Ok guys I need a dumb question answered, cuz I know just about enough on rear axles to make me dangerous.
I have a couple of non posi 10 bolt rear ends. I plan on rebuilding the one that came wiht the car. I would like to swap out the axles simply because the parts rearend has better lug nut studs on them.
I plan on rebuilding the rear end meaning new bearings, seals, pinion seal and I was not gonna change out the cups unless they were bad.


Is there any problem switching out the axles this way and not changing cups? (wear patterns or something?)

Is there a left and right axle?

there is a number on the ring gear that tell s you how many teeth it has, right?

thanks in advance

If the axles are the same length then you should use the axles with the least amount of wear on them. The bearings in these rear ends run directly on the axles, and as the bearings wear, so do the axles. Use the ones that are best, don't worry about the studs. As for right and left, most Chevy axles are the same length on either side and it doesn't matter which side they go in. The studs can be replaced easily. You should also replace the bearings and seals at this time.

Any time you change a bearing you must rerplace the cup too. Never run a new bearing on a used cup.

Count the teeth on the ring gear and the pinion gear and divide the ring gear by the pinion gear. 41/12=3.42

Thanks for the input.

Next question: I went to the parts store and bought a rebuilt kit. My axles are 8.2 The kit was for 8.5 and they aare replacement bearings. Does this sound right???? will the 8.5 parts interchange with the 8.2?

Thanks

Are you talking about the axle bearings or the pinion and differential bearings? The 7.5, 8.2, 8.5 and 12 bolt all use the same axle bearings, but the pinion and differential bearings are different. If they gave you a kit for the 8.5 then the pinion bearings, crush spacer, pinion nut and pinion seal are not going to work.

Thanks Gear head! That was the answer to the question I was looking for.