What Rearend Size do I have?

[LowSDime97]

i have a 97 s10 with the 4.3, 5pd, vin x, i did find out that i do have the 3.08 gears, just not sure what rearend size i got, instead of going under my truck and measuring it out. i am wanting to go posi also with my truck. no more one-wheel-peels, haha

[T Man]

you wont be measuring anything under your truck unless you pull the diff cover. The commonly referred to numbers are the ring gear size, nothing to do with the casing. That being said, the 8.5 inch rear end has a more circular cover to it, and the axle tubes neck down shorty after the housing, the 7.5/7.625 has a more square diff cover. BTW, posi's suck, go zexell.

[LowSDime97]

ya mine has more of a circular cover to it, and i was wanting to put in a posi carrier in it, i have heard Eaton's and Aurburns are pretty good jus havnt decided which one to get, so u say the Zexel Torsen's are good?

[T Man]

2nd best, compared to a mini spool.

Do a search, there are pics of the 8.5 rearend, and the 7.625 rearend

[87wildside]

7.5/ 7.625 on top, 8.5 on the bottom. *note* these are in a g body but the diff cover looks the same.

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w235/87wildside/S10Planet/71625Vs8.5.jpg

[Mikz86TA]

Good one Eric. I wish we had these many months ago. Seems like the most common question right now. Hehehe

[Blazer69]

anyone have a link to zexell website? i can't find one

[Hammer Head]

Good one Eric. I wish we had these many months ago. Seems like the most common question right now. Hehehe


hahaha.. that's why I uploaded that pic about a year ago, Mike.

[87wildside]

Haha. I put it on my photobucket in the s10planet folder.

[Hammer Head]

good.. that way if I lose it you've still got it.

[LowSDime97]

wow i thought mine would be the 8.5 rear since i looked up specs for the S10 and it was saying that the ZR2's have the 8.5 and it was also saying that some S10's had the 8.5 rear only if it had a 4.3 5spd (which i have) so i was thinking i had the 8.5 rear, so idk what was up with that...guess i have the 7.5, damn i wish i had the 8.5 rear! haha thanks for postin the pic

[LowSDime97]

i know u guys have talked about limited slip, lockers, and spools. but what is the difference between a locker and a limited slip?

[Mikz86TA]

Depends on the year for the 8.5 in the 4.3/5speed combo. Also Ive only seen it on reg cabs and not ext ones. That doesnt mean it couldnt have been a 8.5 on an ext cab, Ive just never seen one stock. A limited slip is more of a transfer of power to a slipping wheel. Normally both do turn the same at straight line and allow for the needed disengaging of turns...since the inside wheel is turning slower than the outter one. But if the one wheel starts to slip, then it gets the more power transfer to allow it to try to regain traction. Kinda backwards IMO. On my TA its not too bad and works great. But on a truck IMO with such low weight on the rear, it would suck. A spool simply goen inside the OEM open carrier and replaces the 4 gears in there. It will spline to the axles and tie them together as one with the ring/carrier. This is great for just going in a straight line, but will cause the tires to spin the same speed. Tire wear, possible loss of traction in corners, the (bark,bark,bark) on turns and overall abuse on the componets makes it a poor choice other than straight drag racing...by way of towing it to the track. A locker is similar to a LSlip in that it locks the wheels in a straight line evenly, but allows for a release on turns. The benefit is its inclined to transmit full power to both wheels in most all conditions. The Gov-Loc prides itself by unlocking the slipping wheel and planting the load n the one with grip...tha way it should be. Other lockers are similar. Torsen Zexel is the best and strongest oveall design. Ive also heard good things about the Moroso BruteStrenght units. But those arent made for a 7.5 diff last time I checked.

[LowSDime97]

Depends on the year for the 8.5 in the 4.3/5speed combo. Also Ive only seen it on reg cabs and not ext ones. That doesnt mean it couldnt have been a 8.5 on an ext cab, Ive just never seen one stock. A limited slip is more of a transfer of power to a slipping wheel. Normally both do turn the same at straight line and allow for the needed disengaging of turns...since the inside wheel is turning slower than the outter one. But if the one wheel starts to slip, then it gets the more power transfer to allow it to try to regain traction. Kinda backwards IMO. On my TA its not too bad and works great. But on a truck IMO with such low weight on the rear, it would suck. A spool simply goen inside the OEM open carrier and replaces the 4 gears in there. It will spline to the axles and tie them together as one with the ring/carrier. This is great for just going in a straight line, but will cause the tires to spin the same speed. Tire wear, possible loss of traction in corners, the (bark,bark,bark) on turns and overall abuse on the componets makes it a poor choice other than straight drag racing...by way of towing it to the track. A locker is similar to a LSlip in that it locks the wheels in a straight line evenly, but allows for a release on turns. The benefit is its inclined to transmit full power to both wheels in most all conditions. The Gov-Loc prides itself by unlocking the slipping wheel and planting the load n the one with grip...tha way it should be. Other lockers are similar. Torsen Zexel is the best and strongest oveall design. Ive also heard good things about the Moroso BruteStrenght units. But those arent made for a 7.5 diff last time I checked.


so would a zexel torsen locker be the way to go for a posi carrier?

[Mikz86TA]

IMO yes

[Hammer Head]

Yep, love mine.

[T Man]

Should have one of my own in a couple of weeks

[Blazer69]

where to get a zexel torsion from? ebay?

[LowSDime97]

where to get a zexel torsion from? ebay?

ya i tired searching on Ebay and had no luck finding one, guess its a hit or miss on that maybe?

[Hammer Head]

Seems to be. I've been lookin on Ebay for them as well just to see if they're there.. nothing. Usually a guy w/ the name Firehawkjeff or something like that has them for sale & at a decent price.

[Hammer Head]

The earliest year F body a zexel came in was in 1997 & started in the GTs.

[T Man]

GT F bodies? Youre better than that Hhead

[Mikz86TA]

You know there was a Firebird GT that was a kit from GMPP. It had ZR1 wheels, those ground effects the 4th gens had, the performace axle and exhaust on the 3800 and a decal kit. Classic Industries still sells the decal kit. Also in 1995 and 96 I believe was the only years, was a package termed TransAm GT. It was a TA that came with cloth, no extras and the basic lower spoiler instead of the higher one. Actually not many made. Im not sure if thats what Jason was referring to.....but this will be his excuse now I guess..hahahahaha LOL!

[Mikz86TA]

Just keep looking. They pop up at least once a month.

[Hammer Head]

I was refering to the Firebird GT.. not an excuse. haha

[Hammer Head]

That's through a few hours of searching.. came in the Firebird GT in '97. Then they were more or less standard issue in '98-up LS1 F bodies.

[zq8sonomaguy]

Here is a 8.5 rearend that is currently on ebay. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/POSI-REAR-END-S10-S-10-CHEVY-TRUCK-BLAZER-XTREME-SONOMA_W0QQitemZ170144085561QQihZ007QQcategoryZ337 31QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Also you can try the s10 wearhouse they usually have several rearends on ebay they may have something http://search.stores.ebay.com/CHEVY-S10-TRUCK-BLAZER-PARTS-S-10_s10_W0QQsaselZ84492665QQsofpZ0

[Mikz86TA]

Hahaha 8.5/3.08s /G80 Thats my rear. Dammit I need some gearing.

[Blazer69]

i need some traction...lol