3rd Gen Silverado HD rear axles differences 2500/3500

[Oshkosh-P]

Hello,

right now there is a rare opportunity here in Germany to a GMC 2500, the by far rarest of the HD trucks. Now i know the IFS can be upgraded quite a bit even here street legal and as far as i know it only differs in terms of suspension stiffness between 2500 to 3500.

But how about the rear axle? For a long time i always thought, that between the SRW's there is no difference between 250/350 or 2500/3500 respectivly and it only comes down to the spring package. But now i know that is actually wrong in case of the for example the Ford's where the actual axle model even between the SRW#s is different between the F250 and F350.

How is it with the 3rd gen GM HD's?

 

[Kingsize24]

It's the same from my understanding. 10.5 vs 11.5 ring gear. I'm sure there are some that know way more than me about the GM product rear, but even then, the 10.5 is no slouch.

 

[Gravelette]

Should be adequate for the rated payload of a 2500.

 

[Oshkosh-P]

So the same axle but still different sized diff? Sometimes i wonder if its really this much cheaper this way. But ok, i guess then its the same with all 3 trucks.

 

[tacollie]

The motor matters. The diesel trucks should have the 11.5" axle in the 2500. Gas should be 10.5". All single wheel 3500s are 11.5".

 

[Oshkosh-P]

Oh interesting, because with the Ford you only get the stronger rear axle with the F-350, not matter the engine

 

[Kingsize24]

Looking into it more, it seems SRW and DRW 3500, both gas and diesel get the 11.5

The 2500 gets 10.5 if gas, 2x4 and 4x4 and diesel gets 11.5 in both.

Hope that makes sense.

 

[tacollie]

Oh interesting, because with the Ford you only get the stronger rear axle with the F-350, not matter the engine

That's not entirely correct. At least for a 2011 to 2016 all SRW F250 and F350s had a Sterling 10.5. RAM and GM had bigger rear axles during this period.

2017-2022 the M275 was standard on the diesel F250/F350 and gas F350. A gas F250 could be ordered with it but most had the Sterling 10.5.

The larger rear axles are usually related to diesel torque numbers and towing not payload.

 

[Oshkosh-P]

So wait, the GM 2500's hat a bigger rear axle, but the same ring size as Ford? Or is there a contradiction between the last 2 posts?

 

[Kingsize24]

He's talking about Ford's

 

[Oshkosh-P]

That's not entirely correct. At least for a 2011 to 2016 all SRW F250 and F350s had a Sterling 10.5. RAM and GM had bigger rear axles during this period.

2017-2022 the M275 was standard on the diesel F250/F350 and gas F350. A gas F250 could be ordered with it but most had the Sterling 10.5.

The larger rear axles are usually related to diesel torque numbers and towing not payload.

Here he says the GM rear was stronger than the Ford no?

 

[Kingsize24]

My bad I thought you just wanted information on what rear axle was in what GM 3rd gen HD truck. Not comparing GM, Ford, and Ram axles in different generations and variations.

 

[tacollie]

So wait, the GM 2500's hat a bigger rear axle, but the same ring size as Ford? Or is there a contradiction between the last 2 posts?

The diesel Silverado 2500 had a 11.5" rear end. The gas Silverado 2500 had the 10.5" which is similarly to the Ford 10.5. Ford didn't start using a bigger axle for diesel trucks until 2017.

 

[Gravelette]

My bad I thought you just wanted information on what rear axle was in what GM 3rd gen HD truck. Not comparing GM, Ford, and Ram axles in different generations and variations.

Yeah, weird drift. Seems question about 2500 vs 3500 has been answered.