Passenger rear tire is skipping or dragging, differential?

Tiny
LORTEGA957
  • MEMBER
  • 2006 GMC SIERRA
  • 5.3L
  • V8
  • TURBO
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 340,000 MILES
Okay first question my passenger rear tire is skipping or dragging when making a right turn at a very low speed. I put the rear axle up it was a little loose so I ended up replacing the seal. And the bearing cuz the differential look good. Took it for a test drive but still having still doing the same thing. I check all the brake lines nothing leaking. I plugged in my ob2 reader. I got 3 codes. It telling me all 3 wheel speed sensors are bad. So I replaced all there sensors. Can any help e I'm
Sunday, March 1st, 2026 AT 10:02 AM

17 Replies

Tiny
KEN L
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Hello, this does not sound like a brake problem it sounds more like the spider gears, or the limited slip is locked up. Jack the rear of the truck up and spin the rear wheel on the right side, if the left side spins the same way this will be the problem, I would remove the rear diff cover for inspection, this video can help you.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6F26Kir0OCg

Look for metal shavings in the gear oil and then use a flashlight to inspect the spider gears. Please upload a short video in your response of the problem, so I can see what's going on. Ken

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Sunday, March 1st, 2026 AT 10:25 AM
Tiny
LORTEGA957
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Thanks for answering back I had cover off last weekend. There shavings on the magnet. My nieces friend came and look at it. He said is good. I just had replace bearing and the seal that's what I did. K drop I replaced it drop it and it did the same thing. I'm check out the video you sent. I was such a hurry it did done. I'll get back to you
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Sunday, March 1st, 2026 AT 10:53 AM
Tiny
KEN L
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Sounds good, if you upload an image of the spider gears I can tell if you have a limited slip or not. Also, rotate the wheel clockwise to see if the another spins in the same or opposite direction. This can help us. Also, the differential must have the correct fluid in it for limited slip to help the clutches work correctly.
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Sunday, March 1st, 2026 AT 11:19 AM
Tiny
LORTEGA957
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I got my truck lifted up. I hoping you could till with the cover still on. But if I have to take it off I will. I sending a video if the tires spinning together. I reverse it. Than forward and I believe you could see when it slips and catches again
Video (Click to make bigger)
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Monday, March 2nd, 2026 AT 11:49 AM
Tiny
KEN L
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Thanks for the video but I need to se both tires at the same time, also have the truck in neutral, please take the video from the rear so I can see both, if the truck was in park during this test it is not he spider gears but you can still have limited slip differential. Ken
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Tuesday, March 3rd, 2026 AT 9:16 AM
Tiny
LORTEGA957
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Ok I won't be able to get to it till Sunday. But I one I noticed my drive shaft center haves play to it and you see some chrome.
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Tuesday, March 3rd, 2026 AT 7:48 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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Yep, that center support is worn out and you need a new one but I don't think that can make the rear tires skid going around a corner. Thanks for the video. Let me know what happens this weekend.
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Wednesday, March 4th, 2026 AT 7:34 AM
Tiny
LORTEGA957
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Ok I'm going to pop the pumpkin back open so you could look at
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Wednesday, March 4th, 2026 AT 10:20 AM
Tiny
KEN L
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Lets see if the rear tires rotate the same way as well.
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Thursday, March 5th, 2026 AT 8:38 AM
Tiny
LORTEGA957
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What's up ken? I'm sending 2 videos. Yes both tires are rotating. But when it's in reverse tires are harder to turn.
Videos (Click to make bigger)
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Saturday, March 7th, 2026 AT 5:45 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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Hey, how are things going? So I see you do have limited slip to if it is broken it will not allow the rear tires to differentiate, (spin separately). So something happens on the videos I cant see everything, just the bottom half. But, while in neutral if the you spin the right tire clockwise and the left if spins the same way the diff is bad and is what the problem is.
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Sunday, March 8th, 2026 AT 8:30 AM
Tiny
LORTEGA957
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So it's bad. Is it better getting the whole rear end
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Sunday, March 8th, 2026 AT 8:59 AM
Tiny
KEN L
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Yep, that is the way to do it, you might want to check ebay, I have had good luck with parts from there.
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+1
Monday, March 9th, 2026 AT 7:13 AM
Tiny
LORTEGA957
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Thank ken. Your help was much appreciated
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Monday, March 9th, 2026 AT 8:52 AM
Tiny
KEN L
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You are welcome, please use 2CarPros anytime we are here to help.
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Tuesday, March 10th, 2026 AT 7:56 AM
Tiny
LORTEGA957
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What's up ken? I ended getting the whole assembly. But I got a wait like 3 weeks. I was just wondering is there any specific this I should do before installing the rear end
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Tuesday, March 10th, 2026 AT 8:11 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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Hey, good to hear, just lift the truck up safely on level ground. Also, make sure the gear ratio and the drive shaft yoke are the same on the new differential. Ken
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Wednesday, March 11th, 2026 AT 8:41 AM

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