2013 Tahoe gear swap 3.08-4.10 questions

[BlackHoe13]

My 13 Tahoe has the 3.08 (gu4) gearing. It sucks. I want to go 4.10’s as I do some mild towing from time to time. I have a couple questions.
1. Will a gt5 front diff from say 08-09 Silverado interchange?
2. What carrier will I have to use for the rear diff to swap those gears to 4.10? Would I need a 3.42 up carrier or just use an aftermarket?

 

[swathdiver]

My 13 Tahoe has the 3.08 (gu4) gearing. It sucks. I want to go 4.10’s as I do some mild towing from time to time. I have a couple questions.
1. Will a gt5 front diff from say 08-09 Silverado interchange?
2. What carrier will I have to use for the rear diff to swap those gears to 4.10? Would I need a 3.42 up carrier or just use an aftermarket?

1. Yes
2. Yes, the 3.42 carrier for best strength. I've heard about an adapter for the small carrier but never really looked into it.

Consider also the 14-bolt 9.5" semi floater. It is much stronger than the 8.6 and can often be found for cheap. Check LKQ Online. The popular vehicles they are found under are RWD Yukon Denalis and Escalades and all have 3.42 gears. Bolts right up, don't even need to shorten the driveshaft or even change the u-joints, still a 1355.

 

[bigdog9191999]

1. Yes
2. Yes, the 3.42 carrier for best strength. I've heard about an adapter for the small carrier but never really looked into it.

Consider also the 14-bolt 9.5" semi floater. It is much stronger than the 8.6 and can often be found for cheap. Check LKQ Online. The popular vehicles they are found under are RWD Yukon Denalis and Escalades and all have 3.42 gears. Bolts right up, don't even need to shorten the driveshaft or even change the u-joints, still a 1355.

i may be wrong but i thought the 14b only came under the 2500 series and 1500 was all a 10bolt.

separately it may be a year range thing (07+), but denali wasnt specific to 3.42 our 03 has factory 3.73

 

[Dantheman1540]

The 14bolt he's referring to is a Semi floating 9.5" ring gear version, basically, an intermediate axle that's much stronger than the standard 8.6" but not as beefy as the 10.5 and 11.5" full floating 8 lug monsters. They only came in SUVs with 6.2s and 2wd.

 

[BlackHoe13]

1. Yes
2. Yes, the 3.42 carrier for best strength. I've heard about an adapter for the small carrier but never really looked into it.

Consider also the 14-bolt 9.5" semi floater. It is much stronger than the 8.6 and can often be found for cheap. Check LKQ Online. The popular vehicles they are found under are RWD Yukon Denalis and Escalades and all have 3.42 gears. Bolts right up, don't even need to shorten the driveshaft or even change the u-joints, still a 1355.

Thank you bro!

 

[BlackHoe13]

1. Yes
2. Yes, the 3.42 carrier for best strength. I've heard about an adapter for the small carrier but never really looked into it.

Consider also the 14-bolt 9.5" semi floater. It is much stronger than the 8.6 and can often be found for cheap. Check LKQ Online. The popular vehicles they are found under are RWD Yukon Denalis and Escalades and all have 3.42 gears. Bolts right up, don't even need to shorten the driveshaft or even change the u-joints, still a 1355.

What year Denali can I get one out of? 07-13 or will older models work? Thanks!

 

[swathdiver]

What year Denali can I get one out of? 07-13 or will older models work? Thanks!

Well, if memory serves, all 2007 Yukon and Yukon XL Denalis were AWD, so the axle didn't appear until 2008 and was used until 2014. Mine came from a RWD Escalade. This also applies to Escalade ESV and Yukon XL Denali with RWD.

 

[gooffeyguy]

Remind me again what a semi-floating and full-floating axle is, or what the differences are?

Are they the same as a solid axle and independent axle? If so, I'm just not used to hearing them called semi or full floaters

 

[Geotrash]

Well, if memory serves, all 2007 Yukon and Yukon XL Denalis were AWD, so the axle didn't appear until 2008 and was used until 2014. Mine came from a RWD Escalade. This also applies to Escalade ESV and Yukon XL Denali with RWD.

Your memory serves just fine, James! And, they're fairly easy to find on car-part.com. I'm looking at installing on in our tow rig to forestall any future diff problems from toning heavy.

 

[Dantheman1540]

Remind me again what a semi-floating and full-floating axle is, or what the differences are?

Are they the same as a solid axle and independent axle? If so, I'm just not used to hearing them called semi or full floaters

This explains it better than I can, but the main point is full floaters are considered stronger.