How strong is the 14 bolt 9.5"...
 

I have located an 05 Vmax 14 bolt 9.5" rear end. How strong is the G80 in that unit? What options are there for upgraded diffs?

From what I have read, they do not have the G86 like the TBSS guys have and the G80 may be the weak link.

Anyone???

yes the G80 is the weak link just swap out the G80 for a eaton LSD or a detroit trutrac and dont worry about it.

I would think it'd be the same as any other 'G80' just swap a LSD in there and you're good to go!

BTW I might be interested in something off your 10-bolt

G80 is just GMs way of saying limited slip. you can go back to mid 80s that i can think of the serial code is still G80

but to speak on the G80 of the SF 14 bolt its still a torque style weight like the 10bolts have. now you can upgrad to teh G86 the TBSS has which is actually a posi unit which uses springs and etc

Is the G86 as good as aftermarket carriers?

cars only came with limited slip. Trucks have the eaten locker. Works different than limited slip. The Truck G80 gov lock actually locks up when one wheel spins more than 100 rpm faster than the other. Unlocks over 20 mph.

The G86 was limited slip and only avalable in quadasteer. Not sure if it will work in other carriers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6A-YNw8ddE&NR=1

have a good one,

Don

dont forget that a limited slip uses clutchs. the gov lok still uses clutches

the G86 in the TBSS has a spring type posi similar to those of the old days

quadsteer rearends are Dana 60s and wont work elsewhere

posted before video

In other words, the G80 is crap.. right? LOL

The 10 bolt brake assembly should bolt right to the 14 bolt, correct?

If the G80 was crap it wouldn't be in GM-made trucks. It's the right differential for a stock truck. Treat your truck like the average Joe and you'll see long life with the Gov Lock. Beat on it and throw a ton of power to the rear end and like all things mechanical, accelerated wear will occur. It's always open giving the best possible gas mileage, yet when traction is needed and one tire starts slipping the other side locks in via the cam ramps and pawl, as described very well in that Youtube video. I've linked many people to that video and it's the best explanation I can give. The Gov Lock is the economy mechanical locker to give the truck a broad spectrum of possibilities on and off road, so that the average Joe is content.

With that said, the G80 is often times referred to as the G80 Hand Grenade because it tries to engage the other axle shaft under hard acceleration and chips teeth off the pawl sending them into the differential and ring gear, literally destroying anything and everything in the pumpkin. Again, it wasn't designed for anything more than a stock truck so give it some slack, and just call up Randy's Ring and Pinion (ringpinion.com) and they'll hook you up with everything you need.