84' 4dr Rear Axle swap????

[youngin']

I was wondering if any of you have done or know anything about swapping out the rear axle on a 84' quad cab (, if it helps.). I'm trying to go from the 8lug bolt pattern, I know that on the front all I have to do is swap out the hub assembly. I don't really like the wheel selection for 8lug wheels, so I'm trying to change it up. All help is appreciated.

[Albatrossian]

They ought to interchange for our year models. Is your truck 4x4?

[firedrag79]

I can't speak for all axles but when I did the switch on my truck it was not that easy.

The spring perches were different widths between the 14 bolt and the 10 bolt I had. I could have cut and rewelded the spring seats on the axle or switch the spring hangers on the frame. I choose to switch the spring hangers so that I could switch the axle out with another factory axle easily. I'm glad I made that decision because I think I'm about to swap it out with a different rear with a better gear ratio.

Good luck to you on your truck.

[youngin']

The truck is 2wd. I bought it for $500, and all it neeeded was the starter to be bolted up and a new battery. However I figured that I would do all the big work before i start driving it and get used to having her on the road.

[youngin']

Originally Posted by firedrag79

I can't speak for all axles but when I did the switch on my truck it was not that easy.

The spring perches were different widths between the 14 bolt and the 10 bolt I had. I could have cut and rewelded the spring seats on the axle or switch the spring hangers on the frame. I choose to switch the spring hangers so that I could switch the axle out with another factory axle easily. I'm glad I made that decision because I think I'm about to swap it out with a different rear with a better gear ratio.

Good luck to you on your truck.

Would it be easier or more quicker just to swap the rear axle off of a 84-87 1500 truck? I'm not really too familiar about gear ratios and all that stuff, I'm honestly just swapping the axle out to change the bolt pattern. Is there an easier way to do it without changing the rear axle?

[firedrag79]

I was unable to find any axles to fix the 14 bolt with 5 lugs. Plus the 5 lug rear I had was reliable and known, the 14 bolt rear had been sitting in a field for many years. By the time I had it down to a bare frame swapping the entire rear was very easy.

[youngin']

Originally Posted by firedrag79

I was unable to find any axles to fix the 14 bolt with 5 lugs. Plus the 5 lug rear I had was reliable and known, the 14 bolt rear had been sitting in a field for many years. By the time I had it down to a bare frame swapping the entire rear was very easy.

So anything out of a 84-87 truck regardless of model will drop right into mine? IE: c1500, c10, c2500, c20, etc.

[abebummy26]

You guys have me really confused and I thought I knew what I was talking about b4 I read this.

[budgetstperformance]

Originally Posted by youngin'

I was wondering if any of you have done or know anything about swapping out the rear axle on a 84' quad cab (, if it helps.). I'm trying to go from the 8lug bolt pattern, I know that on the front all I have to do is swap out the hub assembly. I don't really like the wheel selection for 8lug wheels, so I'm trying to change it up. All help is appreciated.

im doing the same conversion and based on my research, i understand the ball joints are different sizes on the upper and lower control arms. im swaping knuckels from a 86 1/2 to an 87 1 ton. so im removing upper and lower control arms from my donor before it gets hauled away. as for the rear i've removed the complete axle from my donor with the leaf springs attatched. from my measurments looks like it will be a direct bolt in.

would be nice to have some other members confirm before i start taking my crew cab apart. also im not sure about the drive shaft length. but looks like it will bolt right up as well.

[kevinr1970]

Originally Posted by budgetstperformance

as for the rear I've removed the complete axle from my donor with the leaf springs attached. from my measurements looks like it will be a direct bolt in.

would be nice to have some other members confirm before i start taking my crew cab apart. also im not sure about the drive shaft length. but looks like it will bolt right up as well.

I wouldn't mind some confirmation either.
I am going to swap my suspension to 1/2 ton on my crew but have been thinking it would be nice to keep the 3/4 ton rear springs. I just need to know if that is possible?

[abebummy26]

Originally Posted by kevinr1970

I wouldn't some confirmation either.
I am was going to swap my suspension to 1/2 ton on my crew but have been thinking it would be nice to keep the 3/4 ton rear springs. I just need to know if that is possible?

that would essentially make it a big ten.

[firedrag79]

Thought I would post a picture to try and show better the main difference I found in my swap experience. Both trucks were 2x4. The widths of the springs could be different on the 4x4's but if you measured it then I don't know why it wouldn't fit.

3/4 ton on the left.
1/2 ton on the right.

[youngin']

Ok, thanks for all the info guys. All I have to do now is find a cheap donor truck to strip, I already checked 2 junk yards but they were pretty much bare.