So I am planning a trip to tellico in December and another to Morris Mountain possibly before that. I just ordered a 4" Rough Country suspension lift and 34" super swamper LTBs. Of course I still have the stock 10 bolts with 3.73 gears and the factory limited slip. My question is: What are my options for a rear locker since i dont have an open carrier, most companies only sell the lockers for open carriers. Also are there any tips for strengthening the axles so they will hold up to the tires and Tellico?
CK5
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10 Bolt upgrades?
- Thread starter wildman29
- Start date
Chrisblazzer89
1/2 ton status
A 14 blot semi floater 6 lug.
Chrisblazzer89
1/2 ton status
I dont mine my lift a lil stiff when the rear is empty but I love it. It gets the job done. When I buy a pick up I will be getting Rough Contry 6" springs.
your factory limited slip is probably a gov-loc which is really a locker. I wouldn't spend any money on that rear axle. wheel the piss out of it until it breaks. then spend the money to put a 14 bolt full floater in the rear and convert the front to 8 lug.
I wheeled the crap out of my 10 bolts with 35's and never broke anything. they were both open which helps a lot, but I still had a lot of fun and learned how to pick a line. Look at it this way, there are tons of jeeps out there running tiress bigger then yours on axles smaller then yours.
eventually you might need a 60, but for now you should just enjoy wheeling the truck whenever possible.
I wheeled the crap out of my 10 bolts with 35's and never broke anything. they were both open which helps a lot, but I still had a lot of fun and learned how to pick a line. Look at it this way, there are tons of jeeps out there running tiress bigger then yours on axles smaller then yours.
eventually you might need a 60, but for now you should just enjoy wheeling the truck whenever possible.
if i were you i would replace the carrier because thats your biggest weakness. you could also get some chromoly shafts from ord.
roadnotca
3/4 ton status
10Bs front and rear. 3.90 R&P with LockRight front and NoSlip rear, TH350 (auto makes a big difference) and 35s; all under an 1985 Burb. I suspect I'm on the edge for most people's comfort zone, but I consider myself proficient on trails. I avoid getting air. 
Getting rid of that factory locker you have, would be enough to justify going big, IMHO.
Getting rid of that factory locker you have, would be enough to justify going big, IMHO.
Hossbaby50
3/4 ton status
Govlocks in 10 bolts SUCK. It WILL break and most likely in a bad place. I broke my 10b govlock on the street with 32" tires and a stock 350. I took off hard from a stop and BANG that was all she wrote.
If you are set on keeping the 10 bolts then get an open carrier & a lockright or get a full carrrier locker like a Detroit. A 6 lug 14bsf would be a good option if you don't plan on going bigger then 35-37" tires ever. If there is the possibility of going over 37" then get a 14bff, D60, D70, etc in the rear now and be done with it.
Harley
If you are set on keeping the 10 bolts then get an open carrier & a lockright or get a full carrrier locker like a Detroit. A 6 lug 14bsf would be a good option if you don't plan on going bigger then 35-37" tires ever. If there is the possibility of going over 37" then get a 14bff, D60, D70, etc in the rear now and be done with it.
Harley
roadnotca
3/4 ton status
XeXeX2Hossbaby50 said:
Hossbaby50 said:
Heed the warning about the 10bolt G/L diff ! They are not long for this world in a stock truck much less anyone doing any kind of off roading. It is possible to go wheeling with 10bolts and drive home but sane driving and great care on picking lines along with driver finess must be key.
G/L's are KNOWN for failing ! Don't risk it .....
Tom
hunterguy86
1/2 ton status
gmc4cw said:
x2 on this.
Wheel it until it breaks.
GEORGIA GABE
1/2 ton status
One of my pet peeves about Ck5 is the answer to everything is put a 60 and a 14 bolt in it... I say it depends on what kind of trails you plan on running. I agree that the govbomb 10bolt rear is a break waiting to happen. The question is what do you want to do with it... Are you a wheel the piss out of it guy with no regard for body damage foot to the floor hellbent for leather. Or are you going to daily drive it and occaisionally take it for a light to moderate trailride... Ill put it this way I have done most of the trails at Tellico including lower 2 (on 35s with half ton shiot) and Schoolbus ( I broke a twelve bolt rear ring and pinion)... the moral of the story is you can wheel with half ton shiot, (not really the govbomb) and have a good time... but If you think you might want to take a shot at some of the bigger trails you better have a winch, alot of tools(and the knowledge to use them) and some buddys to help you out.
Of course if I added up what I put into half ton axles as far as gears, lockers, 8 lug conversion on the front, hubs, spare axle shafts ( Ive broken about 6 front axle shafts two rear ring and pinions and one 12 bolt housing) its sad... If you see yourself going big one day then it will be cheaper to do it big the first time instead of gilding a turd before buying a 60. If you dont see yourself wanting to " Make it Roll it or Break it" then you would do fine with a semifloat 14 bolt out of a van.
gabe
Of course if I added up what I put into half ton axles as far as gears, lockers, 8 lug conversion on the front, hubs, spare axle shafts ( Ive broken about 6 front axle shafts two rear ring and pinions and one 12 bolt housing) its sad... If you see yourself going big one day then it will be cheaper to do it big the first time instead of gilding a turd before buying a 60. If you dont see yourself wanting to " Make it Roll it or Break it" then you would do fine with a semifloat 14 bolt out of a van.
gabe
GEORGIA GABE said:
do they make those in 6 lug? that would be perfect for me. also i really like my 10bolts. i dont really dislike them at all and i pulled out the shafts for the first time and theyre pretty hefty. the way people make it sound (to me anyways) is that 10bs are like toothpics. granted they dont look near as cool as a big honkin 14 under there but they perform the job for me very well.
I broke my 10bolt axel shaft because I was an idiot... But other than that my 10bolt has held up greatly to my locked 35"s.
Weak point on the 10 bolts really seems to be the gov-lock carrier. Judging by this forum, you are more likely to snap a 10B gov-lock carrier than you are an axleshaft, whether locked or not.
14SF's are infinitely stronger by design than the 10 bolt, but again, with an open carrier (and perhaps locked) the 10 bolt can live a long life.
14SF's are infinitely stronger by design than the 10 bolt, but again, with an open carrier (and perhaps locked) the 10 bolt can live a long life.
GEORGIA GABE
1/2 ton status
obijuan said:
yes the semi float 14 bolt out of some vans are 6 lug thats why I was suggesting it... that would be a decent intermediate upgrade bc you dont have to swap wheels or change the front over to 8lug
gabe
