Gzes,
I can replace the axle in my 03 2500HD or my dad's 03 1500 Silverado just as easy as my 96 Silverado or my wifes 99 Tahoe.
I have no clue what you are talking about them being harder to replace.
Same thing u-bolts, u-joint, shocks. What's different? Really?
Avalability I will give you. Otherwise a 1500 axle (pickup, Tahoe, burb) is the same axle. Newer one's depending on year have disc/drum and went from an 8.5 ring to an 8.6.
So other then cost and avalavility what's so bad?
How is a new axle that mounts exactly the same so much harder to change? Just wondering, newer is usually easier, you don't break as much.
Maybe I am the stupid one, if so please correct me.
---------- Post added at 11:06 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:55 PM ----------
Will add, since I forgot, newer Tahoe's/burbs (not sure if both or all) have coils.
Will also add about gzes's comment about older axles being rock solid. That is a joke.
Do some reading. 1500 or 1/2 ton axles have a bad rep, plain and simple.
10 bolt to most people equals junk.
So that said if you want a real axle that is actually solid as a rock get a 14bt FF.
Something gzes does not have.
Really want to know how I know. I will put up some pictures. Blew out my rear in my 96, my 03 has almost caught up in miles. The 03 was bought to pull a 30' camper 10,000 dry weight. My 96 has had at most 6,000 pound 3 times about 12,000 miles. Otherwise light trailers.
My 03 now pulls 6,000 to 10,000 pounds, just depends on what I am moving.