Quote:
Originally Posted by Titus0
I thought the older axle was the longer one allowing for wider wheels in the back. Mine is a 12 bolt truck axle, but im not sure the year as the truck is kinda a frankenstein.. Im wanting to buy new wheels soon and i want 10" wide in the rear, but dont wanna have to deal with a clearance issue.. This is why i wondered the difference in axle widths,, It's a 5 bolt btw..
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It is not that simple. The rear drum brakes came in two different configurations. 63-69 are narrower than 70-up by 1.5" BUT that is with 2" wide brakes and not 2.75" wide brakes,
The width differences are not because of different shoe width, the 2.75" wide shoe backing plates are deeper inset to make those axles same overall width from WMS to WMS as the 2" wide shoe axles.
All 70-up axle shafts and housings are same width regardless of shoe width,
the housing width is what changed, IE tube length, in 1970, then in 71 for 2wd's the wheel studs changed to 5 lug pattern with 1/2" studs, away from the 69 older 6 lug 7/16" studs pattern same for 2wd and 4x4