These rear axle assemblies can handle up to 400 hp. ![]() The 8.5- and 8.6-inch 10-bolts have larger ring-and-pinion gears, which makes an important difference. When too much torque or traction is fed through the axle, it will eventually break the axle. There are temporary fixes for the 8.2, such as a carrier girdle, but they don’t provide a reliable and suitably strong solution. You can build these for performance, but if you use sticky tires, the superior traction and consequent strain from the grip will kill it quickly on the drag strip. If you bolt on even a set of drag radials, the axles bend or break, along with having the potential for breaking the gears and carrier themselves. Combined with the small outer bearing races, the 8.2 is limited to 28-spline axles.įor performance vehicles, the 8.2 can typically handle up to 400 hp with street tires, but that’s the limit for this axle. To support high torque and horsepower loads, the axle shafts need a larger diameter and spline count. And unfortunately, there simply isn’t enough room to install bigger axles, so it isn’t a viable option for a high-performance car. If installed on a 400-hp or stronger engine, it often fails. And like the 7.5 axle, it has a fair amount of aftermarket support but the ring gear is too small and therefore it cannot handle much torque. Millions of 8.2-inch axle assemblies were built and many can be found in salvage yards. In the world of dirt track racing, some classes require a GM 7.5-inch 10-bolt and because there is no traction on dirt, this rear works very well. Although gear sets and a locking differential are available, these are only suitable for a mild street engine or possibly a dirt track car. In the final analysis, this axle is simply too small for high-horsepower cars, and so these axles should be avoided for most muscle cars and certainly any racing applications. When sticky traction bars and/or sticky tires were installed, owners found that 400 hp can quickly turn the 7.5 into shrapnel. In street applications, the 7.5 is good for 350 to 400 hp with street tires and lots of wheel spin. There is very little aftermarket support for this axle assembly because it couldn’t handle high-horsepower loads and therefore its performance potential was marginal. It was installed on small trucks and vans up to the 2005 model year. It remained in the 1/2-ton trucks until 1999, when the 8.6 replaced it, using the same basic design.īy far, the most common 10-bolt is the 7.5/7.6, and it has been around since 1975. The 8.2 was phased out starting in 1971 it was replaced by the 8.5-inch “corporate” 10-bolt, and was installed in everything from Camaros and Chevelles until the mid-1980s. This design was used in all GM rear-drive cars from 1964 through 1972. Because these two sizes are so common in pre-1971 (8.2) and 1975– 2002 (7.5) vehicles, the 8.5 is lumped into the same group. The axles are retained by a set of C-clips on the inner end of the axle shaft inside the carrier.Īlthough the 8.5- and 8.6-inch rear axles are more than capable of handling 400 hp (and with some setups a bit more), the 10-bolt name has a bad reputation due to the inherently weaker 7.5 and 8.2 designs. However, the pinion shaft measures 1.438 inches. Inside, the ring gear bolts are the same as the 8.5 corporate unit. The distance between the lower center cover bolt and its adjacent bolts is 3 1/4 inches. The oval-shaped cover measures 8 5/16 inches by 10 9/16 inches. However, the 7.5-inch lugs are smaller, with the outer side running at an angle and the inner side cut with a radius. The case has a similar pair of lugs at the base of the center of the housing, which are located at 5 and 7 o’clock. To positively identify the Chevy 10-bolt in the 7.5/7.625-inch size, you need to measure it because it is very similar to the 8.5-inch housing. ![]() You can copy and paste this link to share: SHARE THIS ARTICLE: Please feel free to share this article on Facebook, in Forums, or with any Clubs you participate in. For a comprehensive guide on this entire subject you can visit this link: LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS BOOK HERE ![]() This Tech Tip is From the Full Book, CHEVY DIFFERENTIALS: HOW TO REBUILD THE 10- AND 12-BOLT. However, the 8.5- and 8.6-inch 10-bolts are extremely stout and effective rear differentials that can transmit up to 1,000 hp to the rear wheels. The smaller 7.5- and 8.2-inch 10-bolt rear axles can’t transmit horsepower loads in excess of 400 hp. But there are several models in the 10-bolt line-up. However, the smaller 10-bolt unfairly gained the reputation as a weak and inadequate rear end for high-performance applications. The rugged, reliable, and efficient Chevy 12-bolt has established itself as the preeminent rear differential for GM muscle cars since its debut in 1965. Chevy 10- and 12-bolt axle assemblies have been standard equipment on GM passenger cars, muscle cars, and trucks for decades.
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