14 bolt rearend

[1984k30]

I found a 14 bolt with a detroit locker for sale and what to know if it will work in my truck.  Are 3/4 ton and one ton shocks both on the inside of the frame?  The rear end was in a 3/4 ton and mine is a one ton.  I know 1/2 tons where mounted on the outside of the frame.  Does any know why they put mine on the inside. is the frame wider or something?

[fitz]

Spring pads on a 1 ton are in a different location than on a 3/4 ton (1/2 ton and 3/4 are the same).

[1984k30]

so if i buy the rearend and  I modified the spring pad location to mine then it should bolt in?  Are the shocks going to be alright?  I would rather bolt in the whole rearend rather than putting the locker into mine.

[Engineer]

My $.02......

I would swap the Detroit Locker into your current rear axle.

IMHO, I feel it would be less work. You wouldn't even have to take the tires off the truck just to swap the diff. There shouldn't be any pinion depth change, and setting backlash on your R+P is a snap with the FF 14-bolt. And yes, the shocks are outboard mounted on the C/K20 series trucks.

If you swap in a 3/4-ton axle housing you will need to move the spring seats, as well as cut the shock mounts off of the OEM 1-ton axle, and weld them to the 3/4-ton housing.

Also, the 3/4-ton housing maybe lighter (thinner thickess tube) than your 1-ton. I don't know this for sure in your case, but there are some cases where it could hold true.

What about brakes? Are the ones on the new axle useable? Are they the same size as the 1-ton? I doubt they will be bigger, and could very easily be smaller.