Great forum, lots of info here. I'm a newb and have a couple questions.

I just bought a 87 suburban 4x4 with a tbi 350,auto trans, 6" lift, and 36" tires.

It has the 10 bolt rear with 342 gears, and a 10 bolt front. I also got a 14 bolt rear with 410 gears and a dana 44 with 3 something gears with the deal.

My question is, I will be only running the intermediate trails in Colorado and playing in the sand here in Oklahoma. Do I need to swap the axles, or are the factory axles good enough for what I'm doing? I DO want to put detroit lockers in both axles do to the sand. It is my understanding that the axles will only be locked while driving straight and will release during a turn????

If I do need to swap axles, I only have the 6 bolt 15" wheels and tires. Is there a conversion that will allow me to convert to the 8 bolt axles?

Many thanks for any info you can provide.

a very light foot,stock 350 & 36s may make it w/10 bolt axles but lets face it,three trips out & ya just gotta make it over that next hill.a little more run at it & more throttle=broken 10 bolts.swap out now & save the agravation

8 lug,long flexy springs & lockers all written up many times-use search button
its up there ^^^ or load up on 3 layer nomex:p

Great forum, lots of info here. I'm a newb and have a couple questions.

I just bought a 87 suburban 4x4 with a tbi 350,auto trans, 6" lift, and 36" tires.

It has the 10 bolt rear with 342 gears, and a 10 bolt front. I also got a 14 bolt rear with 410 gears and a dana 44 with 3 something gears with the deal.

My question is, I will be only running the intermediate trails in Colorado and playing in the sand here in Oklahoma. Do I need to swap the axles, or are the factory axles good enough for what I'm doing? I DO want to put detroit lockers in both axles do to the sand. It is my understanding that the axles will only be locked while driving straight and will release during a turn????

If I do need to swap axles, I only have the 6 bolt 15" wheels and tires. Is there a conversion that will allow me to convert to the 8 bolt axles?

Many thanks for any info you can provide.

You need to swap in the 14ff rear with 4.10s for sure. I would not run a rear 10 bolt in a suburban offroad.

Is the D44 8 lug or 6?? If its 6 lug sell it and find an 8 lug 10 bolt w/4.10s and bolt it in to match. You can use your tires with 15X8 rims with a 2.5 or 3" backspacing, just a little grinding will be required to clear the front brake calipers.

Definately upgrade the rear axle to a FF14. 10 bolts are way too weak to hold up for anything more than a mall crawler.

you shouldn't have any problems with a 14 bolt and dana 44 front with 36's you will like the 4.10's better too.

10 bolt front or Dana 44, same frickin axle for all intents and purposes.

If the 44 is an 8 lug, swap the 8 lug outers onto the 10 bolt, so you can run a matched wheel set when you swap the 14 bolt in.

Or better yet, sell your 10 bolts and Dana 44 to some mook who wants them and buy a Dana 60.

As far as detroits, I run em in both front and rear axles and love em. And they do just as you described. A little pricey for the Dana 44/60, at around $585, but the 14 bolt can be picked up for much less.

Thanks for the replies. The 44 is a 8 lug as well, I just need to put in a set of 4.10 gears. I'm stuck until I can afford to buy new tires and wheels. Is there any way to swap the 8 lug parts for 6? I have fairly new tires and wheels now.

The dana 44 can be swapped from 8 lug to 6 lug. The 14b must stay 8 lug unless you want to dump a ton of money and custom work into it.

Your best bet is to swap the d44 to 4.10's and either leave it open OR put in a posi. You definatly dont want to lock a 1/2 ton front axle.

Then put the d44 and 14b in. Unfortunatly buying the 8lug wheels are a sacrifice you'll have to make. And I dont know why it was said but no grinding is necessary for 15in wheels on a d44 or a 14b (with drums).

Its the d60 you run into clearance problems with and need to grind the caliper.

Switch the 8 lug axles under the burb especially the rear it's just waiting to snap something. You can either put the 8 lug outters on the 10 bolt you have in it now or switch the whole axle your choice-there almost the same except the 1/4 in differance in ring gear. You can run 15 in. tires on both 8 lug axles even when you switch to the 60 front if you run a rim with 2 3/4 backspacing I got mine for about 60.00 each from 4WP.....just letting you know....:)