rear axle swap - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

muleys67 · 03-09-2016, 09:40 PM

After checking the drivetrain section and not finding answers here I am. My 86 may need a rearend replacement.im not wanting to rebuild just swap if needed.what year donor trucks will work, other than the obvious, maybe later model axle? Thanks for any advice. Muley

**MikeB** · 03-09-2016, 10:02 PM

Which model truck? C10, K20, etc.

barry1982 · 03-10-2016, 01:18 AM

Pretty sure almost any rear end between 73-87 will work. If your truck is a 2 wheel drive, you want to make sure you get a rear end from a 2 wheel drive. The 4 x 4's have 6 stud axles, and if your truck is a half ton, you have 5. You also have to watch the gear ratios. Many of the older models with 3 speed autos had higher gears than later models with overdrives.

Big Dawgs 86 · 03-10-2016, 05:02 AM

Sorry to jump in but I'm also needing to replace my rear axle on my 1986 C10 Chevy, current one has a crack and leaks oil .. I was thinking of buying one from the local reck yard and rebuilding it.. My question is what gears should I buy to make it some what a little more heavy duty.. Could I see what gears I have now and go up one from there or is there somthing else I can buy? I'm thinking the current gears are probably the lower ones since my truck is a V6 4.3l...

andrewmp6 · 03-10-2016, 06:15 AM

73-87 will bolt in anything else will take cutting and welding for it to fit if its even the same lug pattern.Big dawgs what trans do you have and what size rear tire do you have?

Big Dawgs 86 · 03-10-2016, 06:50 AM

700r, O.D.. And I'm running a 15-10 rim not sure on tire size I can check tomorrow..
Posted via Mobile Device

LeesTruk · 03-10-2016, 07:22 AM

Be careful on the 73-87 rear end selection. Even though a 12 bolt rear will bolt into your truck, the drive shaft/U-joint will be different. Also check the E-brake cabling. That may be different, too. Discovered this when swapping an '86 10 bolt into my '80 C10 w/12 bolt

muleys67 · 03-10-2016, 09:55 PM

Thanks, guys for your input.My 86 c10 has the 4.3 and my6 trans.There is a lot of slack in the driveshaft and a maddening vibration at normal hiway speeds, like 60, 65 mph.Gonna probly r&r u joints and the carrier bearing first.If the vibe is still there, Im guessing axle swap is necessary. Oh, got new tires last fri so that helped as left front tire was not balanced.Thanks again. Muley

TwoFiftyShifter · 03-10-2016, 11:33 PM

Just an FYI, I recently swapped in a rear from an 86 C10 2wd to my 84 K10 4x4. Just swapped axle shafts. Very easy.

03-09-2016, 09:40 PM	#1
muleys67 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roane County,Tennessee Posts: 97	rear axle swap After checking the drivetrain section and not finding answers here I am. My 86 may need a rearend replacement.im not wanting to rebuild just swap if needed.what year donor trucks will work, other than the obvious, maybe later model axle? Thanks for any advice. Muley

03-09-2016, 10:02 PM	#2
MikeB Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: North Texas Posts: 3,597	Re: rear axle swap Which model truck? C10, K20, etc. __________________ Mike 1969 C10 LWB -- owned for 35 years. 350/TH350, 3.08 posi, 1st Gen Vintage Air, recent AAW wiring harness, 5-lug conversion, 1985 spindles and brakes. 1982 C10 SWB -- sold 1981 C10 Silverado LWB -- sold, but wish I still had it! 1969 C10 (not the current one) that I bought in the early 1980s. Paid $1200; sold for $1500 a few years later. Just a hint at the appreciation that was coming. Retired as a factory automation products salesman. Worked part-time over the years for an engine builder and a classic car repair shop. Member here for 24 years! This is the very first car/truck Internet forum I joined. I still used a dial-up modem back then!

03-10-2016, 01:18 AM	#3
barry1982 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Waskatenau, Alberta Posts: 259	Re: rear axle swap Pretty sure almost any rear end between 73-87 will work. If your truck is a 2 wheel drive, you want to make sure you get a rear end from a 2 wheel drive. The 4 x 4's have 6 stud axles, and if your truck is a half ton, you have 5. You also have to watch the gear ratios. Many of the older models with 3 speed autos had higher gears than later models with overdrives.

03-10-2016, 05:02 AM	#4
Big Dawgs 86 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Bakersfield Ca. Posts: 46	Re: rear axle swap Sorry to jump in but I'm also needing to replace my rear axle on my 1986 C10 Chevy, current one has a crack and leaks oil .. I was thinking of buying one from the local reck yard and rebuilding it.. My question is what gears should I buy to make it some what a little more heavy duty.. Could I see what gears I have now and go up one from there or is there somthing else I can buy? I'm thinking the current gears are probably the lower ones since my truck is a V6 4.3l... __________________ Working on my 2001 Chevy 1500 4x4...

03-10-2016, 06:15 AM	#5
andrewmp6 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Louisville,Ky Posts: 5,811	Re: rear axle swap 73-87 will bolt in anything else will take cutting and welding for it to fit if its even the same lug pattern.Big dawgs what trans do you have and what size rear tire do you have?

03-10-2016, 06:50 AM	#6
Big Dawgs 86 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Bakersfield Ca. Posts: 46	Re: rear axle swap 700r, O.D.. And I'm running a 15-10 rim not sure on tire size I can check tomorrow.. Posted via Mobile Device

03-10-2016, 07:22 AM	#7
LeesTruk Registered User Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Manchester, CT Posts: 433	Re: rear axle swap Be careful on the 73-87 rear end selection. Even though a 12 bolt rear will bolt into your truck, the drive shaft/U-joint will be different. Also check the E-brake cabling. That may be different, too. Discovered this when swapping an '86 10 bolt into my '80 C10 w/12 bolt

03-10-2016, 09:55 PM	#8
muleys67 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roane County,Tennessee Posts: 97	Re: rear axle swap Thanks, guys for your input.My 86 c10 has the 4.3 and my6 trans.There is a lot of slack in the driveshaft and a maddening vibration at normal hiway speeds, like 60, 65 mph.Gonna probly r&r u joints and the carrier bearing first.If the vibe is still there, Im guessing axle swap is necessary. Oh, got new tires last fri so that helped as left front tire was not balanced.Thanks again. Muley

03-10-2016, 11:33 PM	#9
TwoFiftyShifter Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Gwinnett GA Posts: 1,803	Re: rear axle swap Just an FYI, I recently swapped in a rear from an 86 C10 2wd to my 84 K10 4x4. Just swapped axle shafts. Very easy. __________________ 1982 K10 SWB 1987 V20 - Sold - Doh!



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