Sad Discovery: GM 10 Bolt Fails

[82sbshortbed]

GM85-TTGBK-GM 8.5" 10 Bolt / Eaton Detroit Truetrac Pos

www.quickperformance.com

This is what I had installed when my rear end went out.

This is what I put in mine too when old one went out. Love it. 3.73 posi.

GM Chevy 8.5" Chevy 10-Bolt Rearend Posi - 28 Spline, Gear, Bearing Kit Package - 3.73 Ratio https://a.co/d/9OgfVDC

Save a little on Amazon. Just sayin

 

[AZ Highlander]

This is what I put in mine too when old one went out. Love it. 3.73 posi.

GM Chevy 8.5" Chevy 10-Bolt Rearend Posi - 28 Spline, Gear, Bearing Kit Package - 3.73 Ratio https://a.co/d/9OgfVDC

Save a little on Amazon. Just sayin

Did you do the work yourself or have a shop install? If a shop, do you remember the labor cost?

 

[Bextreme04]

Thanks @Blue Ox and @Buck69 , I appreciate your thoughts on the matter. I have had three different friends give me three different pieces of advice so far. I would like this rear end to last a while Longer in the future and whatever work I do will hopefully help that possibility.
I don’t plan to wheel this truck super hard, but I do like the idea of added durability for whatever comes my way. As with everything else when he doesn’t grow on trees, and we have a pretty tight budget around the farm here at the moment.

My 2011 Suburban has a G80 10 bolt in it with 230k miles of towing and daily driving on it with no problems. If it was me, I'd buy a yukon duragrip, new ring&pinion in whatever gear ratio you want, and a rebuild kit. You be in it for ~$700 and it will last the rest of the time you own it.

 

[TotalyHucked]

Did you do the work yourself or have a shop install? If a shop, do you remember the labor cost?

I put that same package in mine but with the cheaper Yukon Duragrip clutch type posi and a 3.90 gear. Upgraded to the 30-spline diff and axles, forged 1350 yoke and T/A girdle. Was ~1100 in parts. Paid a local hotrod shop $500 labor to do the install and setup. Very happy with it.

 

[82sbshortbed]

Did you do the work yourself or have a shop install? If a shop, do you remember the labor cost?

I had a shop do it for 400 bucks. Just remember to count the splines to make sure if you need the 28 or 30 splined one. Amazon has both of them. Mine was 28 splines.

 

[82sbshortbed]

Funny thing was I just took it to Walmart to get new oil for the rear end because I was gonna change it. That's when I found the spider gears were fcked and the oil looked about like yours. That's when I just went with a new one. Lol

 

[Nasty-LSX]

AWE!!!

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[AZ Highlander]

Decisions, decisions. Seems like there are two roads to take and I may be taking the less popular route, but thats nothing new for me. Trying to think about the truck long term instead of just keeping it going.

First, I am putting the diff cover back on, refilling with gear oil, and am going to drive it short distances for the coming season.
Then I think I am just going to ditch the 10 bolt rear end when I find the right 4.10 14BFF complete donor axle.
I have found a few 14 bolt rear ends within a couple hours of me for $300-750.
Sure, the donor axles could be in worse shape than mine (or be there quicker than I hope), but I would rather sink diff money later down the road into the 14 bolt than the Gov Bomb.

Pros:
1. Less expensive than replacing the chewed up diff gears to have a more reliable diff right away, pretty much plug and play (aside from new wheels/tires).
2. It would allow me to drive the truck in 2WD while I stack my cash for a bit.
3. I will save on $ spent on labor because I can swap axles myself easier than I can swap diffs, which I would likely pay a shop to do the diff swap instead of me doing it myself.
4. I can find an axle get the gearing I want: 4.10 instead of 3.73 I have currently.
5. More confidence to be able to run 35's which would look and function better with my 4" lift.
6. *I think* I can use the brand new drum brake components I just installed months ago on the current 10 bolt rear end onto the 14BFF axle.
7. Better resale value to 4WD enthusiasts.

Cons:
1. Need to buy a new ring and pinion (and bearings/seals) to regear the D44 up front to 4.10 from 3.73 to be able use it as a 4x4. (Plan to use as 2WD only until this is done, but only temporarily. Will take knob off transfer case shift lever to remind me not to use it).
2. Need 8 lug wheels and new tires out back as soon as I swap the axle. (just replaced the tires in 2023).
3. Will need 8 lug rotors (just replaced the 6 lug rotors in fall 2023)
4. Lower clearance than 10 bolt axle. (but can move up to 35's eventually from 33's now so kinda moot long term).
5. Worse resale value to original/stock purists?

Anything I left out?

 

[AZ Highlander]

Picked up a 14bff in really good condition having 3.73 that matches my d44 front axle gearing for $200 today. Also got the passenger gas tank for $40. Let’s see if I can get this thing in shape for summer trips up in the Prescott National Forest.

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[AuroraGirl]

Picked up a 14bff in really good condition having 3.73 that matches my d44 front axle gearing for $200 today. Also got the passenger gas tank for $40. Let’s see if I can get this thing in shape for summer trips up in the Prescott National Forest.

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any good faith yard or person should let you remove the cover to view the condition of any axle before buying, is yours good? while its off the truck, heres where you would want to do any potential mods (disc brakes, 13 inch drums if those are the 11 inch ones, any work on it like new cover, gasket, welding, painting )

 

[AuroraGirl]

do not reuse hardware, 14 bolt brakes are larger than 10 bolt and the springs and park brake adjuster and cables will not be the same exact inside the drum

 

[AZ Highlander]

any good faith yard or person should let you remove the cover to view the condition of any axle before buying, is yours good? while its off the truck, heres where you would want to do any potential mods (disc brakes, 13 inch drums if those are the 11 inch ones, any work on it like new cover, gasket, welding, painting )

Oh yeah, you better believe I took the cover off first before pulling any other bolts. It’s crazy good condition. So glad. We need to do some of this before I swap the axles, so it is going to be a bit still.

 

[AZ Highlander]

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[Buck69]

I remember having crazy rear brake lock up issues with an '85 2500 after swapping out it's blown rear axel back in the late 80's. Imagine you could have a similar problem and may need to play with your proportioning valve a bit.
Good luck and nice to see you will have it rolling again.

 

[Blue Ox]

I remember having crazy rear brake lock up issues with an '85 2500 after swapping out it's blown rear axel back in the late 80's. Imagine you could have a similar problem and may need to play with your proportioning valve a bit.
Good luck and nice to see you will have it rolling again.

That's why many of those trucks had a extra load sensing proportioning valve linked to the rear axle. They're not available anymore, but if you can't find a serviceable used one you could probably add a manual adjustable valve for when you're running unloaded.