Axle shaft question

[Aaron4TAMU]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the only difference between a 95 and a 97 axle shaft the size of the wheel hub? They should be interchangeable right? The reason I ask is because I have the 97 style z28 rims and the hole for the wheel hub is smaller than the 95 and 96 style rims.

[Injuneer]

Yes... until late 1996 the rear axle hub was 0.03" larger than the front hubs. In late 1996 models, and on into the 1997, etc. models, the rear axle hub was made the same size as the front. If you want to put "late" model wheels (and this includes some of the Corvette wheels) on an "early" 4th Gen F-body, all you need to do is enlarge the hole in the center of the wheels. The wheels are centered on the axle by the conical lug nuts.... they are not "hub-centric", so you do not run any risk in lightly sanding or grinding the inner diameter of the hole in the wheels.

[Aaron4TAMU]

Well, one of the shafts is bent right now and needs to be replaced anyway, so the 97 shaft will install in a 95 vehicle?

[Injuneer]

Should be the same. One caution... the cars with "traction control" have a small reluctor gear added to the back of the axle hub flange. I doubt that would affect the install. But if your car has traction control, you need to make sure you get the right axle.

[Aaron4TAMU]

Thanks again for the great info Injuneer.

[TraceZ]

I put ZR1 wheels on my 94 and didnt have to grind anything. They bolted right on. Why?


Back in 1996 I put ZR1 rims on a different 1995 car and DID have to grind out the rear hubs to fit. I wonder why my 94 is different?

possibilities:

1) these after market rims had bigger hubs and didnt require the grinding
2) The axle shafts in my car are transplants from a newer car


hmmmmm?

[Injuneer]

Appears the aftermarket wheels often have a larger hole in the back, since they know F-Body owners may use them. Its generally the "factory" GM wheels that have the problem. My OZ Monte Carlos came with a very large hole in the back of the rim, and a color coded "insert" ring that matched the axle hub diameter on my 94.

One advantage of buying a 12-bolt, at least on the Strange.... you get a smaller diameter hub on the axles.

[bigtow]

ah har

that would explane why i had to grind the zr1 rims i fitted to my 93. the other problem i have is the threads keep striping on my lug nuts 5 so far they are not coming loose but every time i remove the rear wheel and re fit them it seams to strip a lug nut is it possible to get longer wheel studs for a 4 th gen as i may well fit diffent rear wheels for the drags

[Injuneer]

GM Performance Parts and Lingenfelter sell a 2.67" 12mm wheel stud with the correct knurl (slightly larger than 0.500") to fit a 4th Gen F-Body. I think ARP might also sell them.

The stock studs would work fine with the ZR1 wheels. Is it possible you didn't enlarge the holes on the back of the wheels far enough, and they are binding, and you are forcing them on with the lug nuts?

[bigtow]

no

no they come on and of dead easy in fact i may have taken a little to much off the in side dimater as they ar lose on the hub with no lug nuts holding them on the fronts are fine but the stud bearly reaches into the lug nut i think maybe 3 or 4 threads possibley more. but on the front 4 out of the 5 the end of the stud is a bout 3/4 of the way up the stud but on the outher one it is flush with the top of the nut ?