Rear axle, Where do you measure it?

[Malafor]

So about a year ago my G80 gave up on me (most likely from the previous owner, just dident notice it while driving in snow).
It proved that it was cheaper to just change the entire rear axle then having the G80 fixed or replaced, So my father found a
good rear axle from a junk yard while I was out of town and that solved my problems.

But much later I found a small problem, while changing from my winter tires to summer tires I noticed the bolts on the rear axles were much longer then the old one
so I started thinking maybe the axle I got was from a TB EXT? Problem is I have no idea what donor car it came from and my father does not remember.

Is there any way I can measure it myself to see if its a 8.6" or a 8" rear axle I got?

Tried searching but only find people referring to the glove box, which wont help me in my situation.

[DirtyBacon04]

Thin cover = 8"
Thick cover = 8.6"

[DirtyBacon04]

or measure the pinion gear. And what bolts are you referring to that are longer?

[Malafor]

or measure the pinion gear. And what bolts are you referring to that are longer?

The bolts that the wheel/nuts goes on are longer, Way to long for my wheel nut lockers to go on which went on perfectly before.

And thanks, Gonna check how thick the cover is.

[The Roadie]

Boy, I never heard of the studs being longer on an EXT, but then I'd never use a locking lug nut. Just not safe when you're offroading.

There is probably a difference in the cast housing for the diff, but I don't know what it might be. The axles have 30 splines on the 8.6", and 28 for the 8.0", but that's of little help.

If you REALLY need a short stud to lock your rims on, just grind one down or press in a new one. But consider not using the locks, is my best advice. Assuming you go in harms way and might need to change a tire on the trail.

[fishsticks]

The housing length (from cover surface to pinion) is a little over an inch longer on the 8.6". The gusseting between the chunk and the tubes is also significantly larger.

[Malafor]

Boy, I never heard of the studs being longer on an EXT, but then I'd never use a locking lug nut. Just not safe when you're offroading.

There is probably a difference in the cast housing for the diff, but I don't know what it might be. The axles have 30 splines on the 8.6", and 28 for the 8.0", but that's of little help.

If you REALLY need a short stud to lock your rims on, just grind one down or press in a new one. But consider not using the locks, is my best advice. Assuming you go in harms way and might need to change a tire on the trail.

I hate the locking nuts but rims get stolen daily around here so its a must if you got something that costs more then 50$ and park on the wrong street.
When they don't steal your wheels they drill a hole in your gas tank instead.

The housing length (from cover surface to pinion) is a little over an inch longer on the 8.6". The gusseting between the chunk and the tubes is also significantly larger.

I guess there's no way to tell without opening the damn thing.

[The Roadie]

I guess there's no way to tell without opening the damn thing.

You could take some good pictures and we'll compare it to ours. A couple of data points and I bet we can tell. But unless you're going to replace something inside, like the gears or the locker, it doesn't matter what axle you have in there. It won't shorten your studs. Only pressing in new ones or grinding yours off will accomplish that.

[Malafor]

You could take some good pictures and we'll compare it to ours. A couple of data points and I bet we can tell. But unless you're going to replace something inside, like the gears or the locker, it doesn't matter what axle you have in there. It won't shorten your studs. Only pressing in new ones or grinding yours off will accomplish that.

I'll see about some photos when it stops raining. (Been raining for a week nonstop )

As for the studs they are only a minor problem.
Was mostly curious if I by chance had gotten a 8.6" axle and if so I would most definitely upgrade to a better locker.

Most likely i'm not that lucky...

[Rob93]

If the axle still has brakes, aren't the rotors on the 8.6 a bit larger?

[The Roadie]

Only on the fronts of the vehicles that take the 8.6" rears.

When we axle-upgrade people enter the junkyards in a few years aren't we going to screw them up?

[fishsticks]

Only on the fronts of the vehicles that take the 8.6" rears.

When we axle-upgrade people enter the junkyards in a few years aren't we going to screw them up?

Junk yard? I'm just going to keep cutting shit off and welding new shit onto mine forever.


I had some pics of my old (8") and new (8.6") axles on a pallet. Can't find them now.