USA Standard Master Overhaul Kit For The 8.2in Buick / Olds / Pontiac Diff
Cutlass, 442, LeMans, GTO, Skylark and early Firebird owners know the sound: a hum from the back seat that was not there last summer, a clunk when you roll on and off the gas, and a ring of gear oil around the pinion. If the car still has its original 8.2 in. Buick, Olds or Pontiac ten-bolt, the USA Standard Gear ZK GM8.2BOP master overhaul kit replaces the bearings and seal in that center section with Koyo bearings and races, and adds the shims and hardware to set it up right.
The BOP 8.2 is not the same axle as the Chevrolet 8.2 even though both have ten cover bolts and an 8.2 in. ring gear. The Buick, Olds and Pontiac design retains its axles at the outer end with bolt-in retainer plates, where the Chevrolet unit uses C-clips inside the carrier, and the internal parts differ. Inside, the pinion is carried on two tapered roller bearings preloaded by a crush sleeve, and the differential case rides on side bearings shimmed to set backlash between the ring gear and pinion.
The ZK GM8.2BOP covers each of those wear items. USA Standard Gear lists carrier bearings and races, pinion bearings and races, a pinion seal, a complete shim kit, ring gear bolts, a pinion nut, a crush sleeve, thread locker, marking compound with a brush and a cover gasket. The ring and pinion and the case itself are reused or bought separately.
Look behind the brake backing plates. Bolt-in axles held by retainer plates and four nuts, reached through a hole in the axle flange, point to the BOP 8.2. If the axles are held by C-clips inside the carrier, you have a Chevrolet-style rear and need a different kit such as the 1964-72 GM 8.2 overhaul kit. Pontiac owners should also know that the Firebird moved from the 8.2 BOP to the Chevrolet-corporate 8.5 around 1970-71, so a later car may not have this axle at all.
Once you know the axle, pull the driveshaft and turn the pinion by hand to feel for roughness or play, then drain the oil, remove the cover and check the gear teeth with marking compound. Undamaged teeth mean the bearings and seal in this kit are the repair.
USA Standard Gear lists this kit for the 8.2 in. Buick, Oldsmobile and Pontiac differential, the bolt-in-axle ten-bolt used under 1960s and early 1970s BOP A-body intermediates and early Firebirds. One known exception: the heavy-duty 8.2 used in the Buick Special and Gran Sport has a larger driver-side carrier bearing and a different inner pinion bearing, so check your Buick carrier bearing before ordering. Division, year and option packages changed these rears, so match the axle style and casting, or send us your year, model and VIN to confirm. If you would rather have Timken bearings for the same axle, compare the Yukon YK GM8.2BOP kit. More options are in our rebuild kits collection.
If the posi unit is worn out, this is the time to rebuild it with the BOP 8.2 positraction internals before the new bearings go in.
| Brand | Yukon Gear & Axle |
| Part number | ZK GM8.2BOP |
| Fits | USA Standard Master Overhaul Kit For The 8.2in Buick / Olds / Pontiac Diff |
| Type | Differential Overhaul Kits |
| Condition | New |
| Ships | Same business day (in stock), from the USA |
| Warranty | 1-year |
No. The Chevrolet 8.2 uses C-clip axles and different internal parts. This kit is for the Buick, Oldsmobile and Pontiac 8.2 with bolt-in axles.
Both cover the same BOP 8.2 rear with carrier and pinion bearings, races, seal, shims and hardware. The USA Standard ZK GM8.2BOP uses Koyo bearings and costs less; the Yukon kit uses Timken bearings.
Not as-is. The Buick Special and Gran Sport heavy-duty 8.2 uses a larger driver-side carrier bearing and a different inner pinion bearing than the standard BOP 8.2.
No. The kit is for the center section only. Axle bearings, axle seals and retainer gaskets are separate.
Only if the teeth are chipped, pitted or discolored. Healthy original gears can be reinstalled using the original shims as a starting point, then verified with the marking compound in the kit.
