Official 14 Bolt 9.5 SF Truck Thread
08-16-2010, 02:42 AM
#1
Official 14 Bolt 9.5 SF Truck Thread
First Lets start off with some Links on different types of 14 Bolt 9.5 SF Builds and swaps...
Custom build and swap
EVILGMC 14 BOLT BUILD (mucho pictures) - PerformanceTrucks.net Forums
Straight swap over
Last Call 14 Bolt Swap Complete - Pics Inside - PerformanceTrucks.net Forums
axisT6 GM 9.5 8lug - 6lug conversion
OBS to NBS swaps
Atomic 14 bolt SF swap - PerformanceTrucks.net Forums
TheChronic 14 bolt swap - PICS - PerformanceTrucks.net Forums
sureshot https://www.performancetrucks.net/fo...p-pics-489403/
5 Link builds for an Avalanche...
axisT6 TECH: 6 Lug 14 Bolt SF into an Avalanche - PerformanceTrucks.net Forums
GoatChs 9.5" 14-Bolt 5-Link Rear Swap - PerformanceTrucks.net Forums
Ok, I spent some time today inspecting a 2006 SS 14 bolt 9.5 SF. This is also referred to by the RPO code AXN.
Here are the measurements and pictures.
06 SS NBS housing measurements are:
68.5 inches WMS-WMS. That's outside to outside of drums.
Leaf Spring Pads are 49 inches on center.
Shock brackets are 32.5 inches on center.
Wheel side of axle flange to mounting face of brake bracket is 2.875 inches.
Brake flanges are 1 inch thick but machined down to have a register to center the Drum brake backing plate.
The actual tubes measure 3.105 od. up until they meet the housing.
On the brake/bearing side the tubes measured 3.060 od.
At the center housing the tubes flare out and measured 3.221 od.
Axle Shafts
The best I can measure are 33-9/16 inches overall length with the same 33 Spline.
The Hat diameter has the same OD. as the 10 bolt 8.625 axles.
Bearing Journal Diameter is 1.622
OEM Part number was 88967013
The AXN hybrid 14 bolt housing uses the same axle bearings and seals from the 10 bolt 8.625 rear end.
I am not 100% sure but it almost looks like they used 10 Bolt Housing tubes and swedge them out at the housing end to fit the Housing.
The OBS style 14 bolt 9.5 from 88-98 4x4 6 lug
67.5 WMS-WMS Outside drum to drum
Leafspring Pads are 47 inches on center.
Shock brackets are 31 inches on center. Note: There also shorter and mouneted straight up and down
Wheelside of axle flange to mounting face of brake bracket is 5-6 inches depending on rear Drum application. I forgot to measure mine before I gutted it.
Brake flanges are 1/2 inch thick but machined down to have a register to center the backing plates for the drum brakes. The tubing Is consistant 3.345 from one end to the other.
Axle Shafts
The best I can measure are 33-1/4 overall length. There listed as 33 1/8 in length with most replacement brands. They do however show up as 33 1/4 in length.
The bearing journal diameter looks to be 1.703
In order to swap this older axle in to a 99-up NBS truck you need to move the Leaf Spring pads out. You also need to space the brakes about 2-1/2 inches away from the factory brake mounting flanges. Some people make there own Solid spacer out of aluminum while others use various types of shims.
See the TheChronic 's build up for billet spacers 14 bolt swap - PICS - PerformanceTrucks.net Forums
More Helpful info
RPO code AXN is considered a hybrid axle because it uses the same smaller 10 bolt 8.625 axle bearings and seals. Not because its usually used in 2500. In the past the 14 bolt 9.5 SF axle has been put under different variations of the 1500, 2500, The 454SS trucks, and even the 91-96 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham.
The RPO axle code AXN is typically found under trucks with the Vortec High Output in 2005 or Vortec Max Performance package starting in 2006 and also under the 2wd SS in 05- up.
In 2005 the Vortec High output package and the 05-07 2WD SS trucks were only available with 3:73
The Vortec Max Package started in 2006 was available in Extended Cab and Crew Cab with both 3:73 and 4:10 ratios options.
I was under the impression, on the 06-07 classic, that you had to get 4x4 option to be able to order the 4:10's...
The typical shaft outer diameter at the bearing journal on a regular 14 bolt 9.5 is 1.703.
On the 10 bolt and also the Hybrid AXN 14 bolt it uses a 1.622 shaft diameter at the bearing journal and a smaller axle Hat O.D. diameter were the disc or drum would mount.
The axle Hat O.D. on the 4x4 88-98 6 lug axle I have measure approx. 7.335
The axle Hat O.D. on the AXN 05-07 6 lug axle I have measures approx. 7.022
An AXN 14 bolt 9.5 rear end from 05-07 classic is the same WMS - WMS as any 99-07 classic truck 10 bolt rear end. The only difference is the flange were the brakes bolt up is clocked differently from a disc brake set up. In a Drum the top of the flanges in nearly parallel with the drive shaft. In a disc set up, its rotated approx. 45*
What will happen if you put Disc brakes from a 99-up GMT800 and GMT900 on a Drum rear end from the same ERA??? Other than the calipers being mounted lower or higher than center, Nothing... They will still work as they should the just won't look right aesthetically...
On a truck originally equipped with drums that is swapping to disc in the rear, you may need an adjustable proportioning valve. Other wise the pads will wear faster in the rear and will lock up the rear end under hard braking conditions.
The brake offset is the same between the drums and disc from 99-07 Classic = 2-7/8 aka 2.875
It should also be noted that the Drive shaft and U- Joint are different on a 14 bolt equipped truck then a 10 bolt. A 2WD 14 bolt truck 2 piece drive shaft is .625 or 5/8 of an inch Shorter than the same 2WD truck with a 10 Bolt. The U-Joint on a 14 bolt is a 1350 while the 10 bolt uses the smaller 3R joint.
Custom build and swap
EVILGMC 14 BOLT BUILD (mucho pictures) - PerformanceTrucks.net Forums
Straight swap over
Last Call 14 Bolt Swap Complete - Pics Inside - PerformanceTrucks.net Forums
axisT6 GM 9.5 8lug - 6lug conversion
OBS to NBS swaps
Atomic 14 bolt SF swap - PerformanceTrucks.net Forums
TheChronic 14 bolt swap - PICS - PerformanceTrucks.net Forums
sureshot https://www.performancetrucks.net/fo...p-pics-489403/
5 Link builds for an Avalanche...
axisT6 TECH: 6 Lug 14 Bolt SF into an Avalanche - PerformanceTrucks.net Forums
GoatChs 9.5" 14-Bolt 5-Link Rear Swap - PerformanceTrucks.net Forums
Ok, I spent some time today inspecting a 2006 SS 14 bolt 9.5 SF. This is also referred to by the RPO code AXN.
Here are the measurements and pictures.
06 SS NBS housing measurements are:
68.5 inches WMS-WMS. That's outside to outside of drums.
Leaf Spring Pads are 49 inches on center.
Shock brackets are 32.5 inches on center.
Wheel side of axle flange to mounting face of brake bracket is 2.875 inches.
Brake flanges are 1 inch thick but machined down to have a register to center the Drum brake backing plate.
The actual tubes measure 3.105 od. up until they meet the housing.
On the brake/bearing side the tubes measured 3.060 od.
At the center housing the tubes flare out and measured 3.221 od.
Axle Shafts
The best I can measure are 33-9/16 inches overall length with the same 33 Spline.
The Hat diameter has the same OD. as the 10 bolt 8.625 axles.
Bearing Journal Diameter is 1.622
OEM Part number was 88967013
The AXN hybrid 14 bolt housing uses the same axle bearings and seals from the 10 bolt 8.625 rear end.
I am not 100% sure but it almost looks like they used 10 Bolt Housing tubes and swedge them out at the housing end to fit the Housing.
The OBS style 14 bolt 9.5 from 88-98 4x4 6 lug
67.5 WMS-WMS Outside drum to drum
Leafspring Pads are 47 inches on center.
Shock brackets are 31 inches on center. Note: There also shorter and mouneted straight up and down
Wheelside of axle flange to mounting face of brake bracket is 5-6 inches depending on rear Drum application. I forgot to measure mine before I gutted it.
Brake flanges are 1/2 inch thick but machined down to have a register to center the backing plates for the drum brakes. The tubing Is consistant 3.345 from one end to the other.
Axle Shafts
The best I can measure are 33-1/4 overall length. There listed as 33 1/8 in length with most replacement brands. They do however show up as 33 1/4 in length.
The bearing journal diameter looks to be 1.703
In order to swap this older axle in to a 99-up NBS truck you need to move the Leaf Spring pads out. You also need to space the brakes about 2-1/2 inches away from the factory brake mounting flanges. Some people make there own Solid spacer out of aluminum while others use various types of shims.
See the TheChronic 's build up for billet spacers 14 bolt swap - PICS - PerformanceTrucks.net Forums
More Helpful info
RPO code AXN is considered a hybrid axle because it uses the same smaller 10 bolt 8.625 axle bearings and seals. Not because its usually used in 2500. In the past the 14 bolt 9.5 SF axle has been put under different variations of the 1500, 2500, The 454SS trucks, and even the 91-96 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham.
The RPO axle code AXN is typically found under trucks with the Vortec High Output in 2005 or Vortec Max Performance package starting in 2006 and also under the 2wd SS in 05- up.
In 2005 the Vortec High output package and the 05-07 2WD SS trucks were only available with 3:73
The Vortec Max Package started in 2006 was available in Extended Cab and Crew Cab with both 3:73 and 4:10 ratios options.
I was under the impression, on the 06-07 classic, that you had to get 4x4 option to be able to order the 4:10's...
The typical shaft outer diameter at the bearing journal on a regular 14 bolt 9.5 is 1.703.
On the 10 bolt and also the Hybrid AXN 14 bolt it uses a 1.622 shaft diameter at the bearing journal and a smaller axle Hat O.D. diameter were the disc or drum would mount.
The axle Hat O.D. on the 4x4 88-98 6 lug axle I have measure approx. 7.335
The axle Hat O.D. on the AXN 05-07 6 lug axle I have measures approx. 7.022
An AXN 14 bolt 9.5 rear end from 05-07 classic is the same WMS - WMS as any 99-07 classic truck 10 bolt rear end. The only difference is the flange were the brakes bolt up is clocked differently from a disc brake set up. In a Drum the top of the flanges in nearly parallel with the drive shaft. In a disc set up, its rotated approx. 45*
What will happen if you put Disc brakes from a 99-up GMT800 and GMT900 on a Drum rear end from the same ERA??? Other than the calipers being mounted lower or higher than center, Nothing... They will still work as they should the just won't look right aesthetically...
On a truck originally equipped with drums that is swapping to disc in the rear, you may need an adjustable proportioning valve. Other wise the pads will wear faster in the rear and will lock up the rear end under hard braking conditions.
The brake offset is the same between the drums and disc from 99-07 Classic = 2-7/8 aka 2.875
It should also be noted that the Drive shaft and U- Joint are different on a 14 bolt equipped truck then a 10 bolt. A 2WD 14 bolt truck 2 piece drive shaft is .625 or 5/8 of an inch Shorter than the same 2WD truck with a 10 Bolt. The U-Joint on a 14 bolt is a 1350 while the 10 bolt uses the smaller 3R joint.
Last edited by 1FastBrick; 09-30-2022 at 01:25 PM. Reason: Cause I felt like it!!!
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Badbowtie247 (04-26-2018)
for good information. 
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Ummmm Nothing... Move along... 
08-19-2010, 10:25 PM
#10
1. With a Name like that He might be to high to log in...
2. No Yours is Nothing special...
3. Thanks to you and Dr.X for documenting that...
I tried to compile all the ones on this site for refference material. I am sure there is more on other sites though.