Someone has offered me 69 Camaro 12 Bolt differential. He says axles show "some wear" where they ride on bearing inner races. Man says that a replacement bearing can be installed that the axle would ride in a different area of its length....Does anyone know about this.....BTW I still need a 12 Bolt for my COPO clone located in Aiken,S.C. thanks, Chuck S

The aftermarket does sell a bearing extension kit. It slides (presses) in place of the old removed axle bearing.

A really good machine shop will cut out the old race, say 0.005-.020 inch, weld it up, then turn it back down to size as original, then hard chrome the shaft. Or if the pits in the inner race aren't too bad, just have the shaft hard chrome plated and centerless ground to size.

Whatever you do, paint a 1/8-3/16 inch wide white stripe the length of the axle to check its straightness later in its life.

These "axle saver" bearings are available at almost any auto parts store. Be carefull when you install them. If you don't get the axle in them just right they will leak. I recommend getting new axles. I don't care for these bearings.

I DEFINATELY second that.

If your going to buy new axles, switching to the big bearing ends is the preferred upgrade for 12 bolts.

This shows the whole process!

http://home.earthlink.net/~ccrtracing2/chevrolet_12_bolt.htm

Nice photos of the rear axle. I can't believe they didn't beef up the spring perches while they were in there!
David

No kidding! That would be the first thing I would do!

Oh baby, check out that axle twist. I wish my motor could do that!