malibudave

I searched through performancetrucks.net's forum to try to find the answer. I may have missed the definite answer.

I have a 2005 1500 crew cab six lug rear axle with drum brakes and I want to do a 9.5" SF 14 bolt swap

I have an opportunity to buy a 2001 1500HD 2WD rear axle. I am assuming this is the 9.5" SF 14 bolt.

What is the rear axle width of the 9.5" SF 14 bolt from a 2001 1500HD 2WD rear axle?

Is it close to the axle width of my truck (67.5"), since it is the NBS or is it a different axle width?

If it is the same width, will this bolt in place of my 8.5" 10 bolt?

Will it be difficult to swap the drum brakes over?

Any other issues I might be missing?

Just want to make sure this axle pretty much a bolt in deal before I spent the $300 asking price for it.

Thanks for your help.

Dave

1FastBrick

iTrader: (17)

double check you should be at 68.5 WMS-WMS

Also a 1500 HD will have 8 lugs so you will need new axle shafts to convert it back to 6 lug.

67.5 was 88-98 and the spring perches are in diffrent places.

$300 is good but the new shafts may end up running you another $200-$300 so keep that in mind.

malibudave

Thanks 1FastBrick,

I got most of my information from this link:
https://www.performancetrucks.net/fo...t=14+bolt+swap.

I knew that I would need new axles to convert back to 6 lug. I wanted to make sure that the spring perches were correct so I didn't have to weld in new perches.

I remembered that my uncle had a 2001 1500 HD. I stopped by his house and measured his axle and my axle. The spring perches were the same distance apart and from what I measured the axle tube flanges were close.

Hopefully every thing will bolt together once I get the correct axle shafts and U joint.

If any one has any pointers or tips on this swap, let me know.

Dave

1FastBrick

iTrader: (17)

What Atomic Failed to mention about his particular swap was that He used a later 88-98 4x4 style 14 bolt 9.5 . Thats why he had to get spring purches and make spacers to off set the Brakes for his swap. On the old 88-98 rear end the brake spacing is like 5 1/2 inches. Although you can pick them up cheaper and there generaly easier to find they require a lot of extra work to make them fit. Its much easyer to buy one that will truely bolt right in. To each his own though...

For your application, What your buying and what your putting it in to, It will be a true bolt in but the disc hardware will sit at a slight angle compared to on the 10 bolt. should be no big deal. Last Call did basically the same thing here....

Pictures.
https://www.performancetrucks.net/fo...8&postcount=20

Were he list the basic details
https://www.performancetrucks.net/fo...lt+swap&page=3

Any way Good luck!!! Lets us know how it turns out.

malibudave

I ended up buying the 2001 1500HD differential.

I wanted to make sure that when I did buy axle shafts for my 9.5” SF 14 bolt swap I would get the correct axle shafts, so I got out the trusty old tape measure to compare the widths of a stock 9.5” 14 bolt that I bought versus my stock 8.5” 10 bolt. The 9.5” came out of a 2001 1500HD. The 9.5” came stock with disk brakes, 8 lug axle shafts, and gov lock limited slip. My 8.5” 10 bolt is stock, from a 2005 1500 Crew Cab, and came with drum brakes, 6 lug axle shafts, and the gov lock limited slip differential.

The width of the differential from axle shaft flange to axle shaft flange without disc or drums installed for each:

2001 1500HD 9.5" 14 bolt: 67 5/8" (67.625”)
2005 1500CC 8.5" 10 bolt: 68" (68.00”)

The width of the differential from axle housing flange to axle housing flange (from where the brake backing plates bolt up) for each:

2001 1500HD 9.5" 14 bolt: 60 1/8" (60.125”)
2005 1500CC 8.5" 10 bolt: 62 1/2" (62.5”)

The measurement of each of the 1500HD axle shafts from axle flange to end of shaft is:
2001 1500HD 9.5" 14 bolt: 33 5/16" (33.3125”)

If you add the lengths of the two axle shafts from the 1500HD 9.5” 14 bolt plus the diameter of the differential cross pin shaft (1”) you get the total width of the axle at 67.625”.

(33.3125” + 33.3125” + 1.00”) = 67.625” or 67 5/8 inches

If the total width of my axle, 1500 Crew Cab, is 68 inches, subtract out an inch for the differential cross pin shaft, and divide by 2 I should get a measurement of the length of the axle I need to order of 33.5” or 33 1/2 inches.

(68” – 1”) = 37” / 2 = 33.5” or 33 1/2 inches

Where can you buy a 33 1/2” axle shafts with 6 lugs for a 9.5” SF 14 bolt?

How much do they cost?

Another difference between the 2001 1500HD 9.5” and the 2005 1500 8.5” are the spring perches. Even though they are the same distance apart, the 1500HD spring perches are taller by about 1 inch. Unlike my 1500 Crew Cab, there is space between the axle tube and the bottom of the spring perch on the 1500HD.

Dave

1FastBrick

iTrader: (17)

I found some on ebay. I believe that was a stock length so you dont need custom made ones.


http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/GM-Ch...Q5fAccessories

malibudave

I saw those on ebay also, but I don't think they will fit, based on my measurements. If you look up replacement axles for the 8.5" for the 2005 1500 Silverado, you will find that they are 33.56". I have looked all over the internet for an axle that is 33.5" long 9.5" 6 lug axles and I think I am going to have to get them custom made.

Here is a link for the 1999 to 2004 axle shaft for an 8.5" that lists its length as 33.56" or 33 9/16 inches.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/99-00...item35a425e945

Here is also a pdf file I found online that lists alot of the axle lengths and what they go to. It actually lists the axle I pulled out of the 1500HD and it corresponds to the measurement that I made below of 33 5/16". It also lists the stock length of a 1999 to 2004 of 33 9/16". There are no 2005 and up listings, but there "shouldn't" be any differences.

http://www.kabele.com/pdf/KABELECATALOG.pdf

TURBHOE

iTrader: (4)

call randy's ring and pinion or one of those places. they would probably be able to help you out. i found one that is 33.25" http://www.ringpinion.com/ProductDet...px?ProdID=2563

malibudave

I went to the local pick a part here in Houston to look for a pair of 6 lug axles for my 2001 1500HD 9.5” 14 bolt that will go into my 2005 1500 crew cab that came equipped with drum brakes . In the late model section, there was a 1998 2500 Express Van that was part of the “Cash for Clunkers” C.A.R.S. program that had the 6 lug 9.5” rear end and drum brakes. I pulled the differential cover to find an open differential. I pulled the cross pin shaft, pushed both axles in to get the c-clips out, and I pulled the axles. I took out my tape measure and measured the total length of the axle shaft. They measured 33 5/16, which is the same length as the 8 bolt axle shafts out of the 2001 1500HD. I think 33 5/16 is the closest to 33 1/2 that I am going to get without buying custom axles.

This puts my total axle length, less drums, at 67 5/8. This is only 3/8 less than the 68” for the 8.6” 10 bolt that is in my crew cab now. Less than a 1/4” per side should not affect anything. After trading my 8 bolt axles for the $14 core charge, the axles together where roughly $95 (about half the cost compared to off the shelf aftermarket axles), I think I can live with the difference.

The 9.5” 14 bolts out of the 1996 and newer Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana should be a good swap into the NBS 1500 trucks because they are the same width. The only modifications that may be needed are the spring perches and the shock mounts (I didn’t measure or look for the differences). On the drum brake version of the Express van, the axle housing flange had the standard 4 bolt symmetrical (square) configuration with the bottom bolt holes for the backing plate were parallel to the ground. The axle housing flange for the disk brake version 8 lug 9/5” 14 bolts, like the 2001 1500HD differential, has a non symmetrical (rectangle) 4 bolt configuration with the flange turned counter clockwise on the centerline of the axle tubing (bottom bolt holes not parallel to the ground). There is enough meat on the flange that the standard 4 bolt configuration can be used and make it parallel to the ground. The only other small issue with the 2001 1500HD axle is that the spring perches are about an inch taller than what came on the 8.6” 10 bolt. This should not be a problem bolting it in a NBS truck because the axle perches are the same distance apart.

Dave

1FastBrick

iTrader: (17)

good to see you keeping with this and posting your details.