C1500 upgrading to 14 bolt axle with NBS wheels

[Big D]

Im looking into grabbing a 14 Bolt rear axle from the junk yard, not only as to upgrade the rear end but Im also switching to new body style 6 lug rims

should I grab an axle off a c2500 or a K2500 there seems to be sooo many variables.

 

[phule]

Yes and no. Definitely no Z71 3/4 tons (at least in GMT400 series), but there are of course the C2500LD 2WD's with the 6 lug 9.5" 14 bolt.

So the problem is there are two different widths of 6 lug 9.5" 14 bolt, the narrower one from the C2500LD which is what you would want to swap into a 2WD truck, or the wider one from a Z71 optioned with the 14 bolt...which would suck for a 2WD, too wide.

I forget the measurements off the top of my head but do some searching, or simply go measure the width of your existing rear from wheel mounting surface to wheel mounting surface, then go measure the seller's, and you'll know. It's like a 3~4" difference between 2WD and 4WD.

But yeah, main point is, seller has NFI what he's talking about so the best bet is to measure the thing yourself so you know what it really is. My guess will be it's from a Z71 with the F44 suspension package meaning it came with the 9.5", this is still a K1500, not a 3/4 ton.

Richard

If you plan on lifting it i would go with the k1500 because it would be wider. If your going to stay stock or lower it go with one out of a c2500ld

 

[Big D]

its already lifted 7.5" with 35's

a k1500 has a 14 bolt? I thought it was a 10 bolt.

 

[someotherguy]

7200lb GVWR 2500's ("light duty" 3/4 ton) is where you'll find the 14 bolt 9.5" 6 lug, in both 2WD and 4WD varieties; and *some* K1500's were optioned with it, too. Not very common though. F44 package. Watch out...I had one as a parts truck that the SOB had 3.42's in it. Bleah...especially with big tires.

Richard

 

[Big D]

the gears are gonna get yanked for a locker immediately.

if i have done my research correctly it would be best to get a axle off a 4x4 because its wider then the 2wd axles?

 

[someotherguy]

If wider is what you want, yes.

Richard

 

[Big D]

do you know roughly how much wider it is as opposed to 2wd?


will the leaf packs off a 3/4 ton bolt right up to my 1/2 ton?

 

[skylark]

do you know roughly how much wider it is as opposed to 2wd? 3" total


will the leaf packs off a 3/4 ton bolt right up to my 1/2 ton? Yeppers

 

[Big D]

Awesome! thanks!

Only questions I have left is what to do to the drive shaft? Shorten and Balance? does it take a different U-joint?

 

[skylark]

Conversion u joint. I don't recall the number but I walk into my local napa and tell them what I want and it has always been correct.