:/ I understand the choice to keep the 9.5" rear. I have one in my '83, it has 450,000+ miles on it...to my knowledge all it has received is regular maintenance: oil & seals. Slide-off drums are super nice to work on, very true. When I last put seals in my 9.5 I noticed that my axle splines have worn almost to points. What did you use to degrease/clean that carrier? I've never seen a used one cleaned up that well!
Side note: There are ('93 & newer) 10.5" rears that have slide off drums as well, they're harder to find and they still leave a big hub in place, but they exist. I think they're mostly a Suburban thing, and I've seen them in C3500 SRW trucks and Express Vans.
Ohhh, pretty tires! Now the truck can sit level
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Devin
1983
GMC High Sierra 2500, 4x4, RC/LB, 400 S.B., SM-465, NP-208, Corporate 10 bolt & 9.5" 14 bolt
1996
GMC Sierra SLE 3500 DRW, 4x4, EC/LB, Vortec 454, NV-4500, BW-4401, AAM 925 & AAM 1050
1997
GMC Sierra SLT 1500 4x4, Z71/F44, EC/SB, Vortec 350
My Introduction with my '83s History
New Daily, the '96