9.5 14 bolt swap questions, beat to death I know............

[df2x4]

So I got bored and did some more research. It looks like the 454SS rear brake parts are pretty much identical to the standard JB5 rear brakes on an 8.5" 10 bolt C1500. Same drums and backing plates. Here's some diagrams with part numbers.

'91 C1500 454SS:
https://www.gmpartsdirect.com/auto-...-4l-v8-gas-engine/brakes-cat/rear-brakes-scat

'97 C1500 4.3L:
https://www.gmpartsdirect.com/auto-...-3l-v6-gas-engine/brakes-cat/rear-brakes-scat

EDIT - Also just looked at the Little Shop Mfg. site and their five lug rear disc kit is listed as compatible with 454SS trucks as well.

https://www.littleshopmfg.com/gm-88-00-c1500-rear-disc-brakes-5-lug-10-drum/

 

[Knuckle Dragger]

So I got bored and did some more research. It looks like the 454SS rear brake parts are pretty much identical to the standard JB5 rear brakes on an 8.5" 10 bolt C1500. Same drums and backing plates. Here's some diagrams with part numbers.

'91 C1500 454SS:
https://www.gmpartsdirect.com/auto-...-4l-v8-gas-engine/brakes-cat/rear-brakes-scat

'97 C1500 4.3L:
https://www.gmpartsdirect.com/auto-...-3l-v6-gas-engine/brakes-cat/rear-brakes-scat

EDIT - Also just looked at the Little Shop Mfg. site and their five lug rear disc kit is listed as compatible with 454SS trucks as well.

https://www.littleshopmfg.com/gm-88-00-c1500-rear-disc-brakes-5-lug-10-drum/

I had come to the same conclusion over the last couple of days doing it pretty much the same as you have. I missed the note on the Little shop stuff. I can't seem to find a factory part number for the axle shafts though

 

[Schurkey]

Will my brake backing plate bolt up and can I keep the drums as I have them now?

I was planning on re-using my factory brake parts if possible

I'm completely mystified as to why you'd want to keep the horrible half-ton rear drum brakes. Nobody ever uses the park brake, therefore they never adjust; therefore the brake pedal is always low. Seems like the front brakes wear fast because the rears aren't doing their job--too small, and maybe too far out of adjustment.

For me, getting 3/4-ton Duo-Servo rear brakes with the 9.5 axle was a third of my reason for swapping out the 1/2-ton 8.5" axle. (1/3 old axle was just plain worn-out, 1/3 changing from open diff to Gov-Loc)

if I'm not mistaken they all have welded backing plates

Backing plates bolt-on.

 

[alpinecrick]

What is different between the SUV vs truck 14 bolt axles if they are both 4wd and 6 lug?
Different spring pad spacing?

 

[df2x4]

I'm completely mystified as to why you'd want to keep the horrible half-ton rear drum brakes. Nobody ever uses the park brake, therefore they never adjust; therefore the brake pedal is always low

I do, therefore they do, therefore it's not. I'll probably convert to discs at some point but it's not a priority.

Personally I've never had any complaints about the brakes on my red truck. My Suburban's pedal rides a little low but nothing major.

 

[nyceguy01]

What is different between the SUV vs truck 14 bolt axles if they are both 4wd and 6 lug?
Different spring pad spacing?

They are the same. My Tahoe has a truck axle it it. All bolted in fine.

The only difference Ive noticed is that if the SUV has a rear sway bar there are mounts for it not on the truck axles.
Nothing different as far as bolting in and working fine though.

 

[alpinecrick]

They are the same. My Tahoe has a truck axle it it. All bolted in fine.

The only difference Ive noticed is that if the SUV has a rear sway bar there are mounts for it not on the truck axles.
Nothing different as far as bolting in and working fine though.

Good to know. Thanks!

 

[98 Nitro]

Actually looking at Rock Auto if you look up the 92/93 years they list both rear drum size AC Delco part numbers l, so 454ss those years probably had the jb6 option, GM just did not manufacture many of those trucks.

 

[Supercharged111]

They are the same. My Tahoe has a truck axle it it. All bolted in fine.

The only difference Ive noticed is that if the SUV has a rear sway bar there are mounts for it not on the truck axles.
Nothing different as far as bolting in and working fine though.

The 8.5 on the SUVs had bigger brakes too.

 

[df2x4]

They are the same. My Tahoe has a truck axle it it. All bolted in fine.

The only difference Ive noticed is that if the SUV has a rear sway bar there are mounts for it not on the truck axles.
Nothing different as far as bolting in and working fine though.

I've heard some people say this and others say that the spring perches are slightly different, nice to hear from someone with first hand experience that the only difference is the sway bar mounts. Thanks for that.