I am thinking of converting my daily driver half ton over to a one ton rear axle for towing. i already use this truck for this purpose but I am worried about the rear end holding up to the abuse of towing my '82 chevy mud runner around after 150K miles. I have a one ton rear end out of a '90 chevy of same body style. but when it comes to the front, thats where i think i will run into problems. FYI my truck is 4x4. I know that chevy has K1500 HD 8-lug hubs. My question is, can i buy these 1/2 ton HD unit bearing hubs and get them to fit. And then what about the brakes. I know I'd need new rotors but will i also need new calipers. Basically is this project even worth the hassle or am i better off just getting my rear axle rebuilt  and living with the smaller axle.  

There is a simpler solution. Forget using the 10.5 FF and sell/trade it for 14 bolt 9.5 inch semi floater. It can be had in 6 lug and 8 lug flavors. It is a big upgrade over a 10 bolt and about the equal of a D60. It also weight about 75 to 85 pounds LESS than a 10.5 too! ALso, for what it is worth, with stock tires sizes, the 10 bolt holds up pretty good even towing if you use 85w140 in warm weather. BTW, around 1990, GM increased the axle shaft diameter in 10 bolts by .1 inches.  

I appreciate the info. I'll look around for something like that. I just figured I have the D60 why not try and use it. Thanks again.  

wilyoffroad:
I appreciate the info. I'll look around for something like that. I just figured I have the D60 why not try and use it. Thanks again.

If you have a D60, it is not from that 90 because they did not come with them. They came with a 10.5 GM 14 bolt FF I mentioned above. Also I might add that 1500HD is really a 2500HD relabeled more or less with same front drive axle and same rear springs.The only real difference is that the 1500HD came with a 9.5 inch semi floater in rear vs 10.5 in 2500HD but over the years GM has used both axles in 2500 trucks and in 1 ton vans too.Also, the 9.25 front drive axle (used on 1500HD, 2500HD and 3500's) and it parts will not interchange with parts with a 8.25 drive axle used on a  1500.  

hi when you say 14 bolt 9.5 inch semi floater what do you mean, i have the same problem .
i have a 1999 2dr tahoo diesel with a small rear end.
i'm thinking of installing ARB locker ans some pepole said that the axel is not build for that.

i have 6 lug and its very had for me to fing a 6 lug 2500
.can you give me a good advice on that?
THX
Ron  

The 9.5 has a 14 bolt cover but it does not have full floating axle and does not have the hubs sticking way out into wheels like 10.5. It is a lot stronger than 10 bolt and you merely need to swap axle shaft to convert it from 6 lug to 8 or the reverse. 88 to 99 LD 3/4 tons came with a 9.5 and 6 lug hubs. You might double check your Tahoe because you "might" have a 9.5 in there now if it came with a 6.5.