2019 thru 2021 GM Half Ton's. Two Axle Suppliers.

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Dec 11, 2006
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North Carolina, USA
Just wanted to share some information I found out on my ’21 Silverado front and rear axles. Seem like for at least 2019 thru 2021 for GMC and Chevy half tons, there were two differential axle manufacturers. AAM (American Axle Manufacturing) and GM.

AAM axles were supplier A RPO SU4 front axle, RPO SU7 the rear.
GM axles were supplier B RPO SU5 front axle, RPO SU8 the rear.

These axles look different and the easiest way to identify, for me, was to look at the axels. The GM rear has the GM emblem stamped on the bottom of the differential housing. The front axle the same GM mark of excellence symbol stamped near the output shaft. It was very easy to locate these markings.

The AAM axles call for AC Delco 10-4091 (GM 19300457) 75W85; High Efficiency; Synthetic Hypoid Gear Oil. This a GL-5 oil.

The GM axles require AC Delco 10-4122 (GM 19368514) 75W85 Dexron Low Viscosity Gear oil. This is a GL-4 oil. A new formulation not like yester years GL-4.

Best I can tell this is accurate from my online research. I tow with this truck and wanted to find out before hand what gear oil I would need when I decide to change it and found out about the two different axel suppliers. In the grand scheme it may not make any difference as aftermarket gear oil suppliers seem to list only one oil for the models. However Rock Auto does show different AC Delco oils for each axle supplier. Hopefully this may help someone in a similar situation.
 
i'd like more info on the AC Delco 10-4122 (GM 19368514)
typically gl-4 isnt enough protection for hypoid gears... wonder how that fuel economy gear oil would perform over 120000 miles of towing etc.
Initial thought:
I think aftermarket gl-5 75w90 would be fine and deal with the .1mpg loss.
 
i'd like more info on the AC Delco 10-4122 (GM 19368514)
typically gl-4 isnt enough protection for hypoid gears... wonder how that fuel economy gear oil would perform over 120000 miles of towing etc.
Initial thought:
I think aftermarket gl-5 75w90 would be fine and deal with the .1mpg loss.
  • GL-4 is suitable for hypoid gear service when they are under severe service but are without shock loading.
  • GL-5 is suitable for hypoid gear service under severe service and shock loads and not for use in a gearbox.

That kind of caught my attention too. The 10-4122 is listed as GL-4. But it's a new formulation. I don't know enough about differentials to know what type of shock loads they would incur. But I do agree a GL-5 in the GM axle would probably work fine. I forgot to mention in the OP that my truck did have the GM axles, both front and rear.
 
Here is some images of the axles in question. Like I stated earlier, if you crawl under and look the GM ones will be stamped with GM.
Under the diff on the rear, and looking from the driver side it's stamped on the side of the diff housing.


9.5" AAM rear:
9.5INCHAAM.thumb.jpg.dd208a09e9e9d2deb30fb31ccd0e7bde.jpg

9.5" GM rear:
9.5INCHGM.thumb.jpg.8b729718718c0ee056676b7f3a3bd882.jpg

AAM Front:
AAMFRONTAXLE.thumb.jpg.f51dc2f235f505a563ef4bc0c7267665.jpg





GM Front:

GMFRTAXLE.thumb.jpg.f8cf90cc8827c094ca24af7f07258e20.jpg
 
So... which one is the stronger, less troublesome, quieter? If one was buying a new truck, what one is the more desirable axle?
There have been almost very little issues with GM axles-up to this point.
 
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Follow up here as I finally did get the correct gear oil for the GM axel in my truck. In post one I stated that the GM real axel required part 10-4122 a GL-4 oil. Now that I have it, it clearly says it is a GL-5. When I originally researched the type I needed, 10-4122 was referred to as GL-4? Anyhow, that's settled.



IMG_2815.jpg
IMG_2814.jpg


But I do have some gear oil in my shop that is actually labeled as being BOTH GL-4 and GL-5. I was understanding that GL-4 and GL-5 were different types of oil.
 
Never messed with the GM lubes … all my G80’s have always been fed 75W90 Delvac 1 …
 
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