Yukon Gear 1541H Alloy Rear Axle For GM 8.2in

Owners of 1960s and early-1970s GTOs, Skylarks, Cutlasses, 442s, LeMans and full-size Pontiacs land here after a shaft snaps on a launch, a rear wheel starts to wobble, or the splines get sloppy enough to clunk on every throttle change. The Yukon YA G8.2BOP-L is a 1541H alloy replacement rear axle for the Buick-Oldsmobile-Pontiac version of the GM 8.2 inch ten-bolt: 28 splines, 29-7/8 inches long, built as an upgrade over a tired original shaft for a car that now makes more power than it did new.

What the axle does in a BOP 8.2

The shaft takes torque from the side gear in the carrier and delivers it to the wheel flange. The BOP 8.2 is a bolt-in design: the wheel bearing is pressed onto the outer end of the shaft and a retainer plate bolts to the axle tube flange, so nothing holds the shaft from the inside of the differential. That is the opposite of the Chevrolet 8.2 and 8.5, which use C-clips in the carrier, and it is why the two families do not share axles. Yukon ships this shaft with two spacers so it can take either common bearing: the thin 1/2 inch spacer goes with a sealed RW507CR bearing, and the thick .826 inch spacer goes with a Set 9 bearing. The spacer has to be on the shaft before the bearing is pressed.

Symptoms that point to the axle shaft

• A car that will not move in gear while the driveshaft still turns, the classic sign of a broken shaft
• Clunk or slack when you get on and off the throttle, from twisted or worn splines
• Wheel wobble, a tire wearing on one edge, or a flange that runs out when you spin it
• Gear oil on the brake shoes and inside of the wheel, often from a failed bearing that also chewed into the shaft
• A growl or rumble that follows road speed, from a worn axle bearing (see our axle bearing noise guide)

How to confirm before you order

Pull the drum and look behind the axle flange. Four nuts holding a retainer plate, reached through a hole in the flange, means a bolt-in BOP-style axle. No retainer and a C-clip inside the carrier means a Chevrolet 8.2 or 8.5 and the wrong shaft. Measure your old axle from the wheel mounting face to the spline end and count the splines; it should read 29-7/8 inches and 28. Note which bearing your car runs so you can pick the right spacer. Many of these cars have had rear ends swapped over fifty years, so the measurement matters more than the build date. If you are deciding between a stock-grade shaft and this alloy piece, our chromoly vs stock axle guide lays out when the upgrade pays off.

Fitment

Yukon lists this axle for the 8.2 inch Buick, Oldsmobile and Pontiac rear, 28 spline, 29-7/8 inches long. It matches the length and spline of the USA Standard ZA G8.2BOP-L stock-replacement shaft, which USA Standard Gear charts for 1964-1972 Pontiac Bonneville, Catalina, Grand Prix and GTO, 1965-1971 LeMans, 1964-1970 Tempest and 1967-1972 Firebird. Body style, bearing and length vary within this family, so match the measured length and spline count of your old shaft, or send us the year, model and a photo of the axle tag and we will check it before it ships. Order a shaft for each side that needs one; this listing is a single axle.

Install notes

• Remove the four retainer nuts and pull the shaft with a slide hammer or puller; the bearing comes out with it. A kit like the 13-piece axle bearing puller and seal driver set saves a lot of fighting.
• Bearings and retaining rings are pressed on and must be pressed off. Plan on a new bearing and retaining ring with the new shaft, and use a hydraulic press, not heat or a hammer.
• Install the correct spacer first: thin for RW507CR, thick for Set 9.
• Check the side gear splines while the shaft is out. Worn spider gears or a tired posi unit will chew up a new shaft; the Dura Grip posi for the BOP 8.2 uses the same 28-spline shafts.
• Refill with 75W-90 gear oil, plus friction modifier if the carrier is a clutch-type limited slip. If the center section is also noisy, the BOP 8.2 master overhaul kit covers the carrier and pinion bearings and seals.

Will this axle fit a Chevrolet 8.2 or 8.5 ten-bolt?

No. It is for the Buick, Oldsmobile and Pontiac 8.2, which retains the axle with a bolt-on plate at the outer end. Chevrolet 8.2 and 8.5 rears use C-clip axles with a different end design.

Which spacer do I use?

Yukon includes two. The thin 1/2 inch spacer is for a sealed RW507CR bearing and the thick .826 inch spacer is for a Set 9 bearing. Install it on the shaft before the bearing is pressed on.

Does it come with a bearing?

The listing is for the axle shaft with its spacers. Plan to buy a new bearing and retaining ring, since the old ones are pressed off and should not be reused.

How is this different from the USA Standard shaft for the same rear?

Both are 28 spline and 29-7/8 inches long. This one is Yukon's 1541H alloy shaft, sold as a stronger-than-stock option for cars that see hard launches or extra power. The USA Standard version is a stock-replacement shaft.

Is it sold as a pair?

No, it is a single shaft. Order two if both sides need replacing.

What gear oil should go back in?

75W-90 gear oil, with friction modifier added if the car has a clutch-type limited slip such as a Dura Grip or factory posi.