Lift + Gm 10-bolt Rear?

mstafford · January 11, 2009

I have a 2000 chevrolet silverado with a 5sp manual tranny and the 4.8.

I have the 10 bolt rear end, with an open diff.

I plan on installing the fabtech 6in lift kit.

Should i beef up the axle/install a locker? Or is running the stock rear end acceptable?

Any input would be greatly appreciated.

-Thanks, Matt

2000DV4.8 · January 11, 2009

What do you plan to do with the truck (daily driver, mud truck)?

If you're not putting on a tire larger than a 35, and aren't wheeling/beating the shit out of the truck, you should be fine.

BuckFeverZ · January 11, 2009

If you do run 35's, you should regear to 4.56's. IMO putting a locker in the rear is money well spent. You can go a lot more places if you do have a locker than if you didn't.

dietz4ibanez · January 11, 2009

If it was me doing the lift on my truck I would get a bigger rear end for a million reasons...

Durability and strength in the rear end.... The 10 bolt rear always looks dumb to me when under any type of lift 4" plus.... A bigger rear end with this type of lift I wouldnt get anything smaller than a 14 bolt sf... This rear end will handle the load of up to 38" tires...

And you can keep your 6 lug pattern....

The 14 bolt FF is most durable and can appropriately handle bigger than 38" tires..

BuckFeverZ · January 11, 2009

If it was me doing the lift on my truck I would get a bigger rear end for a million reasons...

Durability and strength in the rear end.... The 10 bolt rear always looks dumb to me when under any type of lift 4" plus.... A bigger rear end with this type of lift I wouldnt get anything smaller than a 14 bolt sf... This rear end will handle the load of up to 38" tires...

And you can keep your 6 lug pattern....

The 14 bolt FF is most durable and can appropriately handle bigger than 38" tires... I really think that a 10" lift is a little much to big of a lift if you went with 35" tires... You would need something bigger or it will look funny!

Who said he was getting a 10" lift??

dietz4ibanez · January 11, 2009

If it was me doing the lift on my truck I would get a bigger rear end for a million reasons...

Durability and strength in the rear end.... The 10 bolt rear always looks dumb to me when under any type of lift 4" plus.... A bigger rear end with this type of lift I wouldnt get anything smaller than a 14 bolt sf... This rear end will handle the load of up to 38" tires...

And you can keep your 6 lug pattern....

The 14 bolt FF is most durable and can appropriately handle bigger than 38" tires... I really think that a 10" lift is a little much to big of a lift if you went with 35" tires... You would need something bigger or it will look funny!

Who said he was getting a 10" lift??

Obviously I switched it before you posted that...

2000DV4.8 · January 12, 2009

If it was me doing the lift on my truck I would get a bigger rear end for a million reasons...

Durability and strength in the rear end.... The 10 bolt rear always looks dumb to me when under any type of lift 4" plus.... A bigger rear end with this type of lift I wouldnt get anything smaller than a 14 bolt sf... This rear end will handle the load of up to 38" tires...

And you can keep your 6 lug pattern....

The 14 bolt FF is most durable and can appropriately handle bigger than 38" tires..

While I agree that swapping to a 14b FF or SF would be a great upgrade, it is usually not necessary, especially for a street truck.

J-man67 · January 12, 2009

Depending what you plan to do with the truck, the 10-bolt will be fine. I know, and have heard of plenty of people with 35's putting plenty of miles with some abuse, and no issues. Others, not so much. Most of the time its the G80 locker breaking as it is the weak point. I only have about 2,000 miles with my lift and 35's, but I have been beatin on it a little. Time will tell I suppose. I would go with at least a 4.56 ratio and maybe add a Detroit Truetrac locker. They seem to be the favorite. The gears will help alleviate some of the added stress to the driveline. I plan to install a 14bolt when I find one and add 4.56's and the Detroit locker. Finding one is the hard part. I prefer to find one from a new Vmax. I won't have to do as many mods to get it bolted up. An easier install is always better!

lbkthree · January 12, 2009

If you're sticking with 35's mostly on the road i would have to agree with J-man67. 10-bolt with 4.56 and Detroit TrueTrac. The truetrac is much more friendly on the road and it will do the job off-road, oh and cheaper than a locker.

dietz4ibanez · January 12, 2009

If it was me doing the lift on my truck I would get a bigger rear end for a million reasons...

Durability and strength in the rear end.... The 10 bolt rear always looks dumb to me when under any type of lift 4" plus.... A bigger rear end with this type of lift I wouldnt get anything smaller than a 14 bolt sf... This rear end will handle the load of up to 38" tires...

And you can keep your 6 lug pattern....

The 14 bolt FF is most durable and can appropriately handle bigger than 38" tires..

While I agree that swapping to a 14b FF or SF would be a great upgrade, it is usually not necessary, especially for a street truck.

Right, but if your rear end goes out, IMO the upgrade would be the smarter choice

The upgrade in my 99 was a lot cheaper (minus the disc brake conversion) than repairing the old rear.... Especially since Bearings,seals, ring and pinion and axle shafts were all toast...

But I think that the bearings were bad from being overloaded.... All those pallets of sod and stone took its tole..

jimmyboy8301 · January 13, 2009

i would re-gear as was said to 4.56's, but i think thats all you need to do. as long as you aren't beating the living piss out of your truck your 10-bolt will be fine. i had near 70,000 miles on my 2005 with a 6" and 35's with a 10 bolt and the truck was good as gold when i sold it. i would re-gear and call it a day.