9.5" Differential Pinion Bearing Question

[ASJT3]

1991 V2500 Suburban, 14 bolt/9.5" rear end.

Are the inner and outer pinion bearings the same for the rear differential? Can't tell from alldata...

[gmtech1]

No, they are different sizes. Inner is much bigger.

[ASJT3]

Originally Posted by gmtech1

No, they are different sizes. Inner is much bigger.

Roger that, thanks. Looks like costs of inner/outer bearings/races and the associated tools will be as much as a used rear-end i found for $150. I'm thinking about simply swapping rears, especially since new one came from truck with only 70k miles.

Three more questions:

1) New rear is from 2WD truck. Any difference between the 2WD 3/4 ton 9.5" rear end and the 4WD 3/4 ton 9.5" rear?

2) Is the GM 9.5" rear a standard width, shock mounts locations, i.e., would a rear from a '94 C2500 be basically a drop-in for my '91 V2500?

3) I would like to just swap my diff into the new rear, the 2WD is 3.42 and I'm assuming mine is prob 3.73 or 4.10 since it's 4WD/v2500. Will my diff work with the 3.42 pinion? (i.e., is ratio solely dependent on ring gear and not on pinion?)

Thanks for help,

Alex

[gmtech1]

I don't think there is a difference between 2wd and 4wd rear ends....but I'm not 100%


The '94 should bolt into the '91 without a problem, assuming shock mount/sway bar mounts are the same...


No. don't mix the two. Gear ratio's use different ring and pinion gears, they are also a matched set, swapping as you are suggesting would not be a good thing, the transfer case would REALLY not like that. Be sure the new/used rear end has the same gear ratio.

[ASJT3]

Originally Posted by gmtech1

I don't think there is a difference between 2wd and 4wd rear ends....but I'm not 100%


The '94 should bolt into the '91 without a problem, assuming shock mount/sway bar mounts are the same...


No. don't mix the two. Gear ratio's use different ring and pinion gears, they are also a matched set, swapping as you are suggesting would not be a good thing, the transfer case would REALLY not like that. Be sure the new/used rear end has the same gear ratio.

Gotcha thanks! For what it's worth, thru research I've found a couple of people on other boards saying that the 4WD axles are a bit wider than the 2WD.

Anyway, based on having to match the pinion/ring gears, looks like there may not be much labor saved by going with a new rear end...