Is the Rear Axle Assembly different in AWD & 2WD?

[josepheagle]

Hello All Newbie here,

The Rear End in my 99 Safari AWD went out and I'm searching for a used one to replace it with. My mechanic said I need to get one out of another AWD. I'm finding several at junk yards out of 2WD with the same gear ratio but no luck finding one out of a AWD. Is there anything different on the REAR AXEL ASSEMBLY of a AWD and a 2WD? Or anything else I should be aware of?

Thanks,

Eagle

[josepheagle]

Help.......

[AstroOafAdventurer]

As long as it's the same ratio and brakes you should be fine.
I don't see why they'd use a different one between AWD & RWD.
Someone else will pipe up and confirm I'm sure

[Birdshake]

A shop installed a rwd axle housing in my awd. They were putting everything back together and the new drivers side axle wouldn’t slide into the diff. The axle housing was bent so they sourced a used housing and installed all my new parts in it.

[MechBob]

Call a junkyard.They pay big bucks for an interchange information system.But I have never heard that,and would be quite surprised if they are somehow different.

[josepheagle]

Thanks for the input. The online junk yard interchange search says it will work, but they don’t have a AWD or 2WD option on their search. talking to the guy at the yard, he said he wasn’t sure. Just trying to be 100% sure before getting the part shipped. Seems like the 3.73 gear ratio is a bit hard to find.

-JE

[AstroOafAdventurer]

Now's a good time as any to "swap" ratios if you've ever wanted higher or lower gearing. Doesn't have to be the same ratio being RWD.

[Toskavat]

Just chiming in here, so long as it comes off of an Astro/Safari with steel leafs and is the same ratio as the front has you should be fine. Not any newer than a 2002.
My 99 is 2wd and as I wanted to change ratio for towing, had a GU5 and went to a GT4, I got one from a 2002 and rebuilt it so as to have use of the van until I installed it. I also went with a torsen and bigger drums on it then installed the package. GU6 the 3.42 ratio is most common, GT4 is the 3.73.

[josepheagle]

I'm going to have my mechanic do the suspension lift on the back since he is replacing the rear axle assembly. I'm going to have used s-10 HD lift springs put on with the silverado shocks. I think I will try to do the front end lift at home. It will look a little strange with the back end up driving it home, but hopefully wont be a problem.

Any thoughts on that?

Thanks again,

J

[AstroOafAdventurer]

Sorry, disregard my previous message, I forgot you had AWD. In your case you do need a rear with the same ratio.

[AstroWill]

The rear ends are the same, doesn't matter RWD vs AWD. Just make sure the front and rear ratios match.

[Herbie]

Not a problem to drive around with only the rear lifted. The "stinkbug" look was all the rage in the 1970s, but won't hurt anything short term. Your headlights will aim low, so don't try to pass a state inspection until you get everything leveled out.

[josepheagle]

The rear ends are the same, doesn't matter RWD vs AWD. Just make sure the front and rear ratios match.

Thanks Will!

[josepheagle]

Not a problem to drive around with only the rear lifted. The "stinkbug" look was all the rage in the 1970s, but won't hurt anything short term. Your headlights will aim low, so don't try to pass a state inspection until you get everything leveled out.

Haha, I was thinking it might be fun to roll with the stinkbug look for a bit. I don't have to worry about state inspections here.

Thanks!


-Eagle

[Leeann_93]

The rear ends are the same, doesn't matter RWD vs AWD. Just make sure the front and rear ratios match.

This.