Overlandtowater’s solid axle suburban

[Overlandtowater]

SF 14 bolt disc brake conversion, first I cut the backing plate mounts off the 10 bolt. To do that I cut the axle housing either side of the mount that way I could take it inside on a work bench, finished by grinding the weld out the rest of the way and driving the tiny piece of housing out with a punch and hammer. Then I needed to ream the inside of the mounting bracket out to slide over the sf14 housing to accomplish this without a lathe I used a metal burr in a die grinder, to keep it slow and consistent I would wipe the surface to be ground down with a sharpie and cut it till the ink was gone. This was slow but seemed to work well. After 4 hours, 15 grindings, one cheap burr, and another abrasive bit I could finally pound the mount over the housing. The easiest way I could figure out how to get the proper depth was to assemble a scrap set of suburban brakes together on the sf14 housing I didn’t have a set of pads to throw in the calipers so for now I haven’t welded anything. I can’t see why this won’t work and no the mounting bracket is not where I intend on welding it. I will pull the 10 bolt out from under the burb and get measurements to copy what is on the 10 bolt. Now one more side to do.

 

[pappawheely]

I'm in the process of converting a 14 bolt full floater to 6 lug. It's been challenging.

 

[Overlandtowater]

I'm in the process of converting a 14 bolt full floater to 6 lug. It's been challenging.

this semi floater is really pretty strait forwards I just need to look at the 10 bolt under the truck to see exactly how the plate needs to be clocked. the hardest part is going to be cutting all the leaf spring brackets off to weld on my link brackets, I could convert it over to leaf springs I have a set of 2500 springs already, but I think my current setup will out flex the leafs.

 

[pappawheely]

this semi floater is really pretty strait forwards I just need to look at the 10 bolt under the truck to see exactly how the plate needs to be clocked. the hardest part is going to be cutting all the leaf spring brackets off to weld on my link brackets, I could convert it over to leaf springs I have a set of 2500 springs already, but I think my current setup will out flex the leafs.

Cutting is easy. If you cut too little, it just takes longer. If you cut too much, you compromise the axle tubes.

 

[Overlandtowater]

10 bolt out, gutted, and measurements made for placement in distance apart, and degrees of angle with the pinion set at 90*. Hopefully I can get the brackets cut off with the plasma and get them put on the semi floater without any problems.

 

[Overlandtowater]

Cleaned up the 10 bolt brackets to fit the 9.5. Looking like fit is going to work well.

 

[Overlandtowater]

A little more done. Finished pulling the backing plate brackets off the 10 bolt and reamed them out to slide on the 9.5 housing also cleaned up the 9.5 tubes to get ready to weld the brackets on. It is a little pitted up where the u joint plates were.

 

[Overlandtowater]

Got the brake baking plate mounts and some of the brackets welded to the axle. Yes newer Tahoes and suburbans come with this axle already, kinda. The newer ones have smaller wheel bearings than this axle and the 4.10 ring and pinion from the 3/4 ton axle I have will not swap over the pinion is smaller on the newer ones.

 

[Overlandtowater]

Not much this weekend tacked the track bar bracket on. Waiting on parts for Barnes 4wd before I finish welding it up. Gm 9.5 diff cover from undercover fabworks came in and I smoothed the lower portion of the housing down, took a 3/8” lip off the bottom. Also received my diff rebuild kit from Timken.

 

[arveetek]

Looking good!

Casey

 

[Overlandtowater]

Looking good!

Casey

thanks

 

[Overlandtowater]

A little more progress. Part’s finally came from Barnes, I got the coil mounts and the bump pads welded on. Fully welded the track bar bracket on and boxed the upper link brackets. I plan to trim the lower a little bit a box it also.

 

[Overlandtowater]

Also the shim kit came in for the 9.5 so wish me luck on swapping gears and carrier.

 

[Overlandtowater]

The winch I decided to go with is the @openroad4wd winch13k lb. I tested fitted it and I will need to relocate the control box, I did this while I was thinking about the gears I was setting up and waiting for someone to guide me on the interwebs. From multiple people I should have just bought new gears and started fresh, but as a single income family of 5 I have to take calculated risks on some parts. The patterns are a little wonky because they are used gears but after 7 tries with the pinion shims I figured out I was going the wrong direction. This is the pattern that fit the acceptable category it’s centered between the root and the face and covers almost the whole tooth from heel to toe without running off. We’ll see when I hit the road.

 

[Overlandtowater]

When you get to this point you’re getting close.