Rear End Gears

[ndhonor]

Does any one know if the previous body styles of silverados have the same rear axle for an easy axle change from a salvage, instead of buying new. Or can the actual gears differentials be taken out to replace the NBS rear gears? Also how can I find out the gear ratio of a truck if the window sticker is not present? Thanks for your help I want to get rid of my 3.23 rear gears.

[2000DV4.8]

To find out what gears a truck has, just check out the RPO sheet in the glovebox.

 

GU6 = 3.42:1 Rear Axle Ratio

GT4 = 3.73:1 Rear Axle Ratio

GT5 = 4.10:1 Rear Axle Ratio

G80 = factory Eaton locker

 

http://www.gm-trucks.com/home/content/view/311/63/

[ndhonor]

To find out what gears a truck has, just check out the RPO sheet in the glovebox.

 

GU6 = 3.42:1 Rear Axle Ratio

GT4 = 3.73:1 Rear Axle Ratio

GT5 = 4.10:1 Rear Axle Ratio

G80 = factory Eaton locker

 

http://www.gm-trucks.com/home/content/view/311/63/

 

Do you know if any previous rear gears are swappable of if the entire rear axle is swappable with any other years? I gotta try to get an upgrade from my 3.23 ratio especially when upgrading my tires.

[Zembonez]

All I have to go by is the actual housing looks different on my 07 than it does on my neighbor's 02 1500 Chevy. The bottom of the housing under the pumpkin is shaped differently.

 

I don't know if this means you can't use an earlier model but there is at least some difference... which makes me suspect that they will not swap. (or at least not be an exact fit) Anything CAN be done.

 

Just an observation.

[2000DV4.8]

To find out what gears a truck has, just check out the RPO sheet in the glovebox.

 

GU6 = 3.42:1 Rear Axle Ratio

GT4 = 3.73:1 Rear Axle Ratio

GT5 = 4.10:1 Rear Axle Ratio

G80 = factory Eaton locker

 

http://www.gm-trucks.com/home/content/view/311/63/

 

Do you know if any previous rear gears are swappable of if the entire rear axle is swappable with any other years? I gotta try to get an upgrade from my 3.23 ratio especially when upgrading my tires.

 

 

I wouldn't think swapping in a whole axle would be too difficult. The spring perches might need to be relocated. I don't know if they changed any of the internals of the axle when they changed body styles.

 

While you're at it, you might as well look for a 14bolt semi-floater with 4.10s out of a VMAX. The 4.10s would REALLY help the 4.8l off the line.

[ndhonor]

To find out what gears a truck has, just check out the RPO sheet in the glovebox.

 

GU6 = 3.42:1 Rear Axle Ratio

GT4 = 3.73:1 Rear Axle Ratio

GT5 = 4.10:1 Rear Axle Ratio

G80 = factory Eaton locker

 

http://www.gm-trucks.com/home/content/view/311/63/

 

Do you know if any previous rear gears are swappable of if the entire rear axle is swappable with any other years? I gotta try to get an upgrade from my 3.23 ratio especially when upgrading my tires.

 

 

I wouldn't think swapping in a whole axle would be too difficult. The spring perches might need to be relocated. I don't know if they changed any of the internals of the axle when they changed body styles.

 

While you're at it, you might as well look for a 14bolt semi-floater with 4.10s out of a VMAX. The 4.10s would REALLY help the 4.8l off the line.

 

 

I know about trucks and mechanical aspects because it is a hobby ofmine, but what exactly do you mean by 'semi-floater'? I am looking for probably 3.73 gears but I am open to even the 4.10 ratio. I am planning on putting 285/70R17 BFG A/T KO. I know that the 3.23 gears will be crap for that. So I should be able to remove the rear axle of my current and replace with any past body model to get a higher gear and then just put the new drum brakes and the tire pressure sensors by relocating? That would make it extremely easy since my uncle is a race car mechanic.

[2000DV4.8]

I know about trucks and mechanical aspects because it is a hobby ofmine, but what exactly do you mean by 'semi-floater'? I am looking for probably 3.73 gears but I am open to even the 4.10 ratio. I am planning on putting 285/70R17 BFG A/T KO. I know that the 3.23 gears will be crap for that. So I should be able to remove the rear axle of my current and replace with any past body model to get a higher gear and then just put the new drum brakes and the tire pressure sensors by relocating? That would make it extremely easy since my uncle is a race car mechanic.

 

 

I'm by no means an expert on this, but a semi floating (SF) axle is what is found on the light duty trucks. It is where the axleshafts and the axle housing share the weight of the vehicle. The reason I specified the 14 bolt SF, is because in the HD trucks, they have 14 bolt full floating axles where the axleshaft's only purpose is to drive the vehicle, and the full weight of the vehicle is on the axle housing(much stronger design). 14 bolt FF axles are only available with 8 lugs (to my knowledge), so it would be a lot tougher to swap into a half ton. (this site goes into much more deail on the SF/FF topic: http://www.off-roadweb.com/tech/0112or_sem...xles/index.html )

 

Seeing as you have a 4.8L, you probably won't ever exceed the limits of the stock 10 bolt rear end, unless you do any real serious offroading, or plan on putting on huge tires, so the 14 bolt would probably be overkill. It's just another option to think about.

[ndhonor]

I know about trucks and mechanical aspects because it is a hobby ofmine, but what exactly do you mean by 'semi-floater'? I am looking for probably 3.73 gears but I am open to even the 4.10 ratio. I am planning on putting 285/70R17 BFG A/T KO. I know that the 3.23 gears will be crap for that. So I should be able to remove the rear axle of my current and replace with any past body model to get a higher gear and then just put the new drum brakes and the tire pressure sensors by relocating? That would make it extremely easy since my uncle is a race car mechanic.

 

 

I'm by no means an expert on this, but a semi floating (SF) axle is what is found on the light duty trucks. It is where the axleshafts and the axle housing share the weight of the vehicle. The reason I specified the 14 bolt SF, is because in the HD trucks, they have 14 bolt full floating axles where the axleshaft's only purpose is to drive the vehicle, and the full weight of the vehicle is on the axle housing(much stronger design). 14 bolt FF axles are only available with 8 lugs (to my knowledge), so it would be a lot tougher to swap into a half ton. (this site goes into much more deail on the SF/FF topic: http://www.off-roadweb.com/tech/0112or_sem...xles/index.html )

 

Seeing as you have a 4.8L, you probably won't ever exceed the limits of the stock 10 bolt rear end, unless you do any real serious offroading, or plan on putting on huge tires, so the 14 bolt would probably be overkill. It's just another option to think about.

 

 

Thanks for your clarification. Any other opinions to add to the pool would also be appreciated.

[ssjeff]

I had a 3.73 in mine. I went to 33" tires from the stock 29" tires. I took the circumfrance and figured the difference. After calculations I figured that I needed a 4.21 rear end diff. I put a 4.10 in it and it got me closer to the stock rotations. There was nothing in between the 4.10 and the 4.56, thats why I went with the 4.10. It is working out ok but I wish I had a little more for towing but i am afraid the 4.56 would be too much. I am thinking a rear exhaust mounted turbo will do it lol.

 

Hope this helped you out. If you have a 3.23 a 3.42 or 3.73 should get you by depending on you stock tire height to the new tire height.

[jhale2004]

My truck has those 3.23 in it and they are crap. It came with the HD towing/trailer package so why would it have those gears in it? I had plans on swapping for 4.10 but I found a good deal on somke 3.73 so that will be my route. good luck.