newb help please

[silvy]

i have a 1999 chevy silverado 1500 that is in bad need of the rearend locked does anyone know how to figure out what rearend and what splined axles i have? i have been looking for a vin decoder but am struggling to find a decent one. ultimately i want to do a 14 bolt but was thinking a spool or similar would do the job till i can afford a better rearend

[Elwenil]

If you are serious about putting up with a spool, just weld what you have.

[silvy]

Originally Posted by Elwenil

If you are serious about putting up with a spool, just weld what you have.

id do a locker to if i could find a decent price on one... just want to do something different sick of spinning one wheel trying to back a trailer up a hill or drive up something that should not require 4wd... the one wheel wonder is starting to piss me off!

[Elwenil]

Don't waste money on an axle you aren't going to keep. If you plan on having it a while or show find a really smoking deal on a locker, spool or limited slip, then go for it. Otherwise I wouldn't waste money on something that is disposable.

[kryptonitecb]

14 bolts are one of the cheapest axles you can find. It may look goofy but I would put the 14b in it until you get the funds to replace the front.

Sent from the road while ignoring traffic

[swampers1226]

count the bolts on the diff cover. if it has 10 bolts geuss what its a 10 bolt. if thats the case leave it alone and wait til you find a 14 bolt rear. now if its a heavy gvw 1500 it may have a semi float 14 bolt which is a good rear axle for a light duty truck. again count the bolts on the diff pan.
that would be worth puting a locker in.
dont spool it if you drive it alot on road its not worth it.
i welded my sf 14 bolt in my 02 silverado and yea its great off road but i burned up a pair of 33s in a 10,000 miles. the money i wasted coulda been thrown to a locker in the long run and saved me money.
if your not planning on solid axleing the front of your truck anytime soon i would seriously research the semi float 14 bolts. its bolt in to your rig brakes and all (if your truck doesnt have one already) and its a really strong axle. and they come 6 lug so you dont need new wheels ext
just food for thought

[silvy]

I know it's a ten bolt I got that far wondering spline count I will look into the sf axle for sure and see if there's one around here thanks!

[BUFFALO_STEW]

If you spool or weld up your rear spiders you are going to HATE it on the road. You are going to tear up tires like its going out of style. Whats so hard about putting the truck in 4wd when backing up? Even with the rearend locked you will still spin. If you are going to do a SAS, find an old f250 with the 44/60 combo and that stuff goes right under there pretty easy. You can even swap Chevy yokes on to the pinions so you dont end up with half Ford half Chevy drivelines.

[HAPPYJOHN]

Originally Posted by silvy

I know it's a ten bolt I got that far wondering spline count I will look into the sf axle for sure and see if there's one around here thanks!

I believe they're 30 spline, But I would not spend ANY money on that axle.

Originally Posted by BUFFALO_STEW

If you spool or weld up your rear spiders you are going to HATE it on the road. You are going to tear up tires like its going out of style. Whats so hard about putting the truck in 4wd when backing up? Even with the rearend locked you will still spin. If you are going to do a SAS, find an old f250 with the 44/60 combo and that stuff goes right under there pretty easy. You can even swap Chevy yokes on to the pinions so you dont end up with half Ford half Chevy drivelines.

You're assuming that the truck in question is 4wd.

[oldenginebuilder]

Just go spend $170 at your nearest Pick-n-Pull for a FF 14 from a 2500HD. Unlike the 3500 version, the 2500HDs have the spring pads in the correct location already. It is not that bad carrying a 6-lug spare for the front and an 8-lug spare for the rear, and I use mine for hauling something different every day, except Sundays.
No need to change the driveshaft, the length is close enough. You might need a conversion-style U-joint, so be sure the axle has a 1350 yoke, not the 1410 mine has.
This is your chance to change the gearing, but you're most likely to find 3.73:1 or 4.10:1 in the FF of those years.

[BUFFALO_STEW]

You're assuming that the truck in question is 4wd.[/QUOTE]





[QUOTE]just want to do something different sick of spinning one wheel trying to back a trailer up a hill or drive up something that should not require 4wd...

[silvy]

the truck is a 4wd. i am strongly considering a sas kit just struggling to find a kit... seems like every site that i find is out of business... may just have to get a front hanger built. not sure though... just found a wrecked truck thats identical to mine except it has a 12 bolt... any thoughts on that???

[sjracer]

my truck had a 12 bolt. theyre stronger than a 10 bolt but still have the downside of being a c-clip axle. i never had any problems with mine but i did a mod to the diff side gears to reduce the side clearance between the ends of the axles and the center pin to the bare minimum (it was an Eaton Posi). i added extra shims to the clutch packs. this kept the axles tight up against the center pin and from sliding in and out and kept the c-clip from banging.

what about finding a 6 lug 14 bolt from a suburban? they are c-clip style, but very strong.

here's the way i see it:
12 bolt will be stronger, and have good diff bottom clearance and be somewhat lighter than a 14 bolt. good for tires up to 35" if it isn't rock crawled. put a Posi in it like i had and it will have good street manners and 'shouldnt' spin the tires in light loads in reverse.

14 bolt will be the strongest but is heavy and has the least clearance for tires under 35".