swapping axels to 5 lug??

[1LoC10]

I have searched and searched on this forum and just wnet through 20 somthing pages and i cant find an answer... can the axles from a 72 just be swapped into a 71 6 lugger?

[Joe67]

71 & 72 axles should be the same length

[Jaredm82]

nope, i think. I am almost positive 5 lug rear end out of the 71-72 is wider than the 6 lug ones. I could definetly be wrong here though. Couldnt hurt to try, unless you have to buy the axles. CPP sells 5 lug kits that include axles, clips, studs, and drums for around 300$ thats what I did. Plus you get new, heavy duty axles...

[HeavyD]

Sometime during the 70 model year they changed, but the only way to know is to try it. I used 72 axles in my 70 and it worked out fine, but new axles wouldn't be a bad way to go.

[N2TRUX]

I'm going to copy this to the 67-72 forum. I think you will have a better chance at a correct answer there..

[HuggerCST]

HeavyD is correct. They changed to the longer axles(each one is 3/4" longer), in mid '70. The axles will bolt into the shorter housing, but the drums and brakeshoes will be offset. Some have made 3/4 spacers to put between the housing and brake backing plates to make it work. I've never seen a 71 6 lugger, but it should have the longer housing if it hasn't been changed, so the axles should be a bolt in swap.

[Tx Firefighter]

I've seen guys build the 3/4 inch spacers to allow the early housing to be used with the wider axles, but it's a bad idea. It may space the brakes out properly, but the axle bearings will be riding in the wrong place on the axle shafts.

[boraxman]

Im thinking you got a earlier rear end in your truck, '70 or before. They did change to the long housing sometime in '70. I got lucky with mine, 5 lug axles fit right in.

Couple options if you dont have the long housing is to replace the whole thing or get the axles re-drilled and studded.

[Bowtie67]

If you could get a measurement of you total axle width it may help determine the year you have, You still may have the 71 rearend but it may be out of a 4x4 they had 6 lug axles. If you measure from drum to drum flange we should be able to figure out which axles you would need, if an axle is out measure from drum flange to floor(splined end down on floor), I have a set of 5lug axles I can measure. They wont be here long because another member has purchased them and I will be shipping them out. If I remeber correctly axle flange to axle flange on my 67 was 62.5 inches.

Of special note the axle conversion that ECE has for the earlier chevy's fits 63-69 12 bolt rearends. 70 & later had the wider housings.

[70rs/ss]

I was going to say the early (67-8...) is different. I bought new axles from Summit for $200 and they are hardened. Measure both axles and then you'll know. I'd avoid the longer axle in a short housing as TX said, the bearing riding in the wrong spot could lead to breakage and carnage always follows, imagine tire still bolted to hub with brake drum flying off and you sliding down the freeway at 70+mph on the axle tube?! See what I mean.

[Jim_PA]

I just put 72 axles in my 68, and it rides on the opposite end of the machined part of the axle. I haven't heard any horror stories about doing this yet, so, I'll try it, and worst case I'll have to get a 72 rear anyway.

[68SUB]

The axles will work ok, but you have too run the wider brake drum so it will cover all of the brake shoes.

[low'n slow]

GM makes a drum that fits this conversion. The area the axle butts against is offset. It allows you to use the axle and engage all of the brake shoe.
i've seen a dodge brake drum shaped the same way, but didn't have the correct blt pattern.