Ive got some conflicting info on the rear end size

8.5
8.525
8.6

Whats the right size?

 

I think its 8.6.

 

finally gonna swap those shitty 3.42s out its 8.5 10-bolt 30spline

 

The 99-up NBS trucks use a 8.625 ring gear. The 98-back are 8.5 inch.

 

i remember someone saying both will work

 

Yes.. , the 99+ have a 8.625 but an 8.5 will fit fine.

 

See thats the problem I have. The gears I have are for a 8.5. But I have heard that the diffs in our trucks are larger than 8.5.?

On the Richmond web site they have a cross reference for 1980-present as all being 8.5


http://www.richmondgear.com/01pdfs/page10.pdf

However other web sites call it something other then a 8.5?

So will my Richmond gears (part # 69-0165-1) work??

 

If they are 8.5, they will work. I have some 8.5's on the 01.

 

The way I remember it, the gears will work, but it is the installation kit which needs to be specific for the 8.625 set-up. The installation kit has the bearings & seals, etc.