1964 Cadillac Differential

[Restorer32]

Anyone ever have one of these rebuilt? The ring gear is riveted in place. Cadillac parts books list it as "non serviceable". We can get the bearings  ( we think) but who can deal with the rivets?

[pontiac1953]

most large commercial sheet metal shops should be able to re- rivet the gear after you have grind off the old rivets.

[Guest]

With an appropriate swage it is a simple job to stake the rivet properly.  At a GM shop where I was a parts man we had an un-papered mechanic that did this all the time. He did two differentials for me.  The trick is to have the proper length rivets, an appropriate swage, heat the rivet red and set it with one strike of the hammer.  the rivet cools and draws the gear down tight.  An hydraulic press could do the same thing but then it would be cold riveted and I think not as good.