Rearend??

[Duncan]

I have a 97 chev HD2500 ext.cab w/6.5 5 spd 8 bolt wheels 14 bolt rear end
3:73 gears when I replaced the carrier bearing I was told it had a 1 ton under carrage.

Now my question what rear end is this?

9.5 14 bolt SF?

10.5 14 bolt 30 spline?

thank you for your help

[HJacobson]

My 84 K-2500 and 99 2500 Burb both have 8 lug, 16 inch wheels on them.

The K-2500 has a 9.5 inch ring gear rear axle with semi-floating axle shafts. The differential cover must be removed to access the "C" clips which retain the axle shafts. The ends of each axle tube have a single bearing to support the outer end of the axle shaft.

The 99 Burb has a 10.5 inch ring gear axle with full floating axle shafts. The shafts can be removed by unbolting their flanges at the outer end of each axle tube and the bearings (two) remain in the hub. These wheel bearings must be repacked like the front set on a 2WD vehicle.

So, by removing the wheel cover, you can determine the axle type.

Another way is to look at the pinion of the rear axle. If it is removeable (bolted into the differential) without disassembling the differential, the axle is a full-floating design.

[Duncan]

thank you mine is the 10.5 then as you can unbolt them at the wheels

[M.Novak]

Not necessarily a 1 ton axle, just the heavy duty 3/4 ton axle which was also used on almost all 1 tons unless they were equipped with a Dana 60 or 70 axle which also was a full floater. But either way, whether you look at it as a 1 ton rear end or a 3/4 ton, the use of the 14 bolt GM corporate full floater was common practice and exclusive on '79 and down GM 3/4 tons back as far as '73. My '79 has one and I can tell you it is virtually bullet and bomb proof. Mike

[Duncan]

I am thinking of putting a locker into the rear end of this truck has anyone done so? and did you have any troubles with it?

[M.Novak]

Originally Posted by Duncan

I am thinking of putting a locker into the rear end of this truck has anyone done so? and did you have any troubles with it?

I put a Detroit Locker unit in my '79 model 4WD with a 14 bolt a bunch of years ago. This thing is as strong as a spool, but without the excess tire wear. It's a little bit noisy going around corners, but you get used to it. The best part is it requires no special fluids or additives like other traction adders do, just the regular old 80W/90 gear oil required by your owner's manual. It pulls even with one wheel off the ground, a limited slip won't do that at all. I never had any trouble with it at all. In my opinion, the only thing that is better is the ARB air locker. With that one you get the best of both worlds - unlocked regular diff. for highway driving, and solidly locked like a spool for the slippery stuff. But it's three times the price of the Detroit Locker. Mike

[North Maine]

The detroit lockers in the GM Corporate 10.5 inch 14 bolt full floater are pretty much a 100% bullet-proof set-up, end of story.