What do I do here~ rear axle?

[Denee007]

I put this link here so I wouldn't lose it!

http://www.speedwaymotors.com/1973-7...otor,4308.html

[mechanixman]

Originally Posted by Denee007

Nick, Kyle mentioned "Eaton", but that's as far as the conversation went on it. I'm so wishy washy on stuff like this! I tell him I don't want it, then tell him I want it, like Dan said, my inner Blonde comes out now and then!

Nah, You're making a decision that you're going to live with for more than the foreseeable future. I'd change my mind at LEAST 6 more times.

As for the inner blonde comment, I'd disagree. You're actually BUILDING your own truck!!! That's something most men, much less women can't imagine doing. Just because you don't know about a part on the truck doesn't mean you're stupid/blonde-ish. It'd be a different story if you said you were going to build a truck, and then head down to the dealership and choose one from a catalouge.

[Denee007]

Wow, I feel better now

Originally Posted by mechanixman

Nah, You're making a decision that you're going to live with for more than the foreseeable future. I'd change my mind at LEAST 6 more times.

As for the inner blonde comment, I'd disagree. You're actually BUILDING your own truck!!! That's something most men, much less women can't imagine doing. Just because you don't know about a part on the truck doesn't mean you're stupid/blonde-ish. It'd be a different story if you said you were going to build a truck, and then head down to the dealership and choose one from a catalouge.

[G&R's57GMC]

Denee,

Looking at the rotor on your truck it looks like a 4.75" bolt circle, you say it has 7/16" studs that would make it a GM rotor.
Ford,Mopar & AMC use a 5 on 4.5" bolt circle with 1/2" studs.

Before you start buying parts, Order this Bolt Circle Templet from http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Bolt-C...late,5951.html

This bolt circle template eliminates the need to guess what bolt pattern wheels, hubs or rear axles are. Includes 5 on 4-1/2", 5 on 4-3/4", 5 on 5" and 5 on 5-1/2". Made of high impact plastic.

This will precisely tell you what you have then you can make a decision on what way you want to go.

BTW you have a Ford in the garage that has a 5 on 4.5" bolt circle grab a wheel and see what it fits on your truck.

[Denee007]

Thank you! I'll order one of those right now~ take the guess work out! Funny, I forgot about my Mustang's wheels~! To be honest, I can't stand taking the Cragar's off, well getting them off is ok, just putting the wheels back on! but again, Thank you for the tip and suggestions!
dne'

Originally Posted by G&R's57GMC

Denee,

Looking at the rotor on your truck it looks like a 4.75" bolt circle, you say it has 7/16" studs that would make it a GM rotor.
Ford,Mopar & AMC use a 5 on 4.5" bolt circle with 1/2" studs.

Before you start buying parts, Order this Bolt Circle Templet from http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Bolt-C...late,5951.html

This bolt circle template eliminates the need to guess what bolt pattern wheels, hubs or rear axles are. Includes 5 on 4-1/2", 5 on 4-3/4", 5 on 5" and 5 on 5-1/2". Made of high impact plastic.

This will precisely tell you what you have then you can make a decision on what way you want to go.

BTW you have a Ford in the garage that has a 5 on 4.5" bolt circle grab a wheel and see what it fits on your truck.

[G&R's57GMC]

Originally Posted by Denee007

Thank you! I'll order one of those right now~ take the guess work out! Funny, I forgot about my Mustang's wheels~! To be honest, I can't stand taking the Cragar's off, well getting them off is ok, just putting the wheels back on! but again, Thank you for the tip and suggestions!
dne'

Those Cragar's have a bi pattern so the washer in one direction is 4.5" in the other its 4.75" That would not be the wheel to use for this test.
I was thinking the steel spare wheel would be the one to use.

[Denee007]

Spare? I don't even have a jack in the Mustang! mmm~ guess I'd better get on that. I ordered that Speedway item, it should be here Wednesday! another tool for my tool box!

Originally Posted by G&R's57GMC

Those Cragar's have a bi pattern so the washer in one direction is 4.5" in the other its 4.75" That would not be the wheel to use for this test.
I was thinking the steel spare wheel would be the one to use.

[G&R's57GMC]

This would be great for both the truck and Mustang ,
1998-9 Chevy Tahoe jack and tools.

Here they are laid out in the bed of my SSR.

The jack, the ratchet handle in the bag and the extension pieces in the flat box.

[dicer]

Denee, I would like to know where your transmission guy gets the parts to rebuild the rear end. The brake cables can be made, most of the truck parts places can have that done. For a price of course.

[Denee007]

Yes, that looks like a good setup!
ps: I may have seen your name somewhere and I can't remember a name to save my life, but could you put your first name or your nickname where it shows up everytime you post?~ you've been so helpful and I don't know what to call you other than your user name
dne'

Originally Posted by G&R's57GMC

This would be great for both the truck and Mustang ,
1998-9 Chevy Tahoe jack and tools.

Here they are laid out in the bed of my SSR.

The jack, the ratchet handle in the bag and the extension pieces in the flat box.

[Denee007]

Gee Dicer, I thought that was a taboo thing to know where the mechanic gets his parts? Like it's his secret place to get parts? He probably gets them at a local auto supply? I'll ask him when I see him next.
dne'

Originally Posted by dicer

Denee, I would like to know where your transmission guy gets the parts to rebuild the rear end. The brake cables can be made, most of the truck parts places can have that done. For a price of course.

[dicer]

Originally Posted by Denee007

Gee Dicer, I thought that was a taboo thing to know where the mechanic gets his parts? Like it's his secret place to get parts? He probably gets them at a local auto supply? I'll ask him when I see him next.
dne'

Well the thing is parts for those rear ends is hard to come by so I have heard. I have't gone shopping for any yet, but if the parking brake cables are any indication of the rarity of parts, then it must be true. I think the rear axles are dana 45, the ring and pinion sets that most of the parts places have are for the older removable 3rd member type axles, same with the parking brake cable offering. Park brake cables on the old ones fit into the hole in the backing plate, were as the newer axles the cables have a bracket that uses sheet metal type bolts to hold them to the backing plates.

[Denee007]

Thank you G&R's57GMC! I just found out I don't know how to measure the bolt circle! How embarrassing! This is the coolest thing ever! So my fronts are 4 3/4 and rears are 5".
So, If I want, I can take the rear axles to a machine shop and have the axles machined to accept 4 3/4. That would be better yes? That way I could have matching wheels some day?
dne'






BTW you have a Ford in the garage that has a 5 on 4.5" bolt circle grab a wheel and see what it fits on your truck.[/QUOTE]

[OrrieG]

Comes down to how many spares you want to carry. At one time I carried 2 6 lug and 2 8 lug when I was out in the boonies, I had a granny 4 speed and 1 ton rear end w/ 4:56 ratio for crawling up hills before 4wd.

[dubie]

I swapped all of mine over to the 4 3/4" pattern so I could run the car rims. I knew I wanted to run the Corvette rally wheels on the truck but the only way to do that was to swap the bolt patterns. I used the rear end out of a 65 Chevelle and bought a power disc brake kit with the same pattern

[papastrk]

Wow! Denee just can't get a break. The posi is a luxury. I don't think you will find the benefits of one can justify the extra expense. A rust pitted ring gear will most definitely be noisy. Replace if you can afford a set. The used ring gear carriers should be plentiful and cheap if you find you can't remove the broken pin. Good luck on this and the leaf spring replacement.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Denee,
I don't know what expense you're up for but you already know you WILL be swapping out at least the ring & pinion at some point in the future. I'd not spend money on re-drilling axles now until you know how bad your existing rear end will howl OR you decide to replace the R&P/swap rear ends.

I'd price out having the R&P done (unless you're good with a dial indicator and have set up a rear end before) vs. buying a good used 10 bolt with a 5x4.75" pattern. Pop the cover off a rearend you're considering as you never know the surprises that await you.

[_Ogre]

my steelies from wheels vintiques have both patterns
an option, pricey but an option