front axles

[rroeder96]

Ok, here's the deal i'm looking to change my front and rear axles out, and im having trouble deciding on what to put in. I do tow things with my truck and i like to go off road. I own a 85 k10 4x4 305v8 and th350 turbo trans. The axle tag says 3.08 i was told with the size of my tires its not a good combo i run 35x12.5x15. My buddy told me I should go with 3.73 and just change out the insides of the axle. Here is my question what would be a good combo to go with on a budget, to the point im looking for the best bang for my buck so to speak. If i can go to a junk yard what should i look for vehicle wise to find the right one or is there a way to dig deep and really know what im getting so i dont get the same thing or worse. What would be the spline count for 3.73 or just any info on how to tell whats what.....thanks for the help...

[Blazin]

Personally! Go big or go home! I would put a 14 bolt in back, and a Dana 60 up front. Most common gears for them is 4:10, but 4:56 are not unheard of. I have even seen some early 70 models with 4:88s. I have run 35's with 3:08, 3:42, 3:73, and 4:10s. There isn't a whole lot of difference between 3;08s and 3:73s once your tires are bigger, and your off road. I would look for a pair of axles out of a K30. At the minimum a 14 bolt rear, and a Dana 44 out of a K20.

[Irish_Alley]

I wouldn’t worry about it like blaz said you go big or go home I run 38s with 4.10 I tow with it and mud not talking about off road talking about mudding in holes 44 get stuck in. with my tans sm465 and my ratio 4.10 if your just talking about going threw a field your good but if you go mudding yeah I can see the step up to a higher ratio at least a 4.10 that will get you back to the power of stock tires

[Grim 82]

What you would be swapping is the ring and pinion gears. The tooth count in a 10 bolt axle is:
3.08 = 40,13
3.42 = 41,12
3.73 = 41,11

You could easily drop a grand into parts and labor to regear your axles, so the budget move would be to find different ones in the junkyard. I think alot of the suburbans had lower (higher numerically) gearing in them. If you are going to the trouble though, like Blazin & Irish said, go big. Just remember that if you go with a 14 bolt/Dana 60 combo you will need 8-lug wheels also.

[rroeder96]

i figured it would be 8 lug which was ok with me when i boght the k10 i had no thoughts of showing i wanted to drive it like a 4wd was meant to. thanks for all the help at least now i know what im looking for......