best rear end with disk brakes?

[4thgentruck]

Im doin a bottom up resto on my 77stepside. Running a sb406 with either 700r4 or 4l60. Depending on if the tbi comp is hooked up to it.

Wanting to know what would be the best rear axel with disk brakes to run. Main thing 5 lug and i want to stay gm. Please help with this.

 

[bucket]

A stock 10 bolt with your choice of gears and a disc brake kit is a not a bad option.

 

[4thgentruck]

Would it hold up to the 406 not sure what hp and torque it will be putting out. And what yaer were that rear end available? Pretty much anything modern

 

[bucket]

Sorry, forgot you had a '77. The 12 bolt you have would work well too. The truck really isn't that heavy and there's not a boatload of weight back there, so a good condition half ton rear should hold up fine... unless you can get it to hook.

 

[4thgentruck]

Oh it is good but im wanting disc brakes for safety. Doing a ground up resto so want to do everything while i got it tore down.

 

[4thgentruck]

Ill prob sell the 12 bolt to a local dirt track racer or something it has stock 4.10 gears

 

[bucket]

I've seen rear disc kits advertised in various places, I think a few companies make a kit for the 1/2 tons.

 

[philjafo]

The 12 bolt you have is about the best 5 lug axle gm made, although I've heard on here somewhere mention of a 14 bolt semifloat 5 lug axle under the 454 ss truck. But I would leave the 4.10 12 bolt in if it were mine, because if I'm building a 300 hp small block 400 in a 77 pickup, mpg isn't really what I'm building it for. Just my two cents for what its worth.

 

[4thgentruck]

Actually its gonna be my daily driver. I wont be doin to much hell raising. But if i want it to run hard i dont want to bust an axel. Thats why i was askin. What would yall say about a 2000+ model 1500 rear end .

 

[MrMarty51]

Them 12 bolt rear diffs will hold up to about any thing You could put up against it,400 horses is no problem for that differential.
You`re going to be running an overdrive treansmixer so You will have the very best of the two worlds.4:10 for getting off the line real quick and the overdrive for the long haul,what more could You ask for ???
Them disk brake kits is real straight forwards on installation and they wont fade upon steady breaking.
The only thing You are missing in this whole picture is enough weight to hold the ass end down upon rapid acceleration because believe it or not them 4:10s will get them hinders to smokin.
Thats all.

 

[4thgentruck]

Ive done alil research all the disk brake kits ive seen said all 10-12 bolts except truck rear ends. Is there a link or anything that does it for the truck rear ends.

 

[Driver4r]

My truck came factory with a 12bolt/D44 setup w/ 4.11's and a locker in the rear. God i loved those 4.11's, if i wanted to break them loose, i just pushed down and they'ed break.
But i downgraded for some mpg. I will soon be going to an OD and back to my 4.11's or 4.88's.

 

[smurph20]

Actually its gonna be my daily driver. I wont be doin to much hell raising. But if i want it to run hard i dont want to bust an axel. Thats why i was askin. What would yall say about a 2000+ model 1500 rear end .

You want to keep 5 lug or you gonna switch to 6 lug cause all GM rearends in the trucks, suvs are 6 lug 2wd or 4wd it doesnt matter.

 

[HotRodPC]

The 454 SS GMT 400 with the 14b Semi Float 9.5 inch ring gear does come in 5 lug. Good Luck finding one though and when you do find one, be ready to pay up with one your nuts, and it will be their choice if they want you left one or your right one. So I'd probably punt that option.

Keep in mind 12bolt you have is probably the best option. Unless you want to have a Ford 9in modified to fit and axles redrilled for Chevy bolt pattern or run dual pattern weld wheels. I'd just build the 12 bolt you have.
Keep in mind the Truck axles are NOT the car axles. Some will fall for it, but most who know these trucks are aware the Truck 12 bolt is NOT "The 12 Bolt" thought of in cars. Not saying it's bad, but you hear of guys swapping in cars from 10 bolts to 12 bolts. Yeah, that's an upgrade in a car, but going from a 10 to 12 bolt in a truck is just about, a lateral move. I'd just rock the 12 bolt you have in it.

 

[4thgentruck]

Yea Im just gonna modify mine it will be best. And yea ive done alot of research on.the 12 bolt ive seen were alot of people got pissed cause they thought the kit for the car would work. Lol