My blazer drives smooth in front wheel drive
 

Well it finally happened. Drive up a gradual incline on a highway, and my rear end blew out. Driveshaft spins freely with only a nice clanking noisein the rear.

I put it in 4X4 and got home fine in front wheel drive. Pulled the cover and it's a mess of broken metal. If I'm going to pay a mechanic a few hundred to fix it, I'm thinking of getting a new axle.

It's a 71 CST with a 12 bolt rear and posi from the factory. What are my options for axles? All I know of the top of my head is Boyce equipment, but I can't find a 12 bolt on their website.
Any ideas are much appreciated.
Thanks,
-Tim

12 bolts are a dime a dozen.Just go to a junk yard and look around.
Do you know your gear ratio?
I'll bet you could pick up a 12 bolt at a pick-a-part for less than $100.00.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the spring pads are narrower on our first gens 4x4s than '67-'72 leaf spring 4x2s and '73-up 4x4s/4x2s. If you use a '73-up 12-bolt (these are a dime a dozen) you will need to move the spring pads outward, relocate the shock mounts (different location and we need non-staggered), and work out the brake lines (just use the '73-up?). I think there is also a difference in spring pad width (plus the u-bolt direction difference).

If anyone has any more information on this swap I'm also interested.

Posi
 

Hey madbomber. If that's an Eaton Posi unit, and you decide to replace it, let me know please. I'm looking for one. I've got a bad housing with good guts looking for a home. Thanks.