Alpha front axle

[RuggedH2]

I'm throwing this out there because I don't know, and I'm hoping some of you might.

The new Alpha front axle (cast Iron). Will this be manufactured by AAM, the same company that brought us the aluminum 7.25?

The cast iron diff will have the larger ring and pinion correct? 4.10:1? 8 inch?

I want to keep the 4.56:1 axle ratio I have now (hell, will a 4.88:1 be available?). Will the parts be available either through GM or the aftermarket to get a 4.56:1 with the larger ring and pinion, for this housing?

Any gearheads have a favorite manufacturer? Eaton E-locker?

[HummBebe]

Gear heads not necessary.... you will be able to order just the housing, and it will bolt on.

The best thinkg to do right now is wait till you break one

[HummBebe]

Oh and, no 4:88's for a AAM 7.25.....too small.

[RuggedH2]

If we can just bolt on the housing, we will still have a 7.25 ring gear though.

I'd like a 8" ring gear with 4.56:1. (or even a 4.88:1). Well actually, I'd like a 9.25 but I'll settle for a 8".

I read there were some "hardening" issues with the early builds. Maybe some aftermarket gears wouldn't be a bad idea, unless warranty issues came up. (I swear, I'm not trying to make this sound sexual)

[Desert Dan]

I wonder if you will be able to order a complete Alpha front axle housing with a locker and gears installed?

All you would have to do is bolt it in and hook up controls for the front locker.

[usetosellhummer]

Try breaking one first

[f5fstop]

Originally Posted by Desert Dan

I wonder if you will be able to order a complete Alpha front axle housing with a locker and gears installed?

All you would have to do is bolt it in and hook up controls for the front locker.

2008 Alpha will not have a locking front diff.

After parts are available, you will be able to order anything you want, as long as you are paying for it.

[HummBebe]

Why would you want a "whole diff"? I hope you mean just the CI housing.

You can't run 4:10's in the front and 4:56's in the rear.

And again, how can you even think about putting a front locker on a 7.25' gear...that's just silliness.

And I should clarify, wait till break one and then pay for the upgrade.

When can someone get pricing for me on that???

[Desert Dan]

If you could get the CI housing and have the gears (I guess stub axle assemblies too) and a locker added then it would be a bolt-in operation.

I don't know how to set up ring and pinions so I would like to have a bolt-in unit or find some shop that could do it.

I'd rather not break the diff in the boonies if an upgrade is available.

? for those that have trashed the front diff

Did any you disconnect the front drive shaft and limp home in 4x2? I know the front wheels would still turn the axle and grind up the gears.


Trail Fix Trivia
With a full floating rear axle if rear the diff is broken you can pull out the rear axles and disconnet the rear driveshaft and come home in front wheel drive.

Same with solid front axle with locking hubs.

[marin8703]

Originally Posted by 03H3

I'm throwing this out there because I don't know, and I'm hoping some of you might.

The new Alpha front axle (cast Iron). Will this be manufactured by AAM, the same company that brought us the aluminum 7.25?

The cast iron diff will have the larger ring and pinion correct? 4.10:1? 8 inch?

I want to keep the 4.56:1 axle ratio I have now (hell, will a 4.88:1 be available?). Will the parts be available either through GM or the aftermarket to get a 4.56:1 with the larger ring and pinion, for this housing?

Any gearheads have a favorite manufacturer? Eaton E-locker?

cant help with the answer but i would like to know too.

[DURAMAX TIM]

Originally Posted by Desert Dan

Trail Fix Trivia
With a full floating rear axle if rear the diff is broken you can pull out the rear axles and disconnet the rear driveshaft and come home in front wheel drive.

Problem is the oil will run out of the hubs and the bearings are going to burn up.

now if u wanted to be prepared, get 2 junkyard axles and cut the axle off the hub or cut out and drill 2 blanks to plug the hubs.

then put them in place of the good axles, will keep the oil in.

[f5fstop]

the t/case will run dry with no shaft. you might be able to seal it someway, and just bring along a hack saw and cut the axles.

[evldave]

Originally Posted by f5fstop

the t/case will run dry with no shaft. you might be able to seal it someway, and just bring along a hack saw and cut the axles.

http://www.napaonline.com/MasterPages/NOLMaster.aspx?PageId=470&LineCode=BK&PartNumber=6 151450&Description=Transmission+Tail+Shaft+Plug

Carry something like this with you...

[RuggedH2]

Originally Posted by 03H3

I want to keep the 4.56:1 axle ratio I have now (hell, will a 4.88:1 be available?). Will the parts be available either through GM or the aftermarket to get a 4.56:1 with the larger ring and pinion, for this housing?

The problem is with the warranty issue. There are several ways this IFS diff could be "beefed up", but they all would void the warranty.

I'm hoping that I can use the 8" ring and pinion in a 4.56:1 ratio and be under the factory warranty (that way I don't need to mess with the rear gearing). I'll beef the whole thing up, once it is no longer covered by the factory (easy for the rear). I also need to upgrade to the new front drive (prop) shaft that has the 30% stronger wall strength. I have already destroyed two of the stock ones. Does anybody know if they use a bigger U joint on the new one?

EDIT: I understand they had to rearrange things under the 3 to fit the new V8 in. That might change the length of the new drive shaft that comes with it. Even if I could get the 8" gear for the new axle, it might be difficult to get the factory drive shaft to line up. I remain optimistic though. It seems it would be easier to just use bigger (stronger) gear all around and not worry about the warranty deal.

[RuggedH2]

Originally Posted by f5fstop

2008 Alpha will not have a locking front diff.

After parts are available, you will be able to order anything you want, as long as you are paying for it.

I didn't read this carefully enough the first time. I'm glad I went back. I don't mind paying for the extra strength in the front.

F5, does GM already have an 8" 4.56:1 ring and pinion that will work in this application?

I have found lockers that already exist for the 8.25 and 9.25 ( I think that's right, have to double check, bookmarked on my office computer)

Do you know if the new drive shaft is the same length as the old one?

[NEOCON1]

anything new on this

[RuggedH2]

Yeah,

The new 08 CI axle will be 7.25.

Just the housing will change for us. There will be no need for a larger ring and pinion.

I wonder what it would involve to put a larger say 8.25 or 8.5 out of a Tahoe or Yukon into our trucks.

The front drive shaft would have to be custom, but?...

The CI should solve the "deflection" issue.... I'm just not sure that it is big enough to deal with all the weight in our rigs front end.

[H3 Builder]

Originally Posted by 03H3

I want to keep the 4.56:1 axle ratio I have now. Will the parts be available either through GM or the aftermarket to get a 4.56:1 with the larger ring and pinion, for this housing?

Not sure what will be available through the dealer parts, I do know Alpha will be only have the 4.10.

[f5fstop]

Originally Posted by H3 Builder

Not sure what will be available through the dealer parts, I do know Alpha will be only have the 4.10.

Nothing shows in the parts catalog for 08 H3 vehicles. They have said the front CI diff will be available for sale, so if they meant it will be available for sale to a vehicle with the existing aluminum housing, then they must be making one available with 4:56 gearing.

[Sewie]

Originally Posted by 03H3

I wonder what it would involve to put a larger say 8.25 or 8.5 out of a Tahoe or Yukon into our trucks.

The front drive shaft would have to be custom, but?...

Custom halfshafts, maybe crossmember, so then a custom skidplate. IMO, it doesn't make sense to put money into a custom IFS application. Might as well do a SAS.