14 bolt question

[82ccshorty]

How do you tell the difference in a full floater or semi floater?
Posted via Mobile Device

[rs72z]

Full floater has axles that bolt to the hub from the outside. Semi the axles go in like a 1/2 ton.
Posted via Mobile Device

[Firebirdjones]

A full floater that I'm aware of has a very distinctive hub where the axle flange actually bolts in from the outside, and the drum assembly rides on a set of bearings, hence a floating axle. Will also have an 8 lug setup and rather large drums. At least my 1 ton 14 bolt does.

I'm not totally familiar with the semi float 14 bolt but I believe it wouldn't have any of the features I listed above, smaller brakes/drums, and the axle actually rides on a bearing like a conventional rear and uses C-clips to retain it. The ones I've seen have also been 6 lug, but may not always be.

[82ccshorty]

Mines a 8 lug but i don't know if it's a c20 or 30. Anyway to tell that? It's In a crew cab but I think the PO said the rear end was out of a 3/4 suburban
Posted via Mobile Device

[82ccshorty]

so this would be a full right?

[Firebirdjones]

Yup.

[riz]

full floater = 8 lug
semi-floater = 5 or 6 lugs

You can find a 14 bolt semi- floater in the 454SS pickups.

RIZ

[speedmachine]

the semi floater 14 bolt [9.5"] 8 bolt is common in 80s suburbans and 3/4 pickups too. not all 8 lug are full floater. easiest way as said above is check the bolt on axles.. dead giveaway..

neat little video on full floaters

LiveLeak

[Ski-me]

First 2 - 14 bolt Full Float - 8 lugs Only

The full float also has a removable pinion (bolts at yoke), where as the semi-float does not.

[Ski-me]

Semi-Floats can be 6 lug or 8 lug....depending on truck.

[Firebirdjones]

Stop teasing me, I'm looking for a semi float 6 lug 14 bolt

[Ski-me]

Originally Posted by Firebirdjones

Stop teasing me, I'm looking for a semi float 6 lug 14 bolt

I just finished painting mine.....maybe someday I'll be able to get it mounted under the Blazer!

[riz]

I want one for my K5 too. So hard to find around here. I'd love to get one and put 4:56 gears in both for my new 35's.

RIZ

[DirtyLarry]

Am I due any royalties for the use of my 8 lug 9.5" semi-floater picture Glad it the pic came to good use.

[86c20]

if i understand right the 3/4 tons are semi float and can be full float depending on year and the one tons are full float only. at lest thats how mine are. 3 one tons and 1 3/4 with the higher gvw

[Ski-me]

Originally Posted by DirtyLarry

Am I due any royalties for the use of my 8 lug 9.5" semi-floater picture Glad it the pic came to good use.

Absolutely! Just sent an email to Google and tell them your picture is now being used on multiple sites! I'd say you should be able to name your price at that point!

[Hoods69BadBowTie]

Originally Posted by rs72z

Full floater has axles that bolt to the hub from the outside. Semi the axles go in like a 1/2 ton.
Posted via Mobile Device

Yep that's most easy way I have learned to tell the difference! So glad my mud truck already had full floaters makes me so happy.

[DirtyLarry]

This might be the same video Speedmachine was trying to post. This is a great video explaining full-floating rear axles. The video is from 1936! The basic design is still the same today.


It floats