Can I swap the 5 lug axles out of a 72 burb with the 6 lug axles in my 69? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

milehightoyz · 10-08-2005, 01:16 AM

Hi Guys, Im working on a 69 Suburban. I just found a 72 burb at the bone yard and robbed the front disc brake parts (spindle/rotor/calipers/ and prop valve off of it. My guestion is on the rearend. Do I need to swap the entire rearend out or can I just pull the 5 lug axles and swap them into my 6 lug rearend? Any info would be great. Thanks John

BowTieMan · 10-08-2005, 01:30 AM

From what I was told is that 69 axles are a little narrower then the late 70 on up axles.

ChevLoRay · 10-08-2005, 07:26 AM

Just swap the whole rear end assembly. Like said before, there is a difference in the length of the axles, with 69 and earlier being shorter. Supposedly, 70-73 axles are the same length, but (of course) the 73 has leaf springs, instead of coils.

One alternative is to use the later axles, but you have to have a spacer on each end of the axle housing to space out the backing plates, which is why you should just swap the whole thing and be done with it.

badpeanut · 10-08-2005, 09:19 PM

If you want to keep your '69 rearend (it is the gear ratio you want or a posi, etc) your two options would be to have the axles redrilled for 5-lug or to buy custom 5-lug axles of the correct length.

Tx Firefighter · 10-09-2005, 05:57 AM

The spacer deal is a bad idea because the axle bearings still won't ride where they're supposed to on the axles. The brakes may line up afterward, but the machined area on the axle for bearings is still too wide.

Longhorn Man · 10-09-2005, 09:49 AM

Tx, I was just gettin ready to say that myself.

10-08-2005, 01:16 AM	#1
milehightoyz AttentionDeficitDisorder Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: COLORADO Posts: 600	Can I swap the 5 lug axles out of a 72 burb with the 6 lug axles in my 69? Hi Guys, Im working on a 69 Suburban. I just found a 72 burb at the bone yard and robbed the front disc brake parts (spindle/rotor/calipers/ and prop valve off of it. My guestion is on the rearend. Do I need to swap the entire rearend out or can I just pull the 5 lug axles and swap them into my 6 lug rearend? Any info would be great. Thanks John

10-08-2005, 01:30 AM	#2
BowTieMan Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Glendale Arizona Posts: 747	From what I was told is that 69 axles are a little narrower then the late 70 on up axles. __________________ "A true hotrodder wouldn't be content untill he had created a car so violent, so hairy, so totally sick that the very act of dropping the hammer would result in instant death. Anything less results in the need to go faster." - Tony DeFeo

10-08-2005, 07:26 AM	#3
ChevLoRay Old Skool Club Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Benton, AR "The Heart of Arkansas" Posts: 10,880	Just swap the whole rear end assembly. Like said before, there is a difference in the length of the axles, with 69 and earlier being shorter. Supposedly, 70-73 axles are the same length, but (of course) the 73 has leaf springs, instead of coils. One alternative is to use the later axles, but you have to have a spacer on each end of the axle housing to space out the backing plates, which is why you should just swap the whole thing and be done with it. __________________ Member Nr. 2770 '96 GMC Sportside; 4.3/SLT - Daily driven....constantly needs washed. '69 C-10 SWB; 350/TH400 - in limbo The older I get, the better I was.

10-08-2005, 09:19 PM	#4
badpeanut Not a bad nut after all.. Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: ND Posts: 1,756	If you want to keep your '69 rearend (it is the gear ratio you want or a posi, etc) your two options would be to have the axles redrilled for 5-lug or to buy custom 5-lug axles of the correct length. __________________ '05 Chevy 2500HD 4x4 '72 GMC LWB 4x2 driver '72 Chevy LWB 4x4 plow truck '71 Blazer 4x4 driver '70 GMC LWB trailer

10-09-2005, 05:57 AM	#5
Tx Firefighter Watch out for your cornhole ! Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Azle, Texas Posts: 14,162	The spacer deal is a bad idea because the axle bearings still won't ride where they're supposed to on the axles. The brakes may line up afterward, but the machined area on the axle for bearings is still too wide. __________________ I'm on the Instagram- @Gearhead_Kevin

10-09-2005, 09:49 AM	#6
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	Tx, I was just gettin ready to say that myself.



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