haven't made up my mind yet, but probably getting a junkyard one. depends on the price.
rebuild kits are around $100. It would be kinda fun to rebuild it.

Yeah, then you know what you have, too.

just ordered my differential from ebay. $300 plus $100 *+H.
Junkyard wanted $140 and I Had to take it out. If it was summer I may have considered it, but it'* too cold
I'm still going to tear down the one I take out to see what was wrong with it. but I think I know after seeing the marks on the bearing. I wanted to take it out and rebuild it but setting the backlash kinda scared me. I also don't have a press. Or a special tool used to run down the bearing for the backlash.
I figured while my Trailblazer was all apart I may as well replace anything that was bad.
So I'm replacing the strut coil assm. , lower control arm which has the bushings pressed into already, sway bar links, sway bar bushings and the cv shaft. the cv shaft that I took out looks practically brand new so I'll keep it as a backup. the hub and bearing, caliper and rotor are brand new. and eventually the passenger side.
So I just have to wait for the differential to get here! Other than the cold, I'm excited to do this. I don't know many people that like working on cars but I love it.
I'll keep you posted!

It'* becoming a lost art, but I like it too!

sorry, my last post was supposed to be in "axle grinding noise". not here.
If someone could move it I would appreciate it.

Done!

Posts #23, #24, and #25 are from the other thread.

well, well, well, I have some news. I started taking off all the parts on the passenger side so I could take the differential out and lo and behold I found out the wheel bearing and hub on that side was shot! and I mean shot! It was grinding bad. When I would hear it in the car I could swear it was on the drivers side.
Boy was I wrong on this one!
The differential has already shipped so I'm screwed. I guess I'll put it up for sale if everything is ok with my Trailblazer when I get it back together.
It would have been so easy to lie and say I put the new differential in and it fixed it, and not face the embarrassment but you guys deserve to know the outcome.
So on both sides I will have replaced all the suspension: ball joints, lower control arms, bushings, strut assembly, hub and bearing and caliper and rotor. So that will be nice. It really needed it.
when I get it back together I will let you know if the noise is gone. I don't think those marks on the bearing in the differential were the cause, I guess I will find out.
so for now, this is dumb#ss signing off. go ahead and give it to me, I can take it. LOL!

Post number 5. I'll leave it at that.

yep, you're right.

Sometimes you're the bumper, and sometimes you're the bug.

We all go through this from time to time!