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Author Topic: front end gear swap  (Read 2717 times)

Offline Buddy

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front end gear swap
« on: September 29, 2011, 06:10:54 am »
I have a 85 4x4 chevy shorty and I am pretty sure my front end is a 78 10 bolt. I am gonna swap out my gears in the front this weekend. I already did the back and had no problem there. My only questions is how hard and different will this be from doing the back? What are the steps? I can do the gear swap no problem but i was just wondering about the other steps before i get to the gears?
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Offline Blazin

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Re: front end gear swap
« Reply #1 on: September 29, 2011, 09:56:22 pm »
The hubs, and rotors will need to come off, along with the spindle, and backing plate so the axles can be removed.
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Offline bake74

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Re: front end gear swap
« Reply #2 on: September 30, 2011, 09:35:48 am »
     You can just pull the axles out enough to change the gear set, of course don't forget the driveline u-joint needs to be disconnected.  ;D
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Offline Irish_Alley

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Re: front end gear swap
« Reply #3 on: September 30, 2011, 06:11:21 pm »
like they said its pretty much just like the rear
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Offline captain carnage

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Re: front end gear swap
« Reply #4 on: October 04, 2011, 12:51:16 am »
I thought the 10 bolt never came in until 80 or 81 ??? Be sure because 10 bolt and dana 44 gears wont swap back and forth.
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Offline Irish_Alley

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Re: front end gear swap
« Reply #5 on: October 04, 2011, 04:36:50 am »
na it was used after 77
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Offline scorpion

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Re: front end gear swap
« Reply #6 on: October 04, 2011, 11:34:21 am »
If the rear was a 10bolt, the internals are the same.  I can't remember if they used a 12bolt in the 80's...I'm thinking no but it's been a while since I've toyed in the 80's 1/2 ton stuff.  If the rear was a 12bolt, the pinion sets up different because you won't have a crush-sleeve.

About the only thing you should be cautious of is the axle seals when you re-insert your shafts.  If they are old and you're too aggressive stabbing them back in, you can damage them and you'll have a leak.  Outside of that, you shouldn't have any issues if you felt good about doing the rear.  Just make sure you get some lock-tight on the pinion nut (that goes for front and rear) if you hadn't planned on it.
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