Blew my rear end 87 R1500

[87GMC1500]

Grenaded the spider gears on my 12 bolt a few weeks ago. Ring and pinion damaged. Trying to decide if spending the money on overhaul parts and an upgraded positive traction carrier or buying an aftermarket axle like this one https://www.strangeengineering.net/p...o-brakes.html/
Anyone out there have any experience with the Strange axle assembly? Looking for a long term solution. I seem to have bad luck with rear axles, 4the one this truck has ate.

[mongocanfly]

I've used strange products for yrs...never broke any of their stuff..
But if I was gonna spend the coin on a new custom axle I'd look at a 9in....

[BlueJeep]

I second that. 9" opens a lot of doors for aftermarket parts, rear suspension bracketry, and the lower pinion helps on a lowered truck.

I bought my last one here and was very impressed:
Quick Performance

[SunSoaked]

Axle #4 you say? Post a pic and specs of engine/trans.

[70blackfish]

currie 9, or strange 60

[kipps]

Before spending money on a complete custom axle, I'd suggest looking into the more durable stock-GM options.

I see there are 5 and 6 lug conversions to fit 14-bolt axles. I ran across one company selling a set of five lug conversion hubs for a full-float 14-bolt axle for $400.

Buy a $300 junkyard axle, rebuild it with those hubs, and you should have an indestructible axle for under $1200.

[SunSoaked]

I still want to know why he's having issues? Let's see that engine. If this were a common issue GM would have recalled it. 4 rearends?

[Nick_R_23]

Originally Posted by SunSoaked

I still want to know why he's having issues? Let's see that engine. If this were a common issue GM would have recalled it. 4 rearends?

This. 4 rear axles is a LOT. Most axle failures are from abuse, such as neutral drops, gaining traction when the wheels are at speed (I.E., starting a burnout on dirt but bringing the wheels onto pavement), or inadequate suspension setups resulting in wheel hop. I’d wager these failures are due to driving style, and a beefier axle will only prolong an inevitable failure.

[87GMC1500]

I agree 4 axles is a lot. The oe axle was professionally rebuilt 3 times, one failure was after several hundred miles. The other 10 bolt rebuild all lasted about 20k miles. I ended up swapping the oe 10 bolt for a 12 bolt housing from a 76 and had it also professionally rebuilt prior to install. The last rebuild has lasted the longest, about 10 years which I may have put 30k miles on it. The engine is a 383 stoker, built 7004r trans, nothing extreme. I have all of the bolt ons and more but nothing that makes extreme power, just a fun dd. I did a 4-6 drop apx 10k miles also, pinion angle is good. I do diff services every 10k miles. All of the rebuilds have been with an open carrier and the spider gears are what normally fail. I do excessively hard launch and do one legged burnouts until I gain traction so I agree driving habit is the cause. All of the driving is on pavement, no off-roading. Definitely no neutral drops or starting burnouts on gravel. Is going with a Detroit Truetrack in the stock housing asking for a repeat failure?

[mongocanfly]

trutrac is a very good diff....

[MJN]

Originally Posted by 87GMC1500

Grenaded the spider gears on my 12 bolt a few weeks ago. Ring and pinion damaged. Trying to decide if spending the money on overhaul parts and an upgraded positive traction carrier or buying an aftermarket axle like this one https://www.strangeengineering.net/p...o-brakes.html/
Anyone out there have any experience with the Strange axle assembly? Looking for a long term solution. I seem to have bad luck with rear axles, 4the one this truck has ate.

Originally Posted by 87GMC1500

I agree 4 axles is a lot. The oe axle was professionally rebuilt 3 times, one failure was after several hundred miles. The other 10 bolt rebuild all lasted about 20k miles. I ended up swapping the oe 10 bolt for a 12 bolt housing from a 76 and had it also professionally rebuilt prior to install. The last rebuild has lasted the longest, about 10 years which I may have put 30k miles on it. The engine is a 383 stoker, built 7004r trans, nothing extreme. I have all of the bolt ons and more but nothing that makes extreme power, just a fun dd. I did a 4-6 drop apx 10k miles also, pinion angle is good. I do diff services every 10k miles. All of the rebuilds have been with an open carrier and the spider gears are what normally fail. I do excessively hard launch and do one legged burnouts until I gain traction so I agree driving habit is the cause. All of the driving is on pavement, no off-roading. Definitely no neutral drops or starting burnouts on gravel. Is going with a Detroit Truetrack in the stock housing asking for a repeat failure?

Its not bad luck as you say- its your driving style that is causing the spiders to grenade. Repeatedly doing this with an open carrier is just asking for this end result. The housing also has nothing to do with it. Installing a locker will help the spiders live longer but you'll more than likely find the next weak link with both wheels spinning.

[87GMC1500]

So I ended up going the overhaul route again. New ring and pinion, Detroit Truetrac. I’ll take it easy for proper break but I look forward to the double lines I’ll leave on the ground! Thanks for the input fellas

[Nick_R_23]

You might also find it a wise investment to add some sort of traction control device to your truck. A set of slapper bars are inexpensive and work well to prevent wheel hop and axle wrap, which might be contributing to your failures.

[RotaryRocketeer]

14 bolt rear ends are two things. Cheap and everywhere. You'd be hard pressed to break one.