heavy duty or light duty truck?

[matuva]

Howdy all,

I'm willing too to upgrade to rear disc brakes.

There's a very interesting thread at the place the moment concerning that conversion, but as I don't want to hijack it, I start mine here---

I found on fleabay a a kit wich might be a good one, look for ebay item # 180302258362

Though, the question is : is a 1996 K1500 (Silverado Z71) like mine a light duty or heavy duty truck?

I have the 14 bolts rear end, but can't tell if it is a light or heavy duty, nor if I get the full floating or semi floating rear axle, as I don't even understand what that means and how I can recognize one from the other.

Also, how can I see I get the 10" drums or the 11" ones? I can measure them, but from where to where?

thanks for help

 

[DunesRunner08]

Well being that its an OBS... I can only guess.... the 1500HD didn't come out till 04 I believe...maybe 05.... so if you have a 1500 its most likely a Light Duty..... as for the other stuff, you need an expert on the OBS trucks to answer that

 

[BigMike]

Great reading to determine if you have semi-floating or full-floating axles
Click here

As for your rear drums, check with TireRack, but I am almost positive they are 11" drums. And it is also classified as a light duty pickup.

 

[trouttrooper]

when it comes to the terms "light" and "heavy" duty I'd just plain ignore them. People have mixed them up so much that they really don't mean anything anymore. Gotta look at specific number and specs of items.

You've got a semi-floating axle. All GM corporate 9.5 ring 14 bolts were semi-floating. Easy to tell, pull hubcap off and see if the center part sticks out away from the rim (full float) or is basically flush with the rim (semi-float).

full float = axle itself doesn't bear the weight of the pickup. In the end a stronger setup, usually seen only on heavy 3/4 and 1 tons.
semi float = axle takes some of the weight of the pickup. Plenty strong for a 1/2 ton unless you start putting huge oversized tires and abuse the crap out of it on 4x4 trails.

In looking at the ebay site it won't work for you. It says only for GM corporate 10 bolt axles.

Just making sure, you are counting the number of bolts on the pumpkin correct? And you got 14. Makes sense, I believe the Z71 package gave the axle upgrade.

So in the end, you have the "heavier duty" version axle that was offered for 1500's back then, but not really a "heavy duty" pickup.

 

[Turbine Doc]

I'd call it heavy half, but still a LD truck, yours as a K1500 should be a 14 bolt semi-floater you should be able to search over there and see the post I wrote up when I added the EGR disc brake kit to mine,

I lost my pw when I left there and really have lost interest there so I haven't requested a replacement pw, so I can't find/post the link directly for you, also have a look for the locker post I added to it IIRC some pics along with that as well.

FWIW out of curiosity why do ya'll still post there PM me why, as I'm asking out of curiosity and not so much to trash talk another site in a public post, is there something lacking here that keeps you going back there?

Al your semi floater axle is retained in the tube my means of a C clip, lose the C or snap the axle and axle comes out, a full float is retained by the hub you can snap the axle it will quit driving but won't come out until you remove the hub, also FF generally has the bigger ring gear of the 2.

 

[mfgguru]

FWIW out of curiosity why do ya'll still post there PM me why, as I'm asking out of curiosity and not so much to trash talk another site in a public post, is there something lacking here that keeps you going back there?QUOTE]


Nope! Made a clean break when this site started. Keep up the good work. As time goes on, we will all continue to build the forum content. For as young as it is, I think it is great.

 

[Fysh Guide]

FWIW out of curiosity why do ya'll still post there PM me why, as I'm asking out of curiosity and not so much to trash talk another site in a public post, is there something lacking here that keeps you going back there?

To put it simply, the expertise seems to here, but there is still a lot of valuable info there, although that info probably came from the expertise that is now here. If I can research what I need to know, rather than posting a question that has already been answered, it's a lot easier on everyone. Eg:" Hi this is my first post here and I just inherited my uncle's diesel pickup and it keeps stalling for no reason and my friends dads' ex-cousin-in-law who owns a 97 powerstrock says it needs a new IP that he can put in for $6500 cash but they are junk because they are a converted 350 gasser block and I should dump it and get a Ford......"
I have no doubt that this site will develop, but six months really isn't enough time...
Make no mistake though, this is where I look first and foremost, and you (Turbine Doc) and others are no small part of why I do. We all owe you a thanks:thumbsup:.

 

[jbsaxman]

To put it simply, the expertise seems to here, but there is still a lot of valuable info there, although that info probably came from the expertise that is now here. If I can research what I need to know, rather than posting a question that has already been answered, it's a lot easier on everyone. Eg:" Hi this is my first post here and I just inherited my uncle's diesel pickup and it keeps stalling for no reason and my friends dads' ex-cousin-in-law who owns a 97 powerstrock says it needs a new IP that he can put in for $6500 cash but they are junk because they are a converted 350 gasser block and I should dump it and get a Ford......"
I have no doubt that this site will develop, but six months really isn't enough time...
Make no mistake though, this is where I look first and foremost, and you (Turbine Doc) and others are no small part of why I do. We all owe you a thanks:thumbsup:.

x2

 

[matuva]

I saw several conversion kit.
If you want to keep your E-brakes, you will have to use rear calipers from a caddy Eldorado
Some say you have to use 76-78 rear ones, others use 79-85 rear calipers.

Any of you know if the 76-78 pattern interchange with the 79-85 ones?

I think probably not, but in that case, what's the difference? rotor thickness? kit brackets?

 

[Pillow]

I have the EGR kit on the rear of the Burb. IRRC the calipers are from an El Camino.

IMHO the conversion was not worth the effort/$.

Call up EGR and get the SS line kit and the top of the line front pads. Then ensure the rear drums are in tip top condition. That is all you need.

That being said I like the rear discs. But the difference in braking is minimal. Keep your $.

 

[JMJNet]

Here is the picture to identify the axle:

http://www.peytonperformance.com/rodney/powertrax.JPG

Unfortunately, it does not have the 14 bolt 10.5 inch axle.

 

[jmiller]

FWIW out of curiosity why do ya'll still post there PM me why, as I'm asking out of curiosity and not so much to trash talk another site in a public post, is there something lacking here that keeps you going back there?

PM sent