Can anyone confirm that the 3500 cargo vans have a 10.5" rear axle?

When I search on parts supposedly just for a late model 3500 cargo van, I get parts drawings that don't seem to correspond to that.

This link lists the 10.5 rear axle (as I would exect):
http://parts.nalleygmc.com/showAssembly.aspx?ukey_assembly=382046&ukey_make=1026&ukey_model=14594&modelYear=2011&ukey_category=0&ukey_driveLine=0&ukey_TrimLevel=14317&ukey_modelRange=0&searchString=JL4
with these notations:
G2,3(05-06) AXLE ASM/REAR 10.50 RING GEAR PART 1 (LGH/6.6L); G2,3(05-06) AXLE ASM/REAR 10.50 RING GEAR PART 1 (LMM/6.6-6,LGH/6.6L); G3(03) AXLE ASM/REAR 10.50 RING GEAR PART 1 (LGH/6.6L)(EXC (R05)); G3(03) AXLE ASM/REAR 10.50 RING GEAR PART 1 (LMM/6.6-6,LGH/6.6L)(EXC (R05));
G80 - AXLE,REAR, POSITRACTION,LIMITED SLIP;
GH0 - AXLE,REAR,3.54 RATIO;
GT4 - AXLE,REAR,3.73 RATIO;
GT5 - AXLE,REAR,4.10 RATIO;
GU6 - AXLE,REAR,3.42 RATIO;
JH9 - BRAKE HYD POWER, 4 WHL DISC, 14,050 LBS;
JL4 - CONTROL ACTIVE BRAKE;
L20 - ENGINE,FLEXIBLE FUEL,(GAS/ETHANOL E85),8 CYL,4.8L,SFI IRON, GM;
L96 - ENGINE FLEXIBLE FUEL, (GAS/ETHANOL), 8 CYL, 6.0L, SFI IRON;
LC8 - ENGINE LPG/CNG, 8 CYL, V8, 6.0L, SFI, GEN 1, GMNA;
LGH - ENGINE DIESEL, 8 CYL, 6.6L, DI, V8, TURBO, DURAMAX;
LMM - ENGINE DIESEL, 8 CYL, 6.6L, DPI, V8, DURAMAX;
R04 - WHEELS,SINGLE REAR;
Y02 - 10.75 RING GEAR,DANA REAR AXLE;

I have no idea what that reference above to the "10.75 RING GEAR,DANA REAR AXLE" refers to.

And I also get this link:
http://parts.nalleygmc.com/showAssembly.aspx?ukey_product=0&ukey_assembly=382216&ukey_make=1026&modelYear=2011&ukey_model=14594&ukey_driveline=6219&ukey_trimLevel=14317
with these notations:
G2,3(05-06) AXLE ASM/REAR 9.50 RING GEAR; G3(03) AXLE ASM/REAR 9.50 RING GEAR;
C6P - GVW RATING 8, 600 LBS/3, 900 KG; C7N - GVW RATING(12300 LBS);
G80 - AXLE,REAR,POSITRACTION,LIMITED SLIP; GT4 - AXLE,REAR,3.73 RATIO;
GT5 - AXLE,REAR,4.10 RATIO;
GT5 - REAR AXLE, 4.10 RATIO;
GU6 - AXLE,REAR,3.42 RATIO;
JH9 - BRAKE HYD POWER, 4 WHL DISC, 14, 050 LBS; JL4 - CONTROL ACTIVE BRAKE;
L20 - ENGINE,FLEXIBLE FUEL,(GAS/ETHANOL E85),8 CYL,4.8L,SFI IRON, GM;
L96 - ENGINE FLEXIBLE FUEL, (GAS/ETHANOL), 8 CYL, 6.0L, SFI IRON;
LC8 - ENGINE LPG/CNG, 8 CYL, V8, 6.0L, SFI, GEN 1, GMNA;
LGH - ENGINE DIESEL, 8 CYL, 6.6L, DI, V8, TURBO, DURAMAX;
LMM - ENGINE DIESEL, 8 CYL, 6.6L, DPI, V8, DURAMAX;
R04 - WHEELS,SINGLE REAR;
R05 - WHEELS,DUAL REAR;

I have the Dana super 70 rear in my 2006 3500 express. It has a 10.75" ring gear, which is .25" larger than the standard American Axle (AAM) 10.50" GM uses in the vans. From what I have been told this rear was not used a lot. It has 3.73 gears in it and it is coded as a G80 posi lock/track how ever you want to say it.

I was surprised I first time I went to change the rear diff fluid and saw the DANA tag on it, got me curious and I started to look for info on it. The darn thing holds damn near 1 gallon on diff fluid.

My van was early production built in late 05 so that might be why it has the Dana in it instead of the AAM. I can't remember when AAM (07 or 08) went on strike so there maybe other rears from other manufactures in the vans out there.

I remember seeing somewhere, in some reference a long time ago, that DMax vans got a 10.75 rear axle. I remember this because I thought it was an odd size, slightly bigger than the standard 2500HD pickup rear axle, but smaller than the 11.5 rear axle used in DMax pickups.

Since looking it up seems inconclusive, is there any way to tell just by looking at the rear end?

I remember seeing somewhere, in some reference a long time ago, that DMax vans got a 10.75 rear axle. I remember this because I thought it was an odd size, slightly bigger than the standard 2500HD pickup rear axle, but smaller than the 11.5 rear axle used in DMax pickups.

Since looking it up seems inconclusive, is there any way to tell just by looking at the rear end?

Yea the cover bolt pattern. Mine also had the Dana stamp and a tag that said 70S on it. I looked online at Dana 70s pics of the cover that is how I confirmed what rear I had in the truck. As for the AAM 10.50" I am sure there is a AAM stamp on there somewhere, just take a pic of your rear cover bolt pattern and try to match it online.

Or call AAM with the ID # from the tag. I don't have there phone number but I believe that these rears are built in Three Rivers, MI. I have been in there a lot and I remember a employee stating that my van had a rear in it that was built right here. I had to correct him an tell him that I have a DANA, That real TRUCKS don't use AAM. :p::p: He did not believe me until he got on the ground and saw the DANA stamp on the left of the pumpkin. He said DAMN that's a big rear!! :D

Dana 70 has a 10.5in ring gear from any specs i can find.

Dana 70 has a 10.5in ring gear from any specs i can find.

I never have measured it. I did find some info saying it is 10.50 and some staying 10.75" Looks like the 10.75" was used with dual rear wheels(R05) and GVW's of 13,980 and 14,050. Both of these would be cutaway chassis. Only 10.50" in 9600, 9900 GVW's. So I was wrong in my earlier post about me having a 10.75". Looks like I got the 10.50" Dana 70 S.

I ended up with the Dana 70S in my cutaway CargoMax (tag on rear end and stamped). It's odd...it has a 12 bolt cover....Dana 70's (when you look them up) all seem to have 10 bolt covers. The AAM's are 14 bolts. I wanted an aftermarket cover to get a bit more oil in there, but cant seem to find one that is for a 12 bolt Dana 70S.

60, you might have the 10.75 gear if you have the 70S..the plain 70 has the smaller gear. Count the cover bolts.

I ended up with the Dana 70S in my cutaway CargoMax (tag on rear end and stamped). It's odd...it has a 12 bolt cover....Dana 70's (when you look them up) all seem to have 10 bolt covers. The AAM's are 14 bolts. I wanted an aftermarket cover to get a bit more oil in there, but cant seem to find one that is for a 12 bolt Dana 70S.

60, you might have the 10.75 gear if you have the 70S..the plain 70 has the smaller gear. Count the cover bolts.

12 bolts just counted them. I know they used both ring sizes, I was reading a FORD forum :eek: and they were talking about the gears for the 10.75" being really expensive and hard to find.

I guess these pics answer the question...

AAM logo
http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=125280&d=1324517880

14 bolts on the cover
http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=125281&d=1324517880

http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=125282&stc=1&d=1324518559

I guess these pics answer the question...

AAM logo 14 bolts on the cover


Those are very stout axles Nomad....both my 93 and 06 have them..never touched either one in the 500,000 or 200,000 plus miles either has on them. All I ever did was drop the factory oil and put in Chevron RPM synthetic 75W90 (what we had in the shop for the big trucks). It is an awesome axle.

Those are very stout axles Nomad....both my 93 and 06 have them..never touched either one in the 500,000 or 200,000 plus miles either has on them. All I ever did was drop the factory oil and put in Chevron RPM synthetic 75W90 (what we had in the shop for the big trucks). It is an awesome axle.

I agree, I would almost say they are a better axle.

Those are very stout axles Nomad....both my 93 and 06 have them..never touched either one in the 500,000 or 200,000 plus miles either has on them. All I ever did was drop the factory oil and put in Chevron RPM synthetic 75W90 (what we had in the shop for the big trucks). It is an awesome axle.

I agree, I would almost say they are a better axle.


Thanks guys.

The reasons I was trying to make sure is:

1. If I do a conventional 4WD conversion (using GM HD pickup truck parts) I will need to change the rear axle ratio to 3.73 because 3.54 gears aren't available for the front axle.*

2. Evidently, the Stabilitrak sensors are different for different axles. Logically, they shouldn't be, but there are different part numbers listed. In case anyone hasn't already seen the Stabilitrak upgrade thread, here it is: http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/showthread.php?t=441768

Since gasser HD pickups use the same 10.5" axle and come with 3.73 gears, it is possible that I might be able to swap the rear axle from a pickup.
But the upfit guides indicate that pickups have a slightly narrower track than vans - in fact it looks like the 10.5" axle used in 2500 pickups has about 1.75" narrower track.
So I'll probably end up swapping the gears, or swapping the entire rear axle from a 2009 or older van - if I can find one (totaled-out pickups are far more common ;))
VANS:
http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=125285&stc=1&d=1324547772

PICKUPS:
http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=125286&stc=1&d=1324547772



* While I'd like to drive the front wheels with electric or hydraulic motors (allowing me to leave the factory drivetrain & front suspension as is), it probably won't be feasible. I don't think there's enough room between the front coil springs to fit any kind of drive unit, and if I start down the path of changing the front suspension to the torsion bar setup from an HD pickup, the conventional path seem inevitable. I could drive each front wheel with a gearmotor, but realistically, I don't know that I could ever find a way to seal it up well enough to withstand all the road spray it would be subjected to. Hydraulic wouldn't have that problem, but driving a large enough hydraulic pump is. Last but not least, the engineering effort would be a killer.

my van has the dana in it too. when I called the dealer and gave them the vin, he came back and said it has the 10.5 rear diff. I asked what brand/model it was and he said 10.50 again. it did not tell him make/model only that it was a 10.50 . so some vans have the AAM rear ?

I have been told that it is the Dana 70 HD axle. slightly stronger than the standard 70

my van has the dana in it too. when I called the dealer and gave them the vin, he came back and said it has the 10.5 rear diff. I asked what brand/model it was and he said 10.50 again. it did not tell him make/model only that it was a 10.50 . so some vans have the AAM rear ?Yep.
http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=125280&d=1324517880