10 bolt carrier question

[TerryD]

I was looking for a 30 spline carrier to upgrade (so to speak) my 10 bolt and saw on Randy's website he only lists one carrier for a 8.5 10 bolt. The information on there said that his carrier will work for either 28 or 30 spline applications. I was wondering if this was true for all 10 bolt carriers? He also sells a HD 10 bolt carrier that uses different carrier bearings. It's made my Yukon and is called the EXTRA HD carrier. If I'm going to use aftermarket shafts, a lock-rite and 4.56 gears on 35's with at least 400ft/lb of torque, is there a need? It's only $23 more.

 

[79'K5]

I was looking for a 30 spline carrier to upgrade (so to speak) my 10 bolt and saw on Randy's website he only lists one carrier for a 8.5 10 bolt. The information on there said that his carrier will work for either 28 or 30 spline applications. I was wondering if this was true for all 10 bolt carriers? He also sells a HD 10 bolt carrier that uses different carrier bearings. It's made my Yukon and is called the EXTRA HD carrier. If I'm going to use aftermarket shafts, a lock-rite and 4.56 gears on 35's with at least 400ft/lb of torque, is there a need? It's only $23 more.

I cant give you the answer you are looking for i guess but i would assume that the extra beefyness wouldn't be a bad thing.

 

[6.2Blazer]

From my understanding the OEM 28-spline carriers found up to around '87 would not accodomate the slighltly larger 30-spline shaft. The 30-spline side gears would fit inside the case but the actual "holes" in the side of the case were not big enough for the shaft to fit through. However the 30-spline carriers had this hole slightly bigger to accomodate the bigger shafts.

I have never actually measured this in person to confirm but I have read many posts in years past of people claiming to have actually tried.

Don't believe the actual OEM design 30-spline open carrier would be any stronger than the 28-spline, possibly even weaker. So if your thoughts that the carrier itself would be upgraded with OEM style than that is not the case. Of course an aftermarket HD case would be different. Keep in mind that the rear 10-bolts used the same cases as the front and there are millions of 30-spline rear 10-bolts floating around in junkyards.

If you wanted the slightly larger 30-spline shafts than that is something else. Is somebody actually making chromo 30-spline 10-bolt front shafts now? It has been awhile but last time I checked nobody made aftermarket 30-spline 10-bolt fronts (and no, Chevy D44 shafts will not work). There is really no strength upgrade going from OEM 28 to 30 spline shafts because they both have a neck-down of the same diameter, so it would have to be an aftermarket version with no neck-down.

 

[4X4HIGH]

GM went to 30 spline axles in the 10 bolt starting in 1989. "Upgrading" to a 30 spline carrier is actually a downgrade as far as the carrier but an upgrade for the axle. The carrier has less material where the axle goes through the carrier on the 30 spline versus the 28 spline which makes the carrier weaker, but the 30 spline axle is larger diameter than a 28 spline axle making the axle stronger. Keep in mind that as far as spares go, there are WAY more 28 spline stuff kicking around than a 3 year only 30 spline stuff.

 

[badmix]

I got their chromoly 28spline axle shafts from Yukon, they have held up, but im running stock 305cid and running 33". I have their 4:10 gears and loc rite. I dont beat on my truck.

With the 35" and 400lb torque you better watch the skinny pedal. If I were to go bigger tires and motor id just invest in a 14FF. youll be way ahead of the game.

I would add up what itll cost to soup up your 10bolt versus buying a 14ff.

 

[TerryD]

Well, it'll be a front axle. I'm debating running the 10/12 bolt combo that are in my truck versus buying a D44 front from a friend.

Either way I have to re-gear. Either way I'll have to come up with spare shafts. So I'm looking at it as a "why pay for the D44 when I've got a 10bolt and they'll both need the same amount of parts bought for them?" and a "I've already got the 10 bolt, the D44 will put me $100 behind to start with."