10 bolt faq

[zerogravity58]

nah i wouldnt worry about the axles, i would get a good eaton, auburn, or a detriot locker (not sure if they make one for the 7.5) but they are your best carriers

[zasha]

I donno what kinda punishment you guys have put 10 bolt axled thru. but i have twisted many off on my racecars. how much abuse can they take? well I've only busted 3 off at the end. and i've twisted off around 30 of them right at the sline. I donno how much power it takes any of you to twist them off. but, I can break ANYTHING you can give me. all these axles I've twisted off, were on ice. and with not to much more than just a greaser motor dont jam them up the will come right apart, and then its a tilt-a-whirl ride from hell

[zasha]

if you want a strong rear end. ask this guy. maybe he will make you one...
http://www.raptorfab.com/rear.html

[leadfoot]

Any difference between a 2WD carrier and a 4WD carrier as long as they have the same ring diameter?

Can they be interchanged??

I think my 2001 2WD GU8 rear is about to go. It gets noisier by the day, but I have the same ratio rear in a 2002 4WD GU8. Can I swap these if it blows?

[zerogravity58]

you can swap carriers but you can not switch rearends. the 4wd is 4" wider then the 2wd. Internally the carriers and the gears are identical.

[leadfoot]

Awesome. I knew the rears were different, but there is no info on the carriers. Thanks for the intel.

[leroyme]

I had my truck on a lift yesterday, and noticed a tube coming off the top of my differential. It's like a rubber tube, with some sort of valve or something on the end of it. Is it just a vent tube, or what?


b.t.w. '98 GMC Sonoma, 2.2l 5sp.

[Lenny95NeoN]

Should just be a vent tube

[docholiday]

ok i am not sure what rearend i have.
i when i bought my s10 the guy gave me a extra rearend which is the stock 7.5. I just am not sure what is under my truck. It is a 10 bolt but i dont know if it is a 8.2 or an 8.5. I have meassured it and it is 11 one way and 10 5/8 the other. Also it doesnt have the diagional indentation that a 8.2 has or the ears on the bottom that a 8.5 has on it. Is there anyway to tell with out removing the whole thing.

[zerogravity58]

the 8.5 has a perfectly round cover while the 7.5 cover is more square. Most s10s and blazers came with the 7.5 rearend. No s10 or blazer ever came with the 8.2 unless it was put in out of an older camaro. None of the 8.2 swaps are direct bolt in unless you narrow them so chances are you can cut the 8.2 out. proablly a 7.5 you got.

[Thomm]

ok i'm jumping in, i have a 99 s10 2wd 5 sp, ext cab, i do know that i have 410s. what i want to do is change to 373s. i don't know the size 7.5 or 8.5, it does have 10 bolts on the back cover, what i would like to know, what is the best way to switch, go to the boneyard and locate a complete rearend (by me the 373s are hard to find) and how far back can i go in years. or replace the carrier with a different ring and pinion or just replace the ring and pinion. all advice will be greatly appreciated thanks

[zerogravity58]

sounds like you have a 2.2 if you have 4.10's if you have a 2.2 you definitly have a 7.5 10 bolt. Id buy a set of gears and have someone switch em out for you. Its easier then swaping rears...

[developed]

Got a '97 S-10, 2.2, 5 sp, 3.73, 7.625, 28 spline axle, rear end. I found a posi carrier out of a '90 S-10 Blazer. I'm assuming it's 7.5" - is that really different (meaning it won't work)? Do you know if it's 26 or 28 spline?

Thnx

[zerogravity58]

if im not mistaken a 90 should still have 28 spline axles. I think around 88 is when they switched to 28 spline axles. The carrier will bolt right in without any problems if the splines are the same.

[developed]

Quote: Originally Posted by zerogravity58

The carrier will bolt right in without any problems if the splines are the same.

Thanks buddy. The seller e-mailed me back and said it was 28 spline.

[Nazgulmagefreak]

I have a 2wd 93 with 3.08. I am gonna be going from 195/75/14 to 31x10.50r15. 3.73 would put me back to stock. At the same time i change gears I want some kind of posi. Since my truck is a 93 and I have the 4.3Auto I should have the 7 5/8 rear end right? If I just change gears I need a new carrier right? But if I get a posi unit, then that includes the carrier right? 7.5" gear will fit in a 7.625 right? But gears for a 7.625 fits easier? Will a posi for a 7.5 fit in a 7.625 or does it have to be for a 7.625? If I get a posi from a 7.5, do I need gears from a 7.5?

Which trucks came with the 3.73 posi? That should be easy to find right? What if I find a set in a truck with a 7.5", will that fit?

TerranceP.

[zerogravity58]

Quote: Originally Posted by Nazgulmagefreak

I have a 2wd 93 with 3.08. I am gonna be going from 195/75/14 to 31x10.50r15. 3.73 would put me back to stock. At the same time i change gears I want some kind of posi. Since my truck is a 93 and I have the 4.3Auto I should have the 7 5/8 rear end right? If I just change gears I need a new carrier right? But if I get a posi unit, then that includes the carrier right? 7.5" gear will fit in a 7.625 right? But gears for a 7.625 fits easier? Will a posi for a 7.5 fit in a 7.625 or does it have to be for a 7.625? If I get a posi from a 7.5, do I need gears from a 7.5?

Which trucks came with the 3.73 posi? That should be easy to find right? What if I find a set in a truck with a 7.5", will that fit?

TerranceP.

all 7.5 and 7.625(7 5/8's) are the same rearends. All parts are interchangable between them. Neither is going to make it any easier. If you change gears you will need a new carrier since you have a 2 series carrier and you will be switching to a 3 series gear. Personally i would go to a taller gear like a 4.11. By going with that tall of a tire with 3.73's you are actually LOSING gear. 195/75/14's are only 25.5" tall brand new. Technically you will be back down to a 3.00 gear ratio. Yes you do have the 7.5/8 rearend. But like stated before all the part are interchangable as long as you get a carrier with 28 spline axles(old 7.5's had 26 spline axles). The posi unit is the carrier.

[Nazgulmagefreak]

Okay, you think I should do 4.10, which I was considering, but I was told it would be too much. The calculator on 4Lo said "3.74" would take me back to stock from "3.08" and 25.5" tires to 31" tires. I would really like a little more pick-up but I don't want to be horrible (as in horrible for a 4.3)on gas.

Also on a side note, what do I have to do to correct the speedometer?

TerranceP

[zerogravity58]

i would just jump right up and get a 4.11....If you going to go thru all that to change gears you might as well pick something up in return. Also why such a tall tire? It wont kill your gas milage that much you not going to that horrible of a gear. Now if you were keeping the 25.5" tires and going from 3.08's to 4.11's then yes it would hurt you alittle. As for speedo i dont know i never fixed mine now it doesnt even have one...

[Nazgulmagefreak]

Quote: Originally Posted by zerogravity58

Also why such a tall tire?

My truck is getting lifted and hopefully a locker and the same time as gears and AT tires.

TerranceP.

[lyonsfam1]

so i have a 2002 4.3 5 speed with 3.08 and an lsd can i go up to 3.73 without changing carriers? also that means i have a 7.625 right?!?

[zerogravity58]

no you could have a 8.5 10 bolt. the s10's with the 4.3 and the 5 speed is what they came behind and they only came with 3.08's if im correct. take a look at it and see.

[smagma]

Quote: Originally Posted by zerogravity58

no you could have a 8.5 10 bolt. the s10's with the 4.3 and the 5 speed is what they came behind and they only came with 3.08's if im correct. take a look at it and see.

I'm not sure that is correct.. the ZR2 i found has a 3.42 in it and the blazer also has a 3.42 ratio and both are 8.5 rears

[LebaneseShowoff]

ok, since we're talking about rear-ends, i have a question to you S-10/blazer ppl, i'm an F-body person and that's pretty much all i know, i wanted to know if there was a way to put a rear-end out of an F-body(Camaro/Firebird) on the S-10/Blazer?? i want to buy an S-10 as a cruising truck and a blazer 4x4 for mudding and stuff, and i need some help, i know the S-10/blazer have the same lug pattern but different offset so can someone enlighten me.

[bww3588]

Quote: Originally Posted by LebaneseShowoff

ok, since we're talking about rear-ends, i have a question to you S-10/blazer ppl, i'm an F-body person and that's pretty much all i know, i wanted to know if there was a way to put a rear-end out of an F-body(Camaro/Firebird) on the S-10/Blazer?? i want to buy an S-10 as a cruising truck and a blazer 4x4 for mudding and stuff, and i need some help, i know the S-10/blazer have the same lug pattern but different offset so can someone enlighten me.

yes/no. yes you can, no its not cost effective. you have to shorten the F-body tubes and axels, you have to cut the spring pockets off and add leaf pearches, you have to cut off the torque arm mount......its not worth the hassel. they are the same rearend. just the f-body is wider. no stronger

[Lenny95NeoN]

Quote: Originally Posted by smagma

Quote: Originally Posted by zerogravity58

no you could have a 8.5 10 bolt. the s10's with the 4.3 and the 5 speed is what they came behind and they only came with 3.08's if im correct. take a look at it and see.

I'm not sure that is correct.. the ZR2 i found has a 3.42 in it and the blazer also has a 3.42 ratio and both are 8.5 rears

My original 8.5 from my Blazer has a 3.42 ratio

[zerogravity58]

sorry guys i mistyped it when i typed that out. I ment to say they only come with 3.08's and 3.42's but i typed it in a hurry i forgot to proofread. Sorry

[383s-10detroit]

your saying a stock 7.5 10 bolt wont hold up i was going 1.41 60 foot leavng on spray with slicks stock axles and alburn posi unit now i have a 9in but i never broke that rear end

[zerogravity58]

for everyone its diffrent i know people going 10's on them. I broke two of them with a stock 4.3 v6...

[redline24]

I have a 2002 blazer with the g80 limited slip and I am wanting to change the fluid. Can I use some royal purple gear oil. I am wanting to use something better than the gm stuff.

[Johnnyby68]

will a 81 camaro z28 rear bolt into a first gen s-10? the rear end housing and all. i'm tired of the open diff with my v8 s-10 lol. also will will the ring and pinion from a first gen work in that rear. the rear i have has 3.73s, the rear i'm getting has 3.08s. advance.... John

[Johnnyby68]

thanks in advance..... John***

[Mr. Merk]

her 87 s-10's open rear isnt cutting it, she's having to feather it off the line and its only cutting 2.4x 60' times

its got a 26 spline 3.42 open diff

her dad picked up a later model 4x4 rearend (3.73 posi 28spline)

we're not seeing eye to eye on what its gonna take to do the swap

cant we use the later 4x4 carrier in her current housing with a pair of the newer 28 spline 2wd axles???

[burntsdime]

I am in the process of building a small block for my truck and if all go's well. I'll have somewhere between 400-450 horse. But the problem is I'm not to knowledgable about rearend and I do know I'm going to have to replace or seriously rebuild mine. Any help would be appreciated. I don't know what all this 7.5, 8.5 stuff means. So when you reply I would appreciate it being in english so I know what your talking about....thanks

[burntsdime]

Quote: Originally Posted by burntsdime

I am in the process of building a small block for my truck and if all go's well. I'll have somewhere between 400-450 horse. But the problem is I'm not to knowledgable about rearend and I do know I'm going to have to replace or seriously rebuild mine. Any help would be appreciated. I don't know what all this 7.5, 8.5 stuff means. So when you reply I would appreciate it being in english so I know what your talking about....thanks

Oh yeah I have a 97 S-10 that had a 4.3L in it if it makes a difference.

[zerogravity58]

the both the 7.5 and 8.5 we talk about are both 10 bolt rearends. Which means there are 10 bolts that hold the ring gear onto the carrier. The diffrent between the two are the ring gear size. The ring gear on the 8.5 is 8.5" tall, 7.5 us 7.5" tall. As with almost every yearend the bigger the gear the stronger the rear. THe 8.5 is kinda hard to come by since they only came in s10 with a 4.3 and a 5 speed from late models. I pulled mine from a wrecked 01 extreme if i remember correctly. easiest way to tell them apart is look at the inspection cover. a 8.5 cover is a perfect circle, while the 7.5 is more square

[Scott241]

what size rear end did a first gen s10 p/u (89 2.5 5speed) have in it? was it the 7.5 or the 7.625

[bww3588]

7.5, not that it matters. it uses the same ring gear. just a slightly smaller housing than the 7.625. a smidge stronger but not enough to matter.

[meyers2211]

any p[articular years that the 4.3l 5spds came wit the 8" bigger rear end

[krazy10]

Quote: Originally Posted by zerogravity58

no you could have a 8.5 10 bolt. the s10's with the 4.3 and the 5 speed is what they came behind and they only came with 3.08's if im correct. take a look at it and see.

i have a 92' 4.3 5speed and the code in my glove box sayed i had a 2.73 gears(gu2) i might be looking in the wrong place but im pretty sure it has it. it now has an 8.5, i dont know what it came with originally.

[curt_k16]

Im wanting to build a 3.08 rearend,can i use the locker out of a G80?and then buy a set stronger gears

[zerogravity58]

There isnt really stronger gear. Stock gears are one of the best gears. The gears arent the weakest link the housings are. They flex under power increasing the lash in the gears. This is why the gears break. You can use a G80 locker but i would recommend and auburn or eaton. The g80 lockers wear out and break easy. The G80 is also made by eaton but is not a good design,

[curt_k16]

i HAVE A 1988.2wd 3.42 Ratio 4 cyl 4 speed would that be 26 or 28 splin?

[zerogravity58]

that has 26 spline axles.

[King_Ice_Flash2]

Does anyone have a copy of the post with the upgrade pinion parts, like the solid sleeve? Think it got toasted in the forum hiccup.

[zerogravity58]

The solid sleeve is made by ratech, do a search a on summit and it will come up ita like $20 and comes with the solid pinion spacer and shims.

[King_Ice_Flash2]

OMG, I'm retarded. It's in the first post

[The Griff]

Ok so I've got a 91 blazer 2wd, I'm in the process of V8 swap and had some rear end questions.

1. I want to have a decent posi unit in the back, As well as disc brakes. I know the 94+ rears out of trucks and blazers (2wd) fit and 4wds do not, However I'm just not sure if they(2wds) came with posi? if so what's the ratio? are they worth swapping into my first gen?

2. What does a decent used rear out of a 2nd gen cost? just so i dont get ripped off if i find one..

thanks alot

[zerogravity58]

from what i remember off hand the only trucks that might of came with 4 wheel disk brakes are the xtremes. The rearend you have should has the 28 spline axles. if anything i would keep the rear you have and throw in a eaton or auburn posi. You can adapt the disk brakes from a 3rd or 4th gen camaro onto your rearend.

[gmax111]

ok so here's my delima...

Im trying to figure out if i want to rebuild a blazer 7.625 rear(with discs on it) or switch to the ever growing popular ford explorer 8.8 (which also comes with disc brakes...) I dont know alot about rebuilding rearends other then whats posted in this thread... I personaly dont feel equiped for rebuilding it but im not quite sure what all i need... My father-in-law is a well experienced mechanic and pretty much gives me advice with everything i do.. but he has already told me that re-building a gm rearend is difficult and he doesn't have that much experience with them...

I dont plan on ever running slicks on my truck and im not going to race it other then when the ricers pull up next to me rev'ing at 4000+ rpms..(in other words its not just for racing).. Im not planning on doing anything serious to the motor other then some bolt ons.. Right now she's pushing 350hp @ the crank and ill probably never break 400... I plan on bagging my truck soon and i dont want to have to bag the rear end twice in-case the rearend i choose decides to go... I want something reliable...

Now im stuck in this decision because of this...
I have a blazer rearend from a buddy of mine readily available.. but with this ill have to jump into something that i've never done and sounds complicated as all hell.. but from the previous posts it sounds like they can be made pretty strong but far from perfect...

The ford 8.8.. I dont have one and living in las vegas its hard to find anything good at the junkyards i can probably get my hands on one for like $400 but then i think i have to have it shortend 2 inches and get shorter axles.. I have to have the bolt pattern changed and my driveshaft modified... but with this I wouldn't have to change the internals because they are great as is...

I think its going to end up costing me alot more to do the 8.8 then it will the 7.625... The ford will be strong but it sounds like some of you guys are saying the gm can be just as strong...

Like i said i have limited knowledge in rearends and would like some advice in what you guys think i should do... Right now i have limited cash with tax season and all(i work for myself so i have to pay up)... For some reason i am so intemidated of rebulding a rearend because i've never done it... what do you guys think???

btw sorry for the long a$$ post thanks in advance tho...