Install Info: Strano Springs/Bilstein SLP Shocks and Rear End Upgrades.

[New2chevy]

Swapping new 10 bolt in with new Eaton Posi, 3.73's, and Strano springs with Bilstein SLP shocks, all the way around.

Here are some pics of my progress, so far:


Working on getting the old rear out. I disconnected all the brake lines and brackets, ABS harness, from the axle tubes, diff housing, etc. I hung the calipers with coat hangers to get them and the brake lines up and out of the way. I removed panhard rod and shock mount nuts and LCA's at the rear only. Last step, with rear supported by jacks and 2x4's, was removing U-joint straps at the pinion yolk and pulling the drive-shaft forward. I then slowly lowered the rear and pulled it using the jack handles.
rear1.jpg

Got it out and put new Bilstein shocks in (half way in)
rear2.jpg

Old 10-bolt on left and new strengthened 10-bolt on right. It has the TA Aluminum cover with stud girdle and ARP carrier bearing cap studs, new Eaton posi and 3.73 gears.
rear3.jpg

Bilstein shock vs. old DeCarbon shock. Quite a noticeable difference.
rear4.jpg

Rear Strano springs vs. stock springs. Align the tops of the springs with the indentations in the upper rubber isolators. My isolators stayed stuck up in the upper shock mount locations.
rear5.jpg

GRRRR. I need to swap axles and backing plates from old rear to new rear because the ABS reluctors are on the ends of the axles on current setup. New rear has the reluctor sensor on the diff. housing .
To pull the axles shown on bottom: undo bolts that hold sensor plugs onto the backing plates, smack the ends of the axles until the sensors are pushed into the backing plate, which allows axles to go in far enough to remove C-Clips. C-Clips will pull right out with a magnet, as long as the open end of the clips are facing DOWN. The C-Clips do not snap onto the axles. They are held in once the axles are pulled outward and the center pin is re-installed on the posi unit. Pulling the axles without the reluctors is easy...just push them in and pull out the C-Clips with a magnet.
rear6.jpg