Rear axle assembly swap

[Christopher Woodard]

I recently found out I have 3.42 gears (code GU6) in my 1990 V1500 Suburban. I need to change out the axle assembly because so many parts from the old assembly were damaged.

 

My question is what years can I swap out the old assembly for a new one? I mean, GM had to be using more or less that same axle assembly set up until maybe 2000 or something. It seems like the year shouldn't really matter much, just the gears.

[14GMCZ71]

Here is some info I learned over the years - may help - might not. Good luck with your Suburban.

 

To make a '99 (I think) or newer Eaton Posi work in an older truck (like my '91 Z71) I used the following bearings:

 

Timken Part Number: LM102949 - Cone

Timken Part Number: LM102911 - Race

 

 

http://www.timken.com/en-US/Knowledge/engineers/Pages/SearchbyPartNumber.aspx

 

 

Timken F.Y.I.:

 

LM501349 Cone - 1.6250 Bore

LM501314 Cup - 2.8910 OD

Bearing Width - 0.8437

 

LM603049 Cone - 1.7812 Bore

LM603012 Cup - 3.0625 OD

Bearing Width - 0.8437

 

LM102949 Cone - 1.7812 Bore

LM102911 Cup - 2.8910 OD

Bearing Width - 0.8437

 

I needed LM102949 & LM102911 to make a later model Eaton Posi (10-bolt - 8.5 inch - 30-spline) work in my '91 Chevy Z71.

 

 

Also:

 

14 Bolt Semi-Floating out of a similar gen 1500 heavy duty or 2500 light duty 2wd is a direct swap aside from a conversion u-joint.

 

448 conversion U-Joint

moog is hmg448

precision is just 448

 

I read someone removed the pinion from the 10 bolt and installed it on the 14. No need for a conversion u-joint in that scenario.

 

you need a precision u joint #447

this converts the 10b drive shaft to the 14b diff

abs will be fine with the larger drums

did the rear end come from a 4x4 because gm used 2 diff width rears in the trucks

~65 inch wms for 2wd and ~68 inch wms for 4x4's

the 14bsf came in 1500 with towing package and in ld 2500's (88-98 models)

in 1500hd's and 2500 ld's but only in 8lug in the 99+ models

 

 

9.5" 14 bolt is semi floating. It has c-clips. If the gears or axle breaks, the axle can go out the housing tubes.

 

10.5" 14 bolt is full floating. It is massive, and tires stay on the axle regardless of what happens internally.

 

 

 

[Badass69]

Just find another square body truck with 3.42 gears and swap the entire thing.. Unless you want to rebuild yours. The perches are wider on the gmt400 trucks and the housings are wider. Any 4wd pickup, K5 or Burb is a direct swap.

 

Sent from my PURE XL using Tapatalk

[Christopher Woodard]

I called this seller and he said this assembly will only fit a 3/4 ton pickup. The suburban is a 3/4 ton but it's not a pickup.

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/435-01515A-88-89-90-91-92-93-95-95-Chevrolet-2500-GMC-2500-Pickup-Rear-Axle-4x4-/172181195498?hash=item2816cc8aea:g:60gAAOSwubRXH4q4&vxp=mtr

[Badass69]

That and it's the completely wrong generation of truck. You need stuff from 1973 to 1991 in the old square body style. Any of the trucks that run until 1998 body wise for parts are useless to you.

 

Sent from my PURE XL using Tapatalk

[Christopher Woodard]

I called another company about this one and I guess they checked some online database or something. They said this one also wouldn't fit.

 

http://www.automotix.net/usedautoparts/1990-chevrolet-blazer-rear_axle_assembly-product-b129679741h.html?gclid=Cj0KEQjw88q9BRDB5qLcwLXr7_sBEiQAZsGjawS9InDbuLF03yYSM9PjmYSFKQCqGbTUbnRTF8sLBjcaArz88P8HAQ

 

It's a good handful of these I can find on the internet but none of them are from Suburbans. I've found like 2 from Suburbans, and they're like 200 bucks more.

 

http://www.lowmileageparts.com/1990-CHEVROLET-SUBURBAN-1500-Rear-Axle-Assembly-P152350.aspx#.V7OMzFmlc2g

[Badass69]

Suburban and truck use the same housing.. I know I have swapped them. Just if you have a 9.5 and are looking at a 10.5 that could be the confusion

 

Sent from my PURE XL using Tapatalk

[Badass69]

Your truck is a half ton.... I just garbaged a rear end that would have worked. You have an 8.5" 10 Bolt in it. The second link you provided is the right diff... But way too much money unless its rebuilt or something. That first link is for an S10 lol.. You have to read these descriptions man lol.

 

Sent from my PURE XL using Tapatalk

Edited August 16, 2016 by 1994Vmax

[Redneck91717]

Will a 1992 rear end work on a 1990 truck?