CK5
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axle strength
- Thread starter 72k5mike
- Start date
Cornfield creations
1/2 ton status
Pretty close to the same strength wise. The 12 bolt just looks better underneath the large blazers compared to the 10.
ccarley
1/2 ton status
A few things I've found when searching about this subject:
10-bolt pumpkin is weak, prone to cracking/ tubes coming loose
10-bolt late model axles do have 30 spline shafts, early ones have 28?
12-bolt axles are 30 spline
12-bolt pumpkin is slightly stronger, and wider
12-bolt ring gear is only about 1/4" larger diameter (OK maybe 3/8"?)
Brakes are the same between the axles... Pinion is supposedly weak in the 12-bolt. The 12-bolt U-joint is smaller, and requires a conversion U-joint or yoke change.
Overall the strength is supposed to be similar, and I've heard that the later 10-bolts are better than a 12-bolt. That being said, my '89 10-bolt has worn axle bearings and/or axles, and the pinion is leaking. The axle tubes are not leaking at the housing though. At this point, I am installing a 12-bolt from an early '80's Blazer.
Hope this helps!
Clay
10-bolt pumpkin is weak, prone to cracking/ tubes coming loose
10-bolt late model axles do have 30 spline shafts, early ones have 28?
12-bolt axles are 30 spline
12-bolt pumpkin is slightly stronger, and wider
12-bolt ring gear is only about 1/4" larger diameter (OK maybe 3/8"?)
Brakes are the same between the axles... Pinion is supposedly weak in the 12-bolt. The 12-bolt U-joint is smaller, and requires a conversion U-joint or yoke change.
Overall the strength is supposed to be similar, and I've heard that the later 10-bolts are better than a 12-bolt. That being said, my '89 10-bolt has worn axle bearings and/or axles, and the pinion is leaking. The axle tubes are not leaking at the housing though. At this point, I am installing a 12-bolt from an early '80's Blazer.
Hope this helps!
Clay
PARTSGUY
Registered Member
I grenaded the 10 bolt rear in my old 88 with 32's. I replaced the 10 bolt with a 12 bolt which lasted 3 months. Durring those 3 months I had to replace an axle shaft in my 10 bolt front. Keep in mind the truck never had anything larger than 33's on it! The new 90 is getting a 60/14 so I dont have to mess with that any more.
Curtis
Curtis
4xcrazy
3/4 ton status
I cracked the original 10 bolt housing on my '89 when i first got it, split the part where the axle tube presses in the center section, didn't come out, but did move alittle and cause an oil leak.
Didn't see it till i was out in Valencia, CA at Magic Mountain, i had already driven from Phoenix to San Diego, then up north of L.A.
Stopped at a store for some drinks and noticed the oil spray on the back doors.
Had a shop weld it up just to help prevent it from moving any more, made it back to Phoenix and drove around on it for another month like that until it started making noise.
Didn't see it till i was out in Valencia, CA at Magic Mountain, i had already driven from Phoenix to San Diego, then up north of L.A.
Stopped at a store for some drinks and noticed the oil spray on the back doors.
Had a shop weld it up just to help prevent it from moving any more, made it back to Phoenix and drove around on it for another month like that until it started making noise.
YZEATER
1/2 ton status
not worth the thought of changing from one to another. put a 14bff in it and be done.
Ginter 303
Newbie
Just say **** the ten or twelve bolt and get a Dana 60 or Dana 44 front and rear off of a 3/4 ton pickup won't be sorry
A Dana 44 front is not really an upgrade from a 10bolt.
A semi float 14 bolt rear would be the next step from a 10/12bolt rear, while hard to find they were offered as 6 lug pattern from gm as well.
