2002 Chevy HD2500 front differential

My hunting (dog) truck has 295000 miles. (at least everything but the engine, it was replaced 12,000 miles and 5 years ago. That is how little I drive this truck) I have decided I am about to lose the front differential. Just had both differentials serviced and the front one had shavings on the plug. Tech told me, one good thing about it, they're not metallic... SAY WHAT? Then why are they stuck to a magnetic plug??

Anyway, I wanted to ask what there is to rebuilding one. Is it difficult? Best left to the pros? Would you buy a rebuilt one, or go to a junkyard?

What kind of shavings are we talking about?

I changed the dif lube on front and rear in my GM and there were all kinds of shavings on the magnetic plugs, same as the transfer case. Everything I found indicated it was pretty normal to have shavings as long as it wasn't big and they weren't chunks I would think your fine... unless your experiencing issues/noise.

Does it work ok and dose it make any noise?

It seems to be working okay. However, for years, when I would cut the wheels hard in four wheel drive, I could hear a noise. A guy working with me got out and looked one time and said, "that is just your oversize tires rubbing on the plastic fender liners. I accepted that and never really worried about it. Now, I don't have oversized tires on anymore, and the combination of that noise, altho I haven't heard it much lately (of course, I try not to cut my wheels hard in 4x4
mode,either)occasionally, I hear a noise I think maybe related...but it may just be me. Maybe I am just looking for the sky to fall.

Shavings were pretty fine...no chunks

Mine makes a little noise if you cut the wheels in 4x4 also. So does my brothers and the 4x4 I had before this one. I wouldn't sweat it make sure it stays full of correct lube and drive it till it breaks. It sounds to me like its probably working fine.

Generally you'll get a pretty consistent howling that increases pitch with speed. And it's not something you'll *not* be able to hear. I'd say you're probably good to go.

When you think about how many times those gears touch each other in one rotation of the tire, and then how many times the tire rotates in a mile, it's amazing that a little shavings is all you'll see.

Now it's got me thinking, 'scuse me while I geek out...

5280 feet is 63360 inches. Average tire size for a truck, say 31 inches. pi times d is 97.34. 63360 divided by 97.34 is about 651 rotations per mile. Times 3.73, average gear size, is 2428 rotations of the pinion, times 295000 miles is about 716 million times any given tooth on that pinion gear has touched the ring gear.

Thanks guys, I'm feeling better about my old hoopie now. We are having a wet winter down here and one heck of a quail season.

I was just afraid ol' Lupita was going to give out on me before the end of February.