Thanks for all the advice.