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What kind of axles do i need???

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buckshotmaster

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I have a 1989 GMC Jimmy Full size 350 v8 4x4 with 35''x12.50xr15 tires on it with 4 inch body lift. I dont know if this is true or not, but I was told that i cannot go to a larger size tire unless i get different axles. is this true? I got the original stock axles on it right now with i believe 372 gears in it or whatever it came with out of the factory. I would like to go to a larger tire size but i dont want to cause any harm to my axles. This truck is a daily driver, no hard core mudding or rock climbing at all. any help would be appreciated thank you so much! happy trails
 
You can run 44in axles on them 10bts if you wanted. It all comes down to how hard you are on the truck. Them axles arnt known for their strength, but like I said, if you never leave the street with them they will survive. That being said I would pick up a set of 3/4ton axles with 4.10s. The rear axle will be much stronger, you will get better brakes, and benefit from a lower gear ratio to turn them bigger tires.
 
The probelm for a guy in your situation isn't the axles, it's the gearing.
When you go up in tire size you want to go with "lower" (although numerically a higher number) gear.

Many guys do a 3/4 ton axle swap not only to get a stronger rear end but also because you find them with 4.10's and it's cheaper than re-gearing.

All that being said if it's your daily driver I'd stick with a 33" tire as it will keep your transmission, steering and brakes happy with your stock setup.
 
thanks so much! I only go offroad every now and then but i baby my ride, so i never floor it or rev up the engine, the most action it gets is if im trying to pull someone out lol, i do drive on the interstate every now and then so i want it to be able to still easily go 65mph without high rpms, so you recommend 44inch axles? is that still a 10 bolt? or is that a 12 bolt? also, 35 inch tires that i have on the stock axle now, is that the largest tire u think that original axle can handle safely? no bigger than 35 unless i get bigger axle?
 
Avery4jc said:
The probelm for a guy in your situation isn't the axles, it's the gearing.
When you go up in tire size you want to go with "lower" (although numerically a higher number) gear.

Many guys do a 3/4 ton axle swap not only to get a stronger rear end but also because you find them with 4.10's and it's cheaper than re-gearing.

All that being said if it's your daily driver I'd stick with a 33" tire as it will keep your transmission, steering and brakes happy with your stock setup.
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My plan for my truck is to be able to have 38'' or 39'' tires on it with a 4 inch suspension, so i want strong enough axles to handle larger tires without tranny problems
 
Just like 454sub said, it boils down to what the truck is used for and how heavy your right foot is. I've seen people run 47" LTBS on 10 bolts and I've seen people break them with stock size tires. Now aside from what should be and shouldn't be run, the general consensus here as about a 35-37" tire with 1/2 ton stuff. I ran 44" gumbo mudders on my 10 bolt front and 12 bolt rear and tore it up in less than 3 months... Now I have a 14 bolt rear and working to get a Dana 60 up front!

Oh and welcome to CK5! Do yourself a favor and go pay for the membership, because it will pay for itself with all the information you will gain, help you will get, and friends you will make here! :waytogo:
 
im not hard on my truck at all, i baby it, but i want what i need if i were to ever need to put it threw some roughness know what i mean? i wanna know nothing will happen, and i dont want to have to worry about if i push it too hard the axle might break. i want 38/39" tires on it someday after a small suspension lift added like a 2 inch or 4 inch lift. i just dont wanna have any axle problems down the road, better safe than sorry, and yeah i may invest in a membership soon.
 
buckshotmaster said:
different axles.
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:whistle: :pimp:




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sorry, carry on..... :doah: :whistle:
 
if you want something you will never have to worry about I'd start with a 14 bolt rear. You would save money buying a 14 bolt and some 8 lug wheels then re gearing and upgrading a 1/2 ton axle.
 
well.. since noone here has asked a critical question, I will... what trans? I'll assume a 700r4...

with the OD and a 39, I'd be 5:13's all the way.. 4:88 minimum.. my K5 is set up for 5:13's with 38's... that way you can actually use the OD...
 
yeah its the 700r4 with OD, i still wanna be able to drive on interstate fast without high rpms, also how owuld it act in city driving while shifting? with 4.88s or 5.13s would it shift from 1st gear to 2 gear at high or low rpms? with 38/39" tires
 
39's at 65 mph will have you turning 1960 rpm's with 5:13's... Ideal for a tbi 350...
 
ryoken said:
39's at 65 mph will have you turning 1960 rpm's with 5:13's... Ideal for a tbi 350...
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ok thats good, so how will it act right when you shift it into drive and push the gas? will you have to push on the gas pedal more to get it to get going? or will it wanna suddenly take off like you pushed the gas hard? cause right now with 35" tires and 373 gears, sometimes i gotte give it a lot of gas for it to get going, mainly uphill
 
im trying to get it to drive as if its all original stock equipment, but with larger tires, different gear ratio and new axles, but still drive and act as if it did right out of the factory
 
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