Anyone have some 14 bolt parts laying around?

Croatan_Kid

Croatan_Kid

How's your hammer hangin'?
Joined
Nov 4, 2007
Location
New Bern
I'm trying to do some digging and see if my suspicions prove to be correct. I recently discovered that a GM 14 bolt (10.5) pinion has the same spline count and diameter as an AAM 11.5. Not only that, but according to part numbers, they use the same outer pinion bearing.

My idea is that if the crush sleeves are close to the same length, then I should be able to use a readily available 14 bolt crush sleeve eliminator when I set up the gears in the 11.5. It will save me the headache of having to fight with the crush sleeve which I have read are a total pain in the ass on an 11.5.

That being said, I'm wondering if anyone has an old 14 bolt crush sleeve and pinion laying around and can get me some measurements. I'd like to know the crushed length of a used one, the inside diameter of the crush sleeve, and the diameter of the pinion where the crush sleeve sits.

The 11.5 pinion is a bit longer than the 10.5, but as you can see there is a shoulder that the sleeve sits on. It doesn't actually contact both bearings like a lot of others do. The top picture is the 11.5, the bottom picture is a 10.5.

ai732.photobucket.com_albums_ww329_davidgblock_AAM115GearSwap047.jpg

awww.pirate4x4.com_tech_billavista_PR_ARB_articles_14b_Gear_Setup_IMG_0004.jpg




Worst case scenario, I can make the spacer itself and try to find some shims to dial it in. I just like to "fish" and see what parts I can make work on something it was never intended for as long as it works properly. :smokin:
 
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Nobody?
 
No spare parts laying around to verify... but I can tell you first-hand that the crush sleeves are a pain in the ass. Get it close on the low side, then just *breathe* on it. That should put it right in spec.
 
Snappy doesnt.... Call chase and he will know and even have the parts u need!
 
I should mention that I called ECGS...I don't think the guy I talked to quite knew about the shoulder on the 11.5 pinion vs. the 14 bolt sandwiching the crush sleeve between the bearings. I'm not saying anything bad about them, but it's hard to describe over the phone. I may call back tomorrow (if they're open...holiday weekend and all) and ask to talk to Chase or Lee. They sold me a nice, used Grizzly locker with new carrier bearings on it a while back for a helluva deal and even shipped it for free. I really like those guys.

The biggest reason I want to ditch the crush sleeve is because it's so much easier to set up. I've swapped the front D60 from 3.55 to 4.10 already, but now I'm going to 4.56. It was easy and I got lucky and the same shims worked and the pattern matched up quite well, backlash and everything.

I do still need to call up ECGS and order a pinion bearing set. Those jewels are expensive though!
 
Bump
 
I did a little measureing and looking at the different crush sleeves for you. gm 14 bolt 1988 and down is .825 tall. 1989 and up the crush sleeve is .920 tall (uncrushed measurements)
The 11.5 crush sleeve is .930 tall. All of the crush sleeves have the same ID of 1.70. I have never put a solid spacer on an 11.5 but in theory the 14 bolt solid spacer should work for you.
 
@Lee Dude! You're my hero! That might help yall out some too, huh? I knew I was on to something once I realized they were the same splines, a 14 bolt yoke fit on an 11.5 pinion, and they both use the same outer pinion bearing.

So I should be able to use the 89+ eliminator on an 11.5? How long is the solid spacer itself? I'd guess with the handful of shims that come in the kit, I should be able to get plenty of length to achieve proper preload on the bearings. Now I just need to come up with a good torque value on the pinion nut. I suppose I could use the same numbers as a 14 bolt with a solid spacer.

This is exactly why I'm going to buy the crush sleeve eliminator and pinion bearing/setup kit from ECGS to go with the slightly used Grizzly locker (that had brand new carrier bearings on it) that they sold me a while back. It's only fitting!
 
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Would it be possible to place the pinion in the housing with the bearing on it, and measure from a face on the housing down to the shim seating surface, then put the yoke side bearing on, and measure from the same face to a face on the bearing? Then you just subtract the second measurement (plus the thickness of the bearing) from the first, and that'll give you a pretty good ballpark, relative to your exact axle/pinion/bearings.
 
I'll probably just pick up the spacer kit from them and just go for it. If the spacer is too long/not long enough, I can make another one at work.
 
Too short, add shims, too long, cut it down!
 
Excellent idea!
 
Got all my stuff ordered yesterday and it arrived today. After a quick test fit on the pinion, it looks like everything will work as planned :huggy:
 
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