So I got this wierd 12-bolt rear axle under my '68 Chevelle. I want to keep it since 1.) it's a 12-bolt 2.) it has 4.56:1 gears and 3.) it has a Posi. I call it wierd because the lug pattern is 5 on 5.00 instead of the usual 5 on 4.75. To make matters worse, one drum is smooth on the outside where the other drum has cooling fins.

Now I have a '69 parts car out back with a 10-bolt under it. I was thinking of pulling the drums/backing plates off that car and sticking them on my Chevelle... Plus I was going to order a C-clip eliminator kit from Moser Engineering and I noticed the kit is for a 10-bolt or 12-bolt axle. It made me wonder if the 10-bolt axles would work in my 12-bolt housing???

Would 10-bolt drum brakes fit on a 12-bolt?
(ignore the lug pattern problem for the moment)

Would 10-bolt axles work in a 12-bolt housing?

I'm not sure what I should do now, any suggestions?

The brakes are shared between the two axles. The axle shafts are not interchangeable between the two. The spline size and count are different.

are you sure it's not out of a truck? does it have the "ears" to attach the upper control arms on top of the pumpkin?

It has "ears".

Perhaps the housing is from a "full-size" car? But why the 5.00 lug pattern?

Has anyone ever entertained the idea of drilling a new lug pattern on a set of axles? If I can transfer punch the holes from the drum I could drill new holes at 4.75... Maybe this isn't a good idea???

My brother's Delta 88 had a 12 bolt, it had the big bolt pattern. ****ed him off when he took some Monte Carlo wheels to get mounted. They already had the tires mounted when they figured it out. He only had the money to get them remounted on 3 of his old wheels. He had to ride home on the spare with no cash. That sucks.---Later---Josh

I don't know what that would be... 5" bolt circle, with upper bushing ears suggests 77-96 full-size, but then it wouldn't be a 12-bolt, since the 8.5" 10-bolt was the best they ever had.

12-bolt means it's '72 and earlier, and to have the C4L style brackets, it would have to be A-body.

I'd guess it has aftermarket or re-drilled axles.

The axles don't look special from the outside, I don't think they are aftermarket. I'll take a closer look later to see if they have been plugged and re-drilled (there is only one pattern on them now).