s10 unlocking axle

[willisworms]

Ok.. Is the bracket You are talking about The piece that the Welded on axle tube flange bolts too? I notice I have some oil on the incorrect side of my oil pan

[Cobra]

i believe the bracket he's talking about is on the driver side of the diff, it's has two bolts in it one that is holding your diff to the bracket and the other holding the bracket to the frame. If he is talking about the same bracket i'm thinking of.....

[doyoulikeithere]

Du-Ohhh !!!!

[Cobra]

Lifted and Peter i think were thinking of different brackets the one Peter is referring to is on the driver side from what i remember when i pulled my diff (dammit i wish i could get under my van to confirm it)

[LiftedAWDAstro]

Here is the way it was back then:

I had had this annoying vibe at 70- mph & higher which I assumed was because my driveline angles were possibly off. Turned out to be because of an S-10 passenger-side front diff bracket being used with the S-10 axle-disconnect diffy which I had pulled off the donor truck. The difference between the two brackets is practically nil, but it was enuf to cause my front diff to be cocked lower on the passenger side & higher on the drivers side. So anytime I'd be in 4wd (as was the case the night I blew apart the cv joint in Ohio while visiting Logan & Mandi) and would turn the steeri ng wheel full-lock left, the passenger-side cv joint would blow apart.

[Cobra]

oh it really was passenger side guess i was wrong again but.....
does that mean he would have to re-weld the bracket or just use the astro axle tube with s-10 internals?

[doyoulikeithere]

I think I get it now.
the bracket IS on the drivers side.
It Mates with the 2 rubber bushed mounts in the diff housing.
Lottsa times that mount rusts out or cracks and needs repaired.
I didnt realize its removable, but perhaps your newer van is different a bit.
Because the S10 bracket is a different shape, slightly, it doesnt line up right and tilts the whole axle a bit.


So, If doing the s10 axle swap and using the diff/axle only, your ok.
BUT, DO NOT, take that bracket from the s10 truck, bcuz say if yours is looking a bit weak or some other reason.

I think thats it. or do I still have it bass ackwards????

[LiftedAWDAstro]

Go up to the pic willisworms posted and you will see the bracket Peter is talking about. It is on the long tube (passenger) side and the reason Peter swapped it was because the heads on these 2 bolts holding the axle tube on is hard to reach.

In the following pic of Dunedog's van, you can see where the axle tube bolts to the bracket with the rubber bushing:



If you left this on your van and only removed the 2 bolts holding the axle tube itself you are ok.

[Cobra]

i would NEVER have thought to swap that unless mine was damaged hmm learn something new everyday

[photo_van]

? for you guys that have been running this setup; Does it improve MPG?????

[photo_van]

? for you guys that have been running this setup; Does it improve MPG?????

Anyone???

[doyoulikeithere]

I am running that unlocking front diff and an NP231.
Sorry but my speedo is really not accurate, says I'm doin a 100 but really only doin about 90.
My van had a rear axle ratio change from 3.08 to 3.73, plus a transfer case added where it was 2wd before so the speeedo drive gear is not from an astro.

plus I haven't recorded my mileage, but honestly, my wallet feels a bit less worn out driving this van than my 95 awd.
I suspect that is mostly because the 87 5 speed and TBI vs 95 CPI & 4L60E makes a big difference.

[photo_van]

Thanks for the response, I was wondering if anyone was still out there . I just bought a 99 Blazer frontend about 20 minutes ago. Now I have to decide whether to leave the 3:73 in there or take it to 4:10. I currently have 3:42.

John

[Snowgeek]

Ok I am digging up an old thread here but I am dying to get my axle disconnect in and have 3 major questions:

1 - I want to install this disconnect so that I can run my van with an NP-236 transfer case in 2wd low. The reason for this is pulling a trailer up some mountain passes here in Idaho. Currently my van with 3.42 gears and 245/75/16 tires will do 40mph in low range at 3500 rpm. The ability to run 2wd low will give me the chance to have great high gears for highway trips and low gears for pulling my little camper into the mountains. Drive line speeds will be the same regardless, locked clutch pack in the transfer case will deliver power to the front drive line but the power will go out the stub shaft and won't effect the steering of the van. Am I missing anything here?

2 - After reading this thread there seems to be an un-answered question of... can I use my astro differential with the disconnect or must I use a blazer differential?

3- 2 of the bolts for the axle housing flange will not clear the oil pan on the van and keep me from removing it from my van with out what seems a huge job. It almost looks like the oil pan has been rubbing on the axle housing itself. Only after seeing one at the pick-n-pull today that seems to have been rubbing at one time but has lots of clearance now do I understand that my van must be wrong. See the pictures below. This doesn't seem lift related as the diff and the motor are both mounted to the sub frame but I am wondering if this is a sign of worn motor mounts or something.

Any help here would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Ryan

[Captn. Crunch]

Hey snowgeek
You can use your diff. There is no difference in the diffs when comparing same years but different vehicles. There were some bearing changes that accompanied axle changes through the years such as when they went from flanged axles to slip in’s. You can use flanged axles in late model diffs but they require a machined sweat fit collar installed on the axle due to a bearing change.
Secondly, you are right. Your oil pan is sitting on your diff because your motor mounts are mush. I need to do mine but haven’t done so yet. I haven’t really looked at who sells good ones. Ive read aftermarket mounts are junk but like I said I haven’t looked yet
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