I recently destroyed my rear end and right now have no clue what to replace it with. I have some ideas and some price quotes for rebuild but I'm just not sure if I want to go that route.

What would I have to do to swap out my 10 bolt for a 14 bolt? Are all 14 bolts 8-lug? I obviously need it to be 6-lug. Is there any way to turn one into a 6-lug? If so, what would I need to do?

Aside from swapping my 10 bolt for the 14 bolt, is there anything bigger that would be 6-lug? I just don't think I want to keep the 8.6".

-Justin

 

Man if you don't have bigger than 35" tires or are putting out a ton or HP I don't see the need for a 14 bolt. IMO the 10 bolt axle is a decent setup. I would just get some good bullit proof axles, quality gears and a detroit locker. The 14 bolts weigh a ton and you would loose some ground clearence. I don't know if you can convert one to a 6 bolt pattern or not but I would think that would start to get expensive and you would also have to get new wheels anyway for the exterior plate for the full floating axles to fit. I still have a 10 bolt with 28 spline bullit proof axles in my 1984 4x4 with a 400+hp 383 and 35 in tires and after flogging it hard a number of times I am not worried about it breaking on me.

 

14 bolt would be a complete waste in your truck, plus damn expensive to build. With the right parts the 8.6 is plenty strong and worth rebuilding.

 

Just do a good posi and call it a day.

 

all i have in my rear end is an aftermarket carrier. the stock g80 is junk but the rest of the rear is prety strong.

if your dead set on a 14bolt i am being told you can get one from a 05-06 ss/vho and it will prety much bolt right in. they are 6lug and the spring perches are the same. probably have to mess with the ebrake stuff a little and i could see the driveshaft length changing. i am also told the 14bolt 9.5" isn't that heavy. i dont remember the number but it was something like 30lb's.

there are probably other years that will bolt right in but i am looking for one with drum brakes so that is the years that will work for me. there may be some years that still have disks and will even be easier to bolt in.

 

What carrier did you go with? I just don't want to have to worry about my rear end going out again. I want something bulletproof. My tranny shifts so hard after having it rebuilt and I know if I replace it with another factory unit I'll have the same problems. But if you're using the 8.6" and not having any problems, I definitely shouldn't!

 

get either an eaton lsd or a detroit true trac. either one will make your rear end really strong.

 

I used my same drive shaft. The rear yoke on the 14bolt is only a 1/2" closer to the transmission. To be on the safe side I cut a 1/2" off the front slip yoke that was not splined anyway.

 

since i am going with the same rear as you could you get an EXACT width of that 9.5". my question, is it exactly the same width as the 8.6" from hub to hub? can i order a set of wheels based on the rear end i have now?

the boyds take 4-8weeks to get so it would be nice to get my order in now but if that rear end is even slightly diferent in width it would effect my rim choice.

 

It is 100% the same width as your 8.6, face of hub to face of hub. It actully uses the 8.6 axle tubes, down to the same axle bearings. The only difference in the 2 rearends is the center section on the 14bolt is 1" bigger dia. to handle the 9.5" gear. If you look at the axle pics I sent you the only difference in the axles is the 10bolt tapers down to 30 spline and the 14bolt to 33 spline. There is only 8 lbs. diff. in the pair. They are the exact same lenght as the 30spline ones also.