what axels 95 1500

[bo1]

hi all new here and to chevy trucks.can anyone tell me what axles a 95 chevy 1500 4x4 has?do all chevy 1500s have the same axles from the 90s?

[sntrym95]

Mostly 3.73 and 3.42 gears, depending on the motor. If you have a 4x4, chances are you have a 350 and 3.73 gears...

[bo1]

ok well im not talking about the gears im talking about the axles.also do gmc 1500s have the same axle as chevy 1500s?

[DirtyLarry]

Most have a 10 bolt 8.5” ring gear while some 1500’s with the increase GVWR option had a 14 bolt semi floating 9.5” ring gear. That later are rather rare.

[sntrym95]

The Chevy and GMC rear ends are the same codes.

[69-350]

Originally Posted by DirtyLarry

Most have a 10 bolt 8.5” ring gear while some 1500’s with the increase GVWR option had a 14 bolt semi floating 9.5” ring gear. That later are rather rare.

Hah, does that make my truck rare? From what I've heard, light duty 3/4 tons have 14 bolt semi-floaters, and heavier duty half tons have the 14 bolts. I've been told Z71s and light 3/4tons, not sure on the Z71's though. Mine has the 14 bolt, and so does a buddy's 6-lug 3/4 ton.

DirtyLarry, you've worked with GM for awhile right? What's the deal on that? Did the GVW rating constitute the 14 bolt option in half tons? Also, why were some 3/4 tons six lug?

Oh yeah, and if you do know those answers, maybe you could tell me what the deal is on the front diffs. I know 3/4 tons up have the 9.25" split case 14bolt IFS front differential, and half tons have the 8.25" split case 10bolt IFS front. But I've heard that the diesel half ton 4WD trucks did and have heard they did not have the 9.25". Which one's right; standard half ton diff, or bigger diff in diesels?

[DirtyLarry]

The 8 lug 9.5” 14 bolt semi-floater was standard equipment in 2500 series trucks with 5.7L engines at that time. The exceptions were 7.4L and 6.5L diesels as both of those came with 14 bolt full-floaters standard. You could opt for a full-floater in a 5.7L 2500 series truck with an extra cost option code of 1TA.

As far as 1500 series trucks went they had the 8.5” 10 bolt semi-floater as standard equipment. There was an extra cost option to increase the GVWR from 6200lbs to 6600lbs under option code F44. The 9.5” 14 bolt semi-floating rear axle and heavier rated rear leaf spring packs were the main ingredients of the F44 package. The F44 package is not part of the Z71 package although both options could be had on the same truck. The 454SS truck in the early 90’s had a 14 bolt semi-floater as standard equipment and I believe 6.5L diesel equipped 1500 series trucks also used the 9.5”.

There really isn’t any difference between the 6 lug or 8 lug 9.5” 14 bolt semi-floater other than the axle shaft flanges are drilled differently and brake drums were different. The 9.5” is not all that great of an axle but it is better than an 8.5” and it allows you to run 6 lug wheels if that is your thing.
The 6 lug 2500 series trucks of the early 90’s were nothing more than a 1500 with the F44 package. I am not sure why they chose a 2500 designation on those trucks at the time but towards the mid-90’s they started using the 1500 badge instead on the F44’s. Same exact GVWR….different badges.
As far as the front diffs go, I am not 100% certain but I believe all 1500 series 4x4’s had the 8.25 front gear regardless of engine.

[69-350]

Originally Posted by DirtyLarry

The 8 lug 9.5” 14 bolt semi-floater was standard equipment in 2500 series trucks with 5.7L engines at that time. The exceptions were 7.4L and 6.5L diesels as both of those came with 14 bolt full-floaters standard. You could opt for a full-floater in a 5.7L 2500 series truck with an extra cost option code of 1TA.

As far as 1500 series trucks went they had the 8.5” 10 bolt semi-floater as standard equipment. There was an extra cost option to increase the GVWR from 6200lbs to 6600lbs under option code F44. The 9.5” 14 bolt semi-floating rear axle and heavier rated rear leaf spring packs were the main ingredients of the F44 package. The F44 package is not part of the Z71 package although both options could be had on the same truck. The 454SS truck in the early 90’s had a 14 bolt semi-floater as standard equipment and I believe 6.5L diesel equipped 1500 series trucks also used the 9.5”.

There really isn’t any difference between the 6 lug or 8 lug 9.5” 14 bolt semi-floater other than the axle shaft flanges are drilled differently and brake drums were different. The 9.5” is not all that great of an axle but it is better than an 8.5” and it allows you to run 6 lug wheels if that is your thing.
The 6 lug 2500 series trucks of the early 90’s were nothing more than a 1500 with the F44 package. I am not sure why they chose a 2500 designation on those trucks at the time but towards the mid-90’s they started using the 1500 badge instead on the F44’s. Same exact GVWR….different badges.
As far as the front diffs go, I am not 100% certain but I believe all 1500 series 4x4’s had the 8.25 front gear regardless of engine.

So basically, my buddy's 90 GMC "2500" is nothing more than the two wheel drive (and 2500 badged) version of my truck (6600lbs GVW). My truck being an F44 Heavy Duty Chassis, Z71, with the 9.5" SF 14 bolt. So with the four leaf packs plus overload spring, did mine technically have 3/4 ton leafs in the back? Also, being a Canadian truck born and raised (yes, it originally had the metric gauge cluster, which was later swapped for an American one), does my truck sound like it was ordered the way it was (original owner used it to haul his 5th wheel camper) or was sent to the dealership that way?

Also, as for the Z71's, after a certain year (96-up I think?) did they make all Z71's come standard with a limited slip rear end? (and for that matter, with 3.73 gears)?

And maybe it's a long shot and not your area of expertise, but I'm told Bright Blue Metallic (my color) is a rare, and 1997 only, paint option. Is that true? I know in 1981 Bright Blue Metallic was offered in Corvettes and sold only on one car, haha. Pointless info, I know.

Ah hell, while we're at it, I doubt you know, but why do these 96-up trucks with the fancy rearview mirror, have a slot for the temperature (in the same little screen in the corner of the mirror where the compass resides) but never use the temperature? Was it not offered in the trucks, or maybe only in Cadillacs, or something?

I'm sure if I think hard enough, I'll think of some more questions about my truck to test your knowledge, but I'll leave it at that, hah. You do seem to be an expert in this stuff though, with your career being there, and I do like to know little things like that about GM.

[junkman8302]

As far as I have ever seen the front diffs in the 1/2 tons are always 8.25s and the 3/4 and 1 ton trucks had the 9.25. The 92 diesel work truck I have has the 8.25 front end in it. Also I know that the frames on the 3/4 and 1 ton trucks are wider than the 1/2 tons, and I believe the mounts are different between the 8.25s and the 9.25s.
As for the paint that color was only offered in 97 and I believe only on the trucks (not SUVs) so there for could be considered rare.
The trucks were never offered with a temp in the rearview from 88-98, but share the same mirror as the Tahoe/Yukon/Escalade/Denali which all had the temp option along with the compass.

[DirtyLarry]

Originally Posted by 69-350

So basically, my buddy's 90 GMC "2500" is nothing more than the two wheel drive (and 2500 badged) version of my truck (6600lbs GVW).

Yes, that pretty much sums it up.

Originally Posted by 69-350

So with the four leaf packs plus overload spring, did mine technically have 3/4 ton leafs in the back?

Not necessarily. The F44 package (6600 gvwr = C5S) rear springs may not be the same springs as the 8600 lb GVWR 2500’s although their spring rating could be close. It sounds like it was ordered that way by someone….owner or dealer. Being a Canadian market truck would have nothing to do with it. CAN market only added a block heater and metric cluster as standard equipment if I remember correctly as well as daytime running lights before it became required here in the states.

Originally Posted by 69-350

Also, as for the Z71's, after a certain year (96-up I think?) did they make all Z71's come standard with a limited slip rear end? (and for that matter, with 3.73 gears)?

Nope….G80 was a free flow option and the Z71 option did not force on the G80. Although the majority of Z71’s came with G80, it was not standard with the Z71 package. My 1998 Z71 had an open rear diff with a 10 bolt rear end. I don’t believe 3:73 was standard with the Z71 package either although it was the most common gear ratio across the board. Z71 really isn’t anything special. Just skid plates, special shocks and a bed side decal. Heck, you could order the Z71 package on a plane jane rubber floor mat 1SA 4.3L powered truck.

Originally Posted by 69-350

And maybe it's a long shot and not your area of expertise, but I'm told Bright Blue Metallic (my color) is a rare, and 1997 only, paint option. Is that true? I know in 1981 Bright Blue Metallic was offered in Corvettes and sold only on one car, haha. Pointless info, I know.

Paint is interesting. You could and still can order a vehicle in any Special Equipment Option color you want. The SEO paints were usually reserved for fleets. The catch is there has to be 7 other orders (7 at that time anyway…I hear it is 12 now) for the same paint color. If the other 6 orders didn’t come in by the end of the model year the order got canned. They wouldn’t just paint 1 with a special color….there had to be a batch of them. For example, the truck conversion companies like Southern Comfort had fleet purchasing power would order batches of trucks in non-standard colors (and still do) such as yellow, fast orange, etc. We had a special chip book outlining the list of about 150 different SEO WA paint numbers that could be used. Most SEO paint colors were colors that were used on other GM vehicles such as the popular 1997 Pontiac Montana Quasar blue I painted my 1978 K10.

You got me on the mirror deal….I am not sure what the story is with that.

It was fun working with the trucks right out of college as I have been a truck nut since I was a little kid. I was there for the launch of the 1999 GMT800 Silverado which started behind the scenes in 1997. That was an exciting time then I moved into (and out of MI…yayyy!) to the field as a service rep in late 1999 and now work with bigger trucks on the commercial side of the business, which was spun off of GM although we still use GM Powertrain as our engine and trans supplier. My division manufacturers stripped chassis for the RV and Step-Van market if you can guess which company that is. You can touch and taste our products and would swear they were GM but we haven’t been related in 9 years. Another hint is we were just recently aquired 3 years ago by truck and engine company that supplies diesel engines to Phord.

[Jeep & GMC]

While we have a resident mirror expert online, why doesn't mine work? What can I look for that might be a problem. Sorry, it's probably something obvious, but you never know. thanks

[69-350]

Originally Posted by junkman8302

As far as I have ever seen the front diffs in the 1/2 tons are always 8.25s and the 3/4 and 1 ton trucks had the 9.25. The 92 diesel work truck I have has the 8.25 front end in it. Also I know that the frames on the 3/4 and 1 ton trucks are wider than the 1/2 tons, and I believe the mounts are different between the 8.25s and the 9.25s.

I know the mounts are different. To actually mount the unit itself in there, I know you gotta shave the 9.25 down a little on those fans, and modify the mounts slightly to work with the bigger front diff. Similar, but not the same.

Originally Posted by junkman8302

The trucks were never offered with a temp in the rearview from 88-98, but share the same mirror as the Tahoe/Yukon/Escalade/Denali which all had the temp option along with the compass.

I figured none of the trucks had them, but that certain SUVs did, just wasnt sure which ones. By the way, how does the temp work? Is it something that could be easily added to my truck? Along with an overhead console, and maybe heated mirrors?


So basically, there's at least 6 more trucks in my same color somewhere? Beautiful color you used, too, looks very nice.

Knew about the Z71 package, and it overrides the tire size, shoulda known it wouldnt override anything else though. You are a big box of knowledge DirtyLarry, thanks. I'm sure I'll think of something else, too.

P.S. do the 2WD and 4WD 14 bolt 9.5" axles vary in width? I don't see why, but I've heard they do. That person full of it?

[justcuz]

I know that they vary in spring mounting pad width. Not sure about overall axle width. That being said the proof is real easy, just measure your buddys, then yours. WMS to WMS on both would be what is needed because I know for sure the 2wd spring mounting surfaces are narrower than a 4wd. I just bought a 14 bolt semi-float at the wrecking yard for my 1993 K1500 Suburban. My 10 bolt is not worth putting any money into it after 210,000 miles! Got it out of a Z71 with GT4 gears and a G80.

[junkman8302]

The temp sensor works off a sensor that is mounted down in the cowl, or maybe off of a sensor mounted right on the windshield behind the mirror. My old 98 Yukon SLT had a temp/compass mirror in it, but I never had it apart, but Dirty Larry might know for sure. I know the temp sensor was an option on the LS and SLE Tahoes and Yukons and were standard on the high end LT, SLT, Denali and Escalades. And I have seen a few 88-98 trucks with an overhead and center console out of the Denali/Escalade and they look too sweet!

[junkman8302]

Originally Posted by Jeep & GMC

While we have a resident mirror expert online, why doesn't mine work? What can I look for that might be a problem. Sorry, it's probably something obvious, but you never know. thanks

Which part is not working, the compass, the temp or the electroluminesant (auto dimmer)?

[Jeep & GMC]

It has the manual dimmer tab, if you know what I mean. But no displays are working. It has two map lights on the bottom, one of them works.