Does anybody know if the axels are interchanable, five lug verses six.
CK5
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4x4 12 bolt vs 4x2 12 bolt
- Thread starter kgblazerfive
- Start date
I've swapped them...
I put 6 lug axles in a 5 lug 2wd rear axle before--I'm not sure if all of them are interchangable though,so it would be wise to measure the bearing sizes,spline counts,overall length,etc, to make sure--someone else might know more specs than I do,but I wouldnt doubt if they are all the same--chevy didnt change too many things like that....
I put 6 lug axles in a 5 lug 2wd rear axle before--I'm not sure if all of them are interchangable though,so it would be wise to measure the bearing sizes,spline counts,overall length,etc, to make sure--someone else might know more specs than I do,but I wouldnt doubt if they are all the same--chevy didnt change too many things like that....
big83chevy4x4
3/4 ton status
yes they interchange, the only difference on the housings is the shock tabs are lower on the 2wd vs the 4wd.
pauly383
Daddy383
Another difference is the backing plates and brakes . The older trucks had skinny brake shoes and a shallower backing plate . Later trucks have wider shoes and deeper backing plates . I reused my 83's 10 bolt brakes on my 12 bolt 
And one of my truck(s) 12 bolts IS from a 2wd with 6 lug shafts
And one of my truck(s) 12 bolts IS from a 2wd with 6 lug shafts
R72K5
Banned
its not the years that differed in brake widths.....
its the heavy duty springs/chassis package or lack of such that made the difference in what brakes size was installed....
any year, 73-up years or 80-up years
didint matter
was all same deal, both sizes existed alot of years 70s and 80s
2.75" and 2" wide, both
and it doesnt matter anyways cuz all the 70 up shafts are same length regrdless of brake size
just the backing plates and shoes differed, easy swap form any housing to any other housing
little known secret that i found out from trial and error, you can widen a 69 older axle by using the 70s 80s 2.75" wide backing plates, drums and shoes and 70-up shafts
regardless of 5 or 6 lug,
lug count doesnt matter at all either
this swap will make a 69 older axle same width as a 70-up axle
its the heavy duty springs/chassis package or lack of such that made the difference in what brakes size was installed....
any year, 73-up years or 80-up years
didint matter
was all same deal, both sizes existed alot of years 70s and 80s
2.75" and 2" wide, both
and it doesnt matter anyways cuz all the 70 up shafts are same length regrdless of brake size
just the backing plates and shoes differed, easy swap form any housing to any other housing
little known secret that i found out from trial and error, you can widen a 69 older axle by using the 70s 80s 2.75" wide backing plates, drums and shoes and 70-up shafts
regardless of 5 or 6 lug,
lug count doesnt matter at all either
this swap will make a 69 older axle same width as a 70-up axle
So if I have a 6 lug rear axel that was trused and beefed up with lots of exterior modifications and my front is five, cause its two wheel drive, I want to put five lug axels in the back, so I only need one type of spare, it would fit. The rears are from a 78 and 77. Brakes are going to be disc swap which for the five lug is going to have to be aftermarket racing stuff.
