Need quick reliable answer please- ‘83 K20 front axle question

[BlazerBill]

I going to look at a ‘83 K20 for sale in the morning. The person selling it says it has 3/4 ton axles but the front axle is a Corporate 10 bolt/ factory 8 lug which he says is a 3/4 ton axle but he doesn’t know the ring gear size. My ‘83 K5 has a Corporate 10 bolt/6 lug axle technically designated as a 1/2 ton truck axle with an 8.5” ring gear. I’ve never heard of a Corp 10 bolt/factory 8 lug “3/4 ton” axle. Is this true? Where can I find documentation on this? I’ve been looking. Will his Corp 10 bolt/8 lug 3/4 ton axle handle large wheels like the 14 bolt FF 3/4 ton rear axle that is on his K20? Thanks!

 

[Jawzjeep]

Yes there's 8 lug 10 bolts. I have one in the front of my Suburban with 4.10 and 37-in tires.

 

[Jawzjeep]

It's what we're installing here from an 84 K20 into a 78 K5

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[Strick]

I've got a couple of those 10 bolt 8 luggers. Dana 44 HD's have larger wheel bearings & obviously we all love Dana 60's but the 14FF in your prospective truck is a jewel. Does it have a manual or auto trans?

HS

 

[BlazerBill]

What size ring gear does a Corp 10/8 lug front axle have? How is it better than my K5 Corp 10/ 6 lug for performance, Torque, bigger wheels, off-roading, etc?

 

[PrairieDrifter]

It's the complete same other than an 8 lug hub. I have an 8 lug Dana 44

 

[BlazerBill]

If no different, then the K20 Corp 10 bolt/8 lug/ 3/4 ton has the same 8.5” ring gear as my K5 Corp 10 bolt/6 lug 1/2 ton 8.5” ring gear??? Why is it better, or is it? Can I run bigger wheels, more torque, more aggressive wheeling etc with the K20 front axle?

 

[PrairieDrifter]

Its not any better other than 8 lugs

 

[bucket]

The 8-lug version has bigger brakes and much stronger wheel studs, plus they are most commonly found with 3.73 and 4.10 gearing. For those reasons, they are a very worthwhile swap when also swapping in a beefy rear axle. For the average person running up to 35's (or even 38's for many folks) it will hold up just fine.

 

[nvrenuf]

What size ring gear does a Corp 10/8 lug front axle have? How is it better than my K5 Corp 10/ 6 lug for performance, Torque, bigger wheels, off-roading, etc?

As stated, it’s the same other that larger brakes and 2 more wheel studs. There is no real strength difference, the advantage of the 8 lug version is that it matches the lug pattern of the larger 3/4 ton rear axle. Any scenario that would break a 6 lug will break an 8 lug.

 

[AuroraGirl]

I've got a couple of those 10 bolt 8 luggers. Dana 44 HD's have larger wheel bearings & obviously we all love Dana 60's but the 14FF in your prospective truck is a jewel. Does it have a manual or auto trans?

HS

I have one of those

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[molus]

I have an 83’ it’s also got a corporate 10/8 lug in it.
From what I’ve read they tend to bend if you bounce them and 37s break them. I’m running 37s on mine so I’ll see how they go.
In this side of the world (Nz/Australia) a few vehicles have soft axel housings and we add gusting to them to strengthen them. I’ll be doing this to mine.

 

[Craig 85]

Been there done that. Make sure to use a master cylinder from a '78 3/4 ton. IT will bolt to the stock power brake booster. You'll need to swap the brake line front to back on the master cylinder as the reservoirs change location.

My '77 K5

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