68 c10 axle help please

[S10pro]

I am looking at do a swap to 5 lug from the original 6 lug. I pulled the axles out of my 68 housing to find out that my passanger side axle is shorter then drivers axle I had to pry the spider gear toward axle tube just to get the c-clip off axle .
I got what looks to be rear end out a leaf spring truck 5 lug axles out of that measure the same length as one I removed from the drivers side of my truc. Any help would be greatly appreciated . Thank you

[Taibo]

Originally Posted by S10pro

I am looking at do a swap to 5 lug from the original 6 lug. I pulled the axles out of my 68 housing to find out that my passanger side axle is shorter then drivers axle I had to pry the spider gear toward axle tube just to get the c-clip off axle .
I got what looks to be rear end out a leaf spring truck 5 lug axles out of that measure the same length as one I removed from the drivers side of my truc. Any help would be greatly appreciated . Thank you

Before the really bad advice begins flying let's see if we can figure out just which differential you have. Here is a diagram that will help you find the housing stamp on the passenger side axle tube and another that shows the shape of the diff cover to Id the variants in GM housings. Get that number and ID the housing you have and I am sure someone here can help you!

[michael bustamante]

on your 68, is it leaf or coil?

[Mike C]

Like the previous posters suggest, more info would help, but my guess is that either someone replaced you entire axle housing with one from a '70 truck then one axle shaft with a shorter '67-'69 axle or more likely that your truck had an axle bearing failure at some point in it's life and a wide axle replaced.

I replaced my short axle housing in my 69 step with a wide housing from a 72 with 5 lug axles to make my wheel/tire combo work. Looks like you need to be on the hunt for a 70 wide housing to use your 5 lug axles or just look for a complete 71-72 housing.

And it will be easier if your truck is coil rather than leaf like mine.

[MrMeseeks]

I am having the exact same issue on my 68. 12 bolt rear end. 3.73 non posi.
pulled out both axles, they are exact same size 30.75in. but as you said the left side axle sticks out a bit more then the right side does when installed(very tight to axle seal).

I tried getting a slightly longer one for the right side but ended up being too long. So im very interested in the info that follows in this thread.

[Taibo]

Originally Posted by MrMeseeks

I am having the exact same issue on my 68. 12 bolt rear end. 3.73 non posi.
pulled out both axles, they are exact same size 30.75in. but as you said the left side axle sticks out a bit more then the right side does when installed(very tight to axle seal).

I tried getting a slightly longer one for the right side but ended up being too long. So im very interested in the info that follows in this thread.

The correct axle for a 67-69 C10 with an 8.875T differential (12 bolt truck) is a 30 spline c clip axle that is 30.5 inches long on each side. The problem is, who knows what housing is in your truck? Is it a GM 8.875T or am 12 bolt car? Or did some 'previous owner' (translate that as -idiot) get a hacked up housing from his brother-in-laws groundskeeper to replace one that he blew to pieces? Start by identifying what you have then someone can tell you what to do to fix it.

[MrMeseeks]

it is the truck bolt pattern. but what or where it came from i do not know. ill have to check some id numbers

[Mike C]

If these are coil spring trucks then the answer is it is a truck 12 bolt housing. Knowing that GM changed the length of the housing in 1970 suggests that there is just some mixing and matching of parts.

[S10pro]

Sorry I will try to id it its a 12 bolt coil spring with 6 lug axles I will look for id marking

[Taibo]

Originally Posted by S10pro

Sorry I will try to id it its a 12 bolt coil spring with 6 lug axles I will look for id marking

If it is a coil spring rear and you want 5 lug axles you can get those from Currie, Strange, Moser, or Early Classic Enterprises...about $110.00 each. Just order the 30.5 inch 30 spline axles. Before you do it's a good idea to check distance on each side from pinio center to the outside edge of the flange to make sure the axle tubes are the same length on both sides.