Will an escalade EXT rear axle bolt up to a tahoe?

[DK2700]

I have a 2013 tahoe and the rear axle went out. destroyed. almost irreparable, fortunately there's someone near me parting out an escalade ext roller, and I can get a good deal on this rear axle, already regeared with what I want

Will an 07-14 escalade EXT rear axle bolt right up to my tahoe? it doesn't appear to be air suspension I can see shocks and springs.

 

[B-train]

It should be the same. The EXT uses a suburban frame, so the shock mounts, etc are the same as a tahoe. Just make sure your front and rear gears are the same ratio.

 

[swathdiver]

I have a 2013 tahoe and the rear axle went out. destroyed. almost irreparable, fortunately there's someone near me parting out an escalade ext roller, and I can get a good deal on this rear axle, already regeared with what I want

Will an 07-14 escalade EXT rear axle bolt right up to my tahoe? it doesn't appear to be air suspension I can see shocks and springs.View attachment 446656

The axle in the photo looks like the same 8.6" under your truck. It will have 3.42 gears. What gears does your Tahoe have?

The axle will physically bolt up with no modification. Same 1355 yoke. Use your control arms. Same for the brakes and panhard bar. Remember to unscrew your ABS sensors before dropping the axle so you don't break the wires inside the harness/cable. Since they are installed with loctite, I use a soldering iron to heat up the screw head before unscrewing them.

 

[DK2700]

The axle in the photo looks like the same 8.6" under your truck. It will have 3.42 gears. What gears does your Tahoe have?

The axle will physically bolt up with no modification. Same 1355 yoke. Use your control arms. Same for the brakes and panhard bar. Remember to unscrew your ABS sensors before dropping the axle so you don't break the wires inside the harness/cable. Since they are installed with loctite, I use a soldering iron to heat up the screw head before unscrewing them.

it's rebuilt with 4.10s. I'm rebuilding my front diff and putting 4.10s in aswell.

 

[rdezs]

A lot of the 2013 and 2014 escalades have the GM corporate limited slip 9.5 inch, 3.42 ratio rear differential, identified by its 14 bolt cover. The 8.5 in 10 bolt cover rear axles are throwaways and not known for lasting. Most people upgrade to the 9.5 inch if they plan on pulling a trailer.

 

[petethepug]

Welcome from Tahoe-Yukon land

‘13 EXT had the GU6 3.42 and 8.6 Ring Gear (10 bolt cover) for both 2WD & AWD. If he still has the body, the glove box door sticker will verify the GU6.

 

[DK2700]

Welcome from Tahoe-Yukon land

‘13 EXT had the GU6 3.42 and 8.6 Ring Gear (10 bolt cover) for both 2WD & AWD. If he still has the body, the glove box door sticker will verify the GU6.

it's rebuilt with 4.10s

 

[rdezs]

The GU6 refers to the 3.42 ratio. I'm surprised they put the 8.6 in an Escalade EXT, unless it did not have the trailer tow package?

A 4.10 ratio is probably a good idea on the 8.6, less stress on it. If I already had my front rebuilt at a 4.10, I probably go ahead and go for it. Otherwise I'd shop for the 14 bolt.

 

[swathdiver]

The 8.5 in 10 bolt cover rear axles are throwaways and not known for lasting.

Mine has over 200K on it and we towed and drag raced and played in the mud with it for years.

@petethepug GM put the 14-bolt axle under the RWD trucks with the 6.2 or the few 4x4s with 6.2s. They will have RPO AXN in addition to the usual GU6 and G80.

@DK2700 Keep us posted on your swap and if you take pictures, we'd love to see them of your work.

 

[rdezs]

200k.... You probably maintained it regularly. Most people go way too long without even thinking about it. The 9.5 has much larger bearings, and can take a lot more abuse. It's not unusual for them to outlive the vehicle without ever having been maintained.

 

[rdezs]

AXN, G80, GU6.... Very common on the AWD 2010 to 2014 Escalades with the trailer towing package..... And all bet 90% of those never hook onto a trailer

 

[swathdiver]

200k.... You probably maintained it regularly. Most people go way too long without even thinking about it. The 9.5 has much larger bearings, and can take a lot more abuse. It's not unusual for them to outlive the vehicle without ever having been maintained.

Yes we did. Right, the 9.5" has a capacity of 1,100 foot pounds of torque more than the 8.6". 3,829 vs 4,993.

AXN, G80, GU6.... Very common on the AWD 2010 to 2014 Escalades with the trailer towing package..... And all bet 90% of those never hook onto a trailer

Never seen that combination. Do you have a pic of an RPO like that? I've never seen an AWD Denali or Escalade with the AXN, yet, from the factory.

 

[rdezs]

I've got one. I'll post up a pic this evening

 

[rdezs]

Ah, I found the picture of my label in the glove box a couple weeks ago. 2014 Escalade

 

[swathdiver]

Ah, I found the picture of my label in the glove box a couple weeks ago. 2014 Escalade

View attachment 447318

Thank you for that, I stand corrected! @petethepug

Learned something new today!

 

[rdezs]

Is about 6 weeks ago when doing the brakes I noticed the axle had about three times the end play that it should. Picked up a new set of Spicer axles off RockAuto at $89 a piece. Koyo bearings are OEM, picked up a set of those and axle seals. The axles had zero wear in the contact area with the bearing. But the seal did cut a little groove in. The surprise was the c clip that retains the axle in. That's what wore, causing the excess end play. Went ahead and put the new axles and bearings in with new c clips. Nice and tight, right at the low end of tolerance.

The wear groove from the seal

You can actually see without a micrometer the obvious wear, although most of it was on the thickness

All buttoned up with the new axles

LOL and this is what I do for work now. 105,500 lb chip truck everyday to the paper mill

 

[rdezs]

I'm pretty sure the issue with the c-clip has to do with the OEM 22 inch wheels. I've heard there harder on the front differential, apparently more lateral force on turning? If that's true, I assume that's what did it to the rear axle.

 

[swathdiver]

Is about 6 weeks ago when doing the brakes I noticed the axle had about three times the end play that it should. Picked up a new set of Spicer axles off RockAuto at $89 a piece. Koyo bearings are OEM, picked up a set of those and axle seals. The axles had zero wear in the contact area with the bearing. But the seal did cut a little groove in. The surprise was the c clip that retains the axle in. That's what wore, causing the excess end play. Went ahead and put the new axles and bearings in with new c clips. Nice and tight, right at the low end of tolerance.

The wear groove from the seal

View attachment 447321

You can actually see without a micrometer the obvious wear, although most of it was on the thickness
View attachment 447322

All buttoned up with the new axles
View attachment 447323

LOL and this is what I do for work now. 105,500 lb chip truck everyday to the paper mill
View attachment 447324

I have two 9.5" axles out of Cadillacs, one of them under 100K and the other with 141K. Both have axle shafts that look similar to yours. I figure some scotchbrite would clean them up enough for service. I kept them for spares, bought new GM axles from Rock Auto. Both axles also had Koyo and Timken bearings and all were in great shape though we replaced them anyway.

We used AAM and Richmond Gear kits which had Koyo bearings. So now all three of my fleet have the AXN, the pickups came with them from the factory.

My 2012 has been lifted since 2013 and runs 35" tires that weigh 81.5lbs each and we've not had a front or rear axle issue yet.

 

[rdezs]

Yeah, I'm hanging on to the axles. It's hard to actually feel the groove with a fingernail. I have a large metal lathe, I was going to polish them up with some 2500 grit and hang on to them for spares. You end up with excess end play.... A quick swap of the c-clips will do the trick

 

[rdezs]

AAM all the way. They build them for GM.