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K5 New rear axle?

T

Texar2

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Hello. I am rebuilding a 1985 k5 that is stock. I am rebuilding from frame off and starting with the axles. I have been looking at the new Silverado 12/14 bolt type rear axles with disc brakes. My concern is that the wider rear axle may affect handling. Has anyone here experienced any negative consequences from using a wider than stock rear axle? I am not opposed to keeping the 10 bolt and upgrading the internals but I thought the new axles would be a better starting point. This will be a daily driver, street only truck with 3 inch lift and 285/75/17 tires. Thank you for reading. Feel free to make build suggestions based off my specs. Specs below:

6.2 diesel
nv4500
np208 sye
HAD rear shaft
10 bolt front with h3 brakes
4.1 gears
3 inch tuff country front springs
2 inch rear with easy inch
 
I'd say its completely negligible for end user experience. I like them to look wider to match the front. The only con to swapping in a newer rear axle is that it doesnt just bolt in. A little extra work gets you alot of benefits.
 
obijuank5 said:
I'd say its completely negligible for end user experience. I like them to look wider to match the front. The only con to swapping in a newer rear axle is that it doesnt just bolt in. A little extra work gets you alot of benefits.
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Thanks! I enjoy the work. New gears, shock mounts, perches and pinion angle.
 
Texar2 said:
Thanks! I enjoy the work. New gears, shock mounts, perches and pinion angle.
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I'm running the 14sf, 3" wider. Doesnt quite tuck into the wheel wells as the 10 bolt did, but driveability wise no difference. Generally wider is better for handling anyway. As mentioned, the front and rear matching width tends to look better. I will say that with wider and or taller tires, the narrow rear can allow the tires to contact the inside of the rear wheel well when flexing.

Have you bought all the parts yet? For a street only truck, with less than 4" lift, I dont see the point of the SYE. In reality pinion angle should not be changed except to match the angle of the t-case output, and if there are issues with angles, should be resolved with a CV, which can be done without an SYE.

Just saying. I went with the SYE on mine, and honestly it was a waste of money for my uses, which are very mild off road.
 
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dyeager535 said:
I'm running the 14sf, 3" wider. Doesnt quite tuck into the wheel wells as the 10 bolt did, but driveability wise no difference. Generally wider is better for handling anyway. As mentioned, the front and rear matching width tends to look better. I will say that with wider and or taller tires, the narrow rear can allow the tires to contact the inside of the rear wheel well when flexing.

Have you bought all the parts yet? For a street only truck, with less than 4" lift, I dont see the point of the SYE. In reality pinion angle should not be changed except to match the angle of the t-case output, and if there are issues with angles, should be resolved with a CV, which can be done without an SYE.

Just saying. I went with the SYE on mine, and honestly it was a waste of money for my uses, which are very mild off road.
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Thanks for your input! I have not done the sye to my 208 yet and I have not bought a new rear axle. The more I read about the newer model axles the more problems I find with them. Seems like many 2014 -2017 rear axles are recalled for various reasons. I may just rebuild the 10bolt with a truetrac, gears and aftermarket axles. This will be a grocery getter that may see a pig rut or muddy road once a year. Thanks again for your time!
 
With the larger wheels you could probably put in a different axle and clear pretty much any caliper setup. The Van's used 14SF's with 13" rear disks, not sure about width, but I would think that to be a pretty slick setup if they will fit width wise.

Gov lock in the 14SF is a pretty good unit, at least with moderate sized tires, they seem to hold up fine. Would save you on messing with the internals at all if you found the right ratio.
 
I haven't even considered the vans. Any idea what years?
 
Check out rockauto, their database is handy for this stuff.:) I want to say early 2000's at least, just look up rear brake rotors. Still six lug too IIRC.

I want to say Van's often had a different width, I'd certainly want to make sure it wasnt ridiculously wide or too narrow.
 
dyeager535 said:
Check out rockauto, their database is handy for this stuff.:) I want to say early 2000's at least, just look up rear brake rotors. Still six lug too IIRC.

I want to say Van's often had a different width, I'd certainly want to make sure it wasnt ridiculously wide or too narrow.
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The van axle is 2 or 3" wider.
2002 or 2003 is when they went 6 lug, they waited a couple of years after the pickup truck, I believe 2001 is when pickup trucks got 6 lugs 2wd and 4wd
 
2-3" wider than a k5 10 bolt?

I've been tempted to dig into this more, but I cant imagine any amount of clearancing would let one fit those disks and calipers inside the stock 15" wheels.
 
70" is way too wide isnt it?

64.5" being stock?

Didnt even know they used Dana 60s at that time. I'm curious to see what the calipers look like, very surprising to me they can clear a 15" wheel.

Rockauto shows a "light" or "heavy" GVWR, heavy is 8 lug. Guessing that would be the D60?
 
Nice score Obijuan! Yall got me checking vans out now. I'm not in a big hurry so Ill just keep looking. Thanks for the help guys! Apparently the aam plant in Mexico has turned out some bad axles in the 2014-2017 range and they are partly responsible for the shaking chevy syndrome. Ill be looking at older axles.
 
dyeager535 said:
70" is way too wide isnt it?

64.5" being stock?

Didnt even know they used Dana 60s at that time. I'm curious to see what the calipers look like, very surprising to me they can clear a 15" wheel.

Rockauto shows a "light" or "heavy" GVWR, heavy is 8 lug. Guessing that would be the D60?
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I feel like 70 may be too wide for me. With only a 3 inch lift and 33s I worry about hitting my fender.
 
dyeager535 said:
It would be pretty hard to hit the fender in the rear with 33s. I clear 33s with no lift. Not even nicked a fender.
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Ya your right. I got a couple squares and it looks like it will be fine. I found a few drum brake 14sf for $500. I’m gonna keep looking for one with disk.
 
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