06+ factory 18's = 8.6 rear axle

[DustinC1989]

About a year ago I bought a 8.6 axle to replace the weaker 8.0. When searching for new bearings, seals and backing plates I kept finding V8's, EXT's and LT's with 18" rims all showed the same part numbers, all for a 8.6 axle...

I had posted on ORTB about it but knowing part store systems... chalked it up as wrong info.

BUT recently a new member went to pick up a 8.6 out of what was supposed to be a SWB V8, ended up actually being a 4.2 LT with factory 18" rims. It ended up still having the 8.6 in it.
Upon reading his build thread I remembered, I never checked my axle to verify. Sure enough, 8.6... 30 spline axles and 8.6 even stamped on the cover.
Checked a buddies Trailblazer that is the exact same as mine (other than color), 8.6.


So I'm hoping any others here with factory 18's can verify if they have the 8.6 also, 3/3 so far.

 

[IllogicTC]

I'm sorry nobody's ever answered this (unless they did on ORTB)

Many of our offroaders specifically scrap rears off an XL or EXT if they're not looking for a 4.10 ratio (or if they have the internals to swap that ratio in) because it is a stronger, bigger setup. I have a 2005, with 17" rims, and the tag still says 8.6 if I recall correctly, though I'm fairly certain it's not.

 

[djthumper]

He is from ORTB...