So I snapped a rear axle on my 87 trooper while at Tillamook. Luckily, it broke right at about 3/4" inside the diff right where the splines start. I was able to drive ok without the axle flopping around inside the tube. I still had one wheel working 'cuz of my Lincoln-locked diff.

Here is the strange part...
I go to the junk yard to get an axle shaft for the 10 bolt. I pulled one from an '86 cuz I though they where the same. We all know that the 12 bolt started in 88, so I thought that the 86 and 87 10 bolt rear where the same. They look the same from the outside. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />
I saw plenty of 12 bolts that I could have swapped in, but that would take more work and more money. Besides, this was the first broken axle I've had in 3 years with the welded diff.
So i bought the 86 axle and got to put it in....and it was too short? <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> I had no idea the 87 axles are 2" longer. Does this mean the whole axle is 4" wider? (I should have measured so I could answer that question.)
I took the axle back and found a 91 pick-up with the drum brakes. I pulled the axle and it was the right one.

So add to the list of irregularities on the 87 Trooper that the 10 bolt is different than the 86 10 bolt.


Some of you probably already knew this, but it was news to me.

Cheers! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/patriot.gif" alt="" />
Karl

interesting. was the pickup you pulled it from 2wd or 4wd? i thought by 91 the 4wds were running the zu 12 bolt and the 2wds were runnning the chevy 10 bolt maybe?
87 is a wierd year, so anything is possible <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/drunk.gif" alt="" /> what is the manufacturing date of your truck?

O/T: what size tires are you running and how hard were you 'getting it' when you snapped the shaft? reason I ask is I'm gonna be buying tires soon and probably welding my 10 bolt.

I got the axle out of a 2wd pick up. It looked just like a 10 bolt, but it had sensor wire coming out of the top.
Production date of the Trooper is May '87.

Tire size is 33x12.50. The sad part about this whole event is that I wasn't even "gettin' it" yet. I had just locked the hubs and was starting toward the first hill climb. Flat hard dirt with hardly any traction. I think the axle was starting to break prior to it breaking all the way. I took the kids for a ride up and down the street a few times while I only had about 10 lbs in the tires. We were barking alot around corners. Now that its fixed, I'm not driving it on the street till I put some air in the tires.

I hope I answered all yer questions.

Peace out!
<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />Karl

Do you still have stock open diffs? Cus ive heard any kinda of locker or spool mod puts a ton of stress on an axle. Thought I could be wrong...

As he stated above, it is lincoln locked (welded diff)


Karl the rig looks sweet. Man I miss wheeling in Oregon.

Troy

sorry, I didnt knw lincoln-L=welded diff. I was thinking of doing it, but people said no way on a DD.

no prob, sorry if that came across rudely.

It is not such a good idea for a daily driver, but I know people who do it. They wear out tires kinda fast <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Its all good! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

Hmm. so was this zu 10 bolt (3rd member style) or GM 10 bolt (not 3rd member, removable diff cover)? I know they put the GM 10 bolts in some zu rigs. maybe the trooper got some in between the Zu 10 and 12 bolt <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

How would I tell? Just count the bolts on the diff cover?