Advice for rear end lifted 4x4

tina swaim · August 26

I have a 2000 GMC Sierra 4x4 I keep having rear end problems due to a total 9 in lift and 38 x 15.50 tires

Was told to look into a 9.5 rear end because stock rear end cannot handle tire size. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated I'm trying not to do a lot of fabrication

asilverblazer · August 26

Depends on what the problems are.

Driving style?

Typical terrain?

tina swaim · August 26

Normal driving. Hadn't off road in years

Diff replacement twice and axel 1 x

Rear u-joint several times

CamGTP · August 26

Nothing is really going to be bolt in. The newer axles that bolt to the GMT-900 and K2XX frames won't have exactly the same mounting points for the leaf spring and rear shocks.

And if you went with a 2500 axle that is even more beefy, you'd run into the same situation. But it's nothing a welder can't fix to move the leaf spring mounting points and shock locations.

tina swaim · August 27

Thanks

asilverblazer · August 27

18 hours ago, tina swaim said:

Normal driving. Hadn't off road in years

Diff replacement twice and axel 1 x

Rear u-joint several times

For 'normal driving' the tire size doesn't seem THAT large. I would maybe consider a salvage swap for an axle with a more aggressive ratio. I would also have the pinion angle checked professionally because of the amount of lift.

What failures required differential replacement?

Why was the 'axle' replaced?

Are the u-joints breaking or wearing out?

Are the other parts breaking or wearing out?