'82 C10 SWB 10 Bolt Ring & Pinion Question

[LuvNLife]

I'm looking to upgrade the gears in my truck's rear, but am a bit confused.

I know if I'm changing the carrier (which I'm not), I'd have to be sure it accepted the stock 28 spline axles. The issue is, virtually all of the 3.42 (and 3.23) ring and pinions I'm seeing on Summit and Richmond's sites indicated the pinion gear has 30 splines, but when I went to add a Richmond install kit, what is supposed to be the correct year install kit states it's for 28 spline pinion gears.

Can someone let me know if for my year truck, it does indeed use the 30 spline pinion, or do I need to look for another brand with 28 splines?

Thanks.

[Joe Pass]

28 spline is used for cars with a 8.5 10 bolt....to my knowledge all truck 8.5's are 30 spline and run a bigger axle and axle bearing....the pinion gear is not referring to the axle spline count, just the yoke splines.