rear differential, grease/ blob question?

[06Z71guy]

Last year I bought a used 2006 Z71. Took it to my shop and hand them do the once over, and basic service. They topped off my rear differential, but they did not drain it by removing the back cover. They sucked it out ( no drain plug on the 2006). A year later and Ive been chasing a noise, vibration that (after many other parts inspections and replacemnts, I narrowed down to the rear diff. I took the cover off yesterday, amd around the magnet on the inside of the cover was a hge "blob" of silver sludge/ grease. In the blob were small bits of metal. I have no doubt that this requires a rear diff rebuild. Does the blob of silver sludge, grease indicate this has been a long term condition? Has anyone else expereinced this?

 

[tblt44]

Always pull the cover clean the magnet (blob catcher)

 

[ToyHauler13]

You can compare my blob inside of my rear diff to yours on the magnet glued in and on the fill plug magnet. I didn't have much of the larger visible metal particles but certainly the grease like stuff. If it is held to the magnet it is metal and some is surely normal after a lot of miles as the gears wear in. Wouldn't want any big chips of metal. Others know more than me though.
105,000 miles when I removed the cover which I'm sure was the first time it has been off.

 

[ygmn]

is it silver "dust" or very fine particles?
or CHUNKY SOUP?

dust is normal as the gears wear which they will no as it is metal on metal pinion against ring gear.

Chunks are bad as it means broken off gear parts.

Add picts to your Media album and then post a link so we can see.

 

[06Z71guy]

You can compare my blob inside of my rear diff to yours on the magnet glued in and on the fill plug magnet. I didn't have much of the larger visible metal particles but certainly the grease like stuff. If it is held to the magnet it is metal and some is surely normal after a lot of miles as the gears wear in. Wouldn't want any big chips of metal. Others know more than me though.
105,000 miles when I removed the cover which I'm sure was the first time it has been off.

View attachment 235756

Yep, it was a bigger Blob, but same shape and color. Thx!

 

[06Z71guy]

M

is it silver "dust" or very fine particles?
or CHUNKY SOUP?

dust is normal as the gears wear which they will no as it is metal on metal pinion against ring gear.

Chunks are bad as it means broken off gear parts.

Add picts to your Media album and then post a link so we can see.

My blob looks just like the one in ToyHaulers picture, only bigger. And yes, it had samll "chuncks" . More like pebbles...but something is coming apart in there!

 

[Mdaviegirl]

Hello I found this page on a google search and hoping someone can make me feel better . 2011 Avalanche with 97,000 miles and making a slight rumbling sound when I drive (sounds like I have big tires and a lift kit and I don’t). Dealership quoted me $2600! This is the first rear diff fluid change. Second owner, but my father bought it brand new.

 

[Mdaviegirl]

You can compare my blob inside of my rear diff to yours on the magnet glued in and on the fill plug magnet. I didn't have much of the larger visible metal particles but certainly the grease like stuff. If it is held to the magnet it is metal and some is surely normal after a lot of miles as the gears wear in. Wouldn't want any big chips of metal. Others know more than me though.
105,000 miles when I removed the cover which I'm sure was the first time it has been off.

View attachment 235756

That's what mine looked like.

 

[Wingo]

Looks about right, you'll always have some small stuff on the magnets after 100k. Long as there's no big chunks, should be ok.

 

[MS03 2500]

Looks normal to me also, that's why they put the magnet in there.