Help-would you buy this (14FF w/OEM discs)

[DirtyLarry]

As stated above that is a 10.5” American Axle from a 2001-2010 GM 2500HD with a 6.0L engine. The 10.5” is the same basic axle GM has used since 1973 although it has changed widths over the years and cooling fins were added to the carrier housing. Duramax and 8.1L used the larger 11.5 axle although the outer hubs, rotors, calipers, etc are the same between the two. In 2011 the 8 lug nut pattern changed from 8 x 6.5” to 8 x 180mm so stay away from 2011 and later axles or you will have mismatched wheels between the front and rear. These AAM 10.5 axles are good axles but too wide for use in older trucks in my opinion. Old trucks look goofy with these wide axles in them. The axle tube ends are different so one just can’t take the backing plates off of these newer axles and quickly convert their old 14 bolt FF to disks. $550 isn’t too bad for one of these newer axles if you wanted to try to install it in an older truck. I have a hard time believing any salvage yard would sell one of these newer axles for anything less. Guess I need to go parts shopping where RedCap lives…

Here is how you can identify a 10.5 vs. an 11.5 them by looking at the rear covers.



Both the GM 2001 to current 10.5 and 11.5 have the same outers






I’ve owned a 2001 2500HD Silverado with an 8.1L since new as well as a 2005 2500HD Silverado with a 6.0L for a few years. After installing 13” drum brakes on my old K10 I don’t see where these later GM rear disks have any real braking advantage over the drums other than in weight savings. The old K10 truck with the camper weighs more than the Silverado but yet it feels much more confident when coming to a stop even with drums.

I definitely agree with SunSoaked…..No way in heck I would swap on Eldorado/Tornado calipers on any truck either, which is why I swapped 11" drums for 13's the other day. Those small calipers were problematic on those cars, why bolt those turds on a project truck??