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blew up my rear, need help

lunchbox

lunchbox

1/2 ton status
Joined
Jan 22, 2006
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Location
novato,california
went up to knoxville this weekend after spending the last 2 weeks installing my lift, and i blew the rear end in my 10 bolt, im in need of a new axle now but i'm not clear on what to look for. im strapped for cash (high school) so im not looking for lockers or anything just somthing strong. If it helps , im running 35's on with a 4 inch lift on an 87 jimmy. any advice is greatly appriciated.
 
go 14 bolt full floater and dont look back. Any 14 bolt out of a 3/4 ton will bolt right in. You can get them cheap from junkyards.
 
A 14 bff is nice, unless you don't want to get new wheels, then either carry two spares, or swap the front to 8 lug. For 35's you should just find a 14 bolt semi-floater. It bolts right in, and is 6 lug so you don't have to buy new wheels.
 
If strapped for $$$ I would also suggest a 14 bolt SF. That or if in a real pinch an older 12 bolt will work. Back in the day I had a 12 bolt on a 81 running 35's. Did OK till I destroyed it with a 388 stroker.
 
will the brakes from a 14 bolt fit in my stock 15x8 rallies i know im gonna have to get new rims with different bolt patterns but can i still run a 15 inch rim?
 
I run 15x10's on my 14 bolf FF 73 Chevy. But newer 14 bolts are not full floaters and are 6 lug so your rims will work. Not quite as beefy as the older FF but still stronger than your 10 bolt or a 12 bolt.
 
trailblazr81 said:
I run 15x10's on my 14 bolf FF 73 Chevy. But newer 14 bolts are not full floaters and are 6 lug so your rims will work. Not quite as beefy as the older FF but still stronger than your 10 bolt or a 12 bolt.
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I have no idea what you are talking about when you say the newer 14 bolts are SF. Until ~5 years ago GM still used the FF 14 bolt, then they sold the design to AAM who continues to manufacture a similar version of the axle which is found under both Dodge and Chevy trucks. GM uses (I think) the dana 70, dana 80, and 11.5" AAM under its heavy duty trucks.

As far as brakes, 15" rims will fit around FF 14 bolt brakes.
 
so from what ive gathered from you guys and my shop teacher i think im gonna go for the 14 bolt. But were do i look and how much should i expect to pay?
 
Almost every junkyard in Cali will have 14FF's, if you decide to go that route. It's just a matter of finding one with the spring perches spaced correctly, and matching your front axle gear ratio. If you've got enough fab skills to cut and weld perches, forget the first part of that.

I can routinely find them down here for $100 from my local junkyards.
 
38377k5 said:
I have no idea what you are talking about when you say the newer 14 bolts are SF. Until ~5 years ago GM still used the FF 14 bolt, then they sold the design to AAM who continues to manufacture a similar version of the axle which is found under both Dodge and Chevy trucks. GM uses (I think) the dana 70, dana 80, and 11.5" AAM under its heavy duty trucks.

As far as brakes, 15" rims will fit around FF 14 bolt brakes.
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In 1981 Chevy switched to a semi floater design. Meaning the axles used c-clips like the 10 and 12 bolts. Also the ring gear went from 10.5" down to 9.5" in K20's and K30's. Dont know about military used Chevy's. Some good info here : http://www.chuckschevytruckpages.com/73-87specs.html But also take into consideration we dont know what previous owners did to their rigs. Nor am I saying this is the bible of Chevy truck info. Ive seen enough to know these are more like loose guides. I had a 86 K5 with a 12 bolt rear. :D

Also, back in the day when I was first thinking of swapping in a 14 bolt I learned to look for 3/4 ton truck. They should line up and bolt right in. Dont know about yoke or driveshaft length tho, since yer putting in a bigger axle. You should go to a 1350 u-joint here. And if you get an older 8 lug version grab the fron HD axle so you can have front and rear 8 lug. Will be kinda weird having 6 lug front and 8 lug rear.
 
I see where you would think that from that page, but I assure you that most 3/4 tons and ALL 1 tons up to at least 87 had a FF 14 bolt. The page is wrong. Again, I'm pretty sure that the FF 14 bolt has been the standard rear end for Chevy 3/4 & 1 tons until recently.
 
38377k5 said:
I see where you would think that from that page, but I assure you that most 3/4 tons and ALL 1 tons up to at least 87 had a FF 14 bolt. The page is wrong. Again, I'm pretty sure that the FF 14 bolt has been the standard rear end for Chevy 3/4 & 1 tons until recently.
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X2

All Chevy rears for 3/4ton and 1tons are 14boltFF. Where you find 14SF is in 3/4ton Burbs and some pickups and I think some vans had them too. It is alot harder to find than a 14FF.

Also depending on the condition, I wouldn't pay any more than $100-$200 at most just for the rear axel. $200 is pristine condition while rebuilt is worth more $$.
 
Um, you may need to shorten, as the 14 bolt is bigger. Tho it may even out with your lift. Not 100% sure. Im betting you'll have to change the yoke or get a shaft that uses a larger U-joint.
 
"But newer 14 bolts are not full floaters and are 6 lug so your rims will work.":confused:

I'm afraid your advice is misleading. Yes there are some 6 lug 14 bolt semi-floaters out there, but they are hard to find.
I believe [not stating fact here, just opinion] they came in 3/4 ton 2 wheel drive trucks, the 3/4 ton 4wheel drive trucks had 8 lugs.
Light duty 3/4 14bolt semifloat, and heavy duty & 1ton still had 14bolt full float.
I drive a 1988 with the 14 bolt full float, so both 14 bolts were used in the '80's at least.

So while I agree that a 14 bolt semi-float with 6 lugs, would be a good choice, I think it would be more expensive and much harder to find, and he's on a budget.:(

But go ahead and do a search and see if you could find one, I mean you cant find one if you dont look, and sometimes ya get lucky.:D
 
the 14SF was in fact introduced in the early 80s (83 IIRC). both the 14SF and the 14FF were used in 3/4 ton applications, depending on GVWR, from their introduction in the early 80s until at least 1998. 14SFs were available in both 6 and 8 lug versions. 6 lugs are harder to find, as they're either LD 2500 series trucks 88+ (like my C2500) or K1500 axles (could also be found under some Suburbans). LD2500s (which are 6 lug) were available in 2wd and 4wd versions. my buddy Tiny has a 92 LD 2500 Xcab longbed that is 6 lug, and my C2500 is also 6 lug. both VINs clearly state that they are 2500 series trucks .
 
fatbob said:
"But newer 14 bolts are not full floaters and are 6 lug so your rims will work.":confused:

I'm afraid your advice is misleading. Yes there are some 6 lug 14 bolt semi-floaters out there, but they are hard to find.
I believe [not stating fact here, just opinion] they came in 3/4 ton 2 wheel drive trucks, the 3/4 ton 4wheel drive trucks had 8 lugs.
Light duty 3/4 14bolt semifloat, and heavy duty & 1ton still had 14bolt full float.
I drive a 1988 with the 14 bolt full float, so both 14 bolts were used in the '80's at least.

So while I agree that a 14 bolt semi-float with 6 lugs, would be a good choice, I think it would be more expensive and much harder to find, and he's on a budget.:(

But go ahead and do a search and see if you could find one, I mean you cant find one if you dont look, and sometimes ya get lucky.:D
Click to expand...

6 lug 14 bolt semi-floaters are indeed relatively rare compared to the 8-lug SF and FF axles. Odds are, if you do find one it fill be under an 88-up newer body style LD 3/4 ton truck, in which case the spring perches and shock mounts won't line up. I scored one of these, and I had to cut off the perches and shock mounts and move them to their proper locations for my K5. Unless you need to get your truck up and running ASAP or you really need trhe extra strength of the FF then you may want to look for a 6-lug 14BSF from an 88-91 3/4 ton burb. It will bolt right in and you won't have to get new wheels.
 
MaxPF said:
Unless you need to get your truck up and running ASAP or you really need trhe extra strength of the FF then you may want to look for a 6-lug 14BSF from an 88-91 3/4 ton burb. It will bolt right in and you won't have to get new wheels.
Click to expand...
The only problem is I don't think the 88-91 (or any year) 3/4 ton burbs ever came with a 6-lug axle. They did indeed have the 14BSF but they are 8 lug - never seen one with 6 lugs.
 
I just know what I see in the Fleet I work on. of about 150 chev's 88 through 2000. These include Cab and Chasis, vans Cube vans and pick ups, aLL 2 wheel drives.

All our Chev 1 ton's through about have 14 bolt FF (8 LUGS)

All our 3/4 ton's with an 8600 GVW have 14 bolt SF (8 LUGS)

We have 2, 3/4 tons with,I think 7200 GVW have 14 bolt SF (6 LUGS)
 
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