The Stupid Axle Questions Thread

[Erik the Awful]

look into late 1970s Cadillac Seville axle shafts, and in fact the entire axle. I have no figures, and I'm way too lazy to look it up. The axle is another 8.5" ring gear, suitably used in a "compact" car having an emissions-choked (Olds) small-block, using the 5" bolt circle and rear disc brakes. Seems to me the first year of production ('75) had rear drums and 4 3/4 bolt circle, but was improved for '76--'79.

Huh. I learn something new every day. I thought all Cadillacs of that era were 5x5.

From Wikipedia: "Early Sevilles produced between April 1975 (a total of 16,355) to the close of the 1976 model year were the first Cadillacs to use the smaller GM wheel bolt pattern (5 lugs with a 4.75 in (121 mm) bolt circle;"

 

[Lazybones]

Thanks for taking the time to write your advice. You have caused me to pause and consider.

 

[Schurkey]

Huh. I learn something new every day. I thought all Cadillacs of that era were 5x5.

From Wikipedia: "Early Sevilles produced between April 1975 (a total of 16,355) to the close of the 1976 model year were the first Cadillacs to use the smaller GM wheel bolt pattern (5 lugs with a 4.75 in (121 mm) bolt circle;"

The Seville--technically a GM K-body--was little more than a heavily-reworked X-body (NOVA--Nova, Omega, Ventura, Apollo) platform. The first model year's ('76) production didn't upgrade the axle/rear brakes, but that was changed for the second model year ('77).

I forgot the Seville was an "early '76" model when introduced in '75, not a '75 model year vehicle.

Mom bought a '77 Concours (Nova) in the fall of '76. I still have it. There's several things I'd like to steal off of a '77 Seville to upgrade the Concours. And yet, I don't ever seem to get around to doing it.

 

[that 89 named pearl]

is there a limited slip, disc break axle that's a limited fuss swap from a 10 bolt, looking to avoid a g80 if at all possible, also does my truck being a 350 sport make any major differences?

 

[Schurkey]

is there a limited slip, disc break axle that's a limited fuss swap from a 10 bolt, looking to avoid a g80 if at all possible, also does my truck being a 350 sport make any major differences?

WHAT VEHICLE?

K1500s easily upgrade both brakes and axle strength when a 9.5" semi-float axle is swapped-in from a 6-lug K2500. Get the correct gear ratio to match the front. Need one conversion U-joint, and four U-bolts. Couldn't be easier. Shouldn't be too expensive.

C1500s need a C2500 9.5" semi-float 6- (or 8-lug) and either take the wheels too, or get aftermarket axle shafts made for 5-lug wheels.

You don't get disc brakes, but you do get the MUCH better 11.x Duo-Servo brakes instead of the crappy 254mm (10") leading-trailing drums.

G80 in the 9.5" version is pretty robust. The 8.5 and smaller axle G80 "Gov-Bombs" are what gave Gov-Lock a bad reputation.

 

[Beason]

My turn,

My sport came with the chrome wheels but no caps. I am trying to find some but not sure how they connect to the wheels. I want to make sure I find everything I need.

See attached pic for example.

 

[Beason]

This pic looks like the lug nut covers are threaded, but my lug nuts are not.

 

[someotherguy]

This pic looks like the lug nut covers are threaded, but my lug nuts are not.

Correct. You need the typical external thread lug nuts that were used on a lot of gmt400's over the years. Dorman # 611-115 https://www.dormanproducts.com/p-11966-611-115.aspx

Or probably be able to score them for next to nothing at any boneyard you might find some of these trucks at, depending on your area - and also plenty of newer generation trucks/vans, too.

Do be aware there are a couple minor variations on the theme and not all are appropriate for your application. Duallies for example use a nut that looks like this but has a different pitch to the seat, and actually I was unaware of this until just recently. Hey; learn something new every other day.

Richard

 

[Beason]

Correct. You need the typical external thread lug nuts that were used on a lot of gmt400's over the years. Dorman # 611-115 https://www.dormanproducts.com/p-11966-611-115.aspx

Or probably be able to score them for next to nothing at any boneyard you might find some of these trucks at, depending on your area - and also plenty of newer generation trucks/vans, too.

Do be aware there are a couple minor variations on the theme and not all are appropriate for your application. Duallies for example use a nut that looks like this but has a different pitch to the seat, and actually I was unaware of this until just recently. Hey; learn something new every other day.

Richard

that is what i was afraid of. the sellers of these caps are very proud of them, and i will also have to spend $40 on lug nuts.

that is not the best news.

thanks for the info though!

 

[someotherguy]

that is what i was afraid of. the sellers of these caps are very proud of them, and i will also have to spend $40 on lug nuts.

that is not the best news.

thanks for the info though!

$2/ea ain't that bad, but can't you find any at the boneyard? Didn't realize at first you're in Houston.. should be easy to catch some. Like I said they kept using them past gmt400 era; there's tons of them out there.

Richard