Can I swap the 5 lug axles out of a 72 burb with the 6 lug axles in my 69?

[milehightoyz]

I working on a 69 Suburban. I just found a 72 burb at the bone yard and robbed the front disc brake parts (spindle/rotor/calipers/ and prop valve off of it. My guestion is on the rearend. Do I need to swap the entire rearend out or can I just pull the 5 lug axles and swap them into my 6 lug rearend? Any info would be great. Thanks John

[uncle]

No, you can only swap axles in a housing from a 70 model. Most 70 models had the wider housing. If you measure the distance from the inside edges of your backing plates it should be about 57 inches. This is the width you need so that you can swap axles.

[Sublvr72]

you should be able to swap axle shafts if I remember correctly, if not you can go to a rearend shop and have some made.

[Killavee]

This swap can be done. I did it. The five lug axles will be approx 3/4 inch longer than the 6 lug axles they are replacing. I simply swapped the rear brake drums out to a "heavy duty" five lug drum off of a newer 78 (second gen) chevy 3/4 ton truck. The break shoes work on the inner most portion of the drum. This swap works, is simple, and cheap. I have run this way in my 67 1/2 ton shortbed for over a year now with no problems whatsovever. This was on a truck mind you, not a suburban. But it should work.