Yukon Gear Crush Sleeve Eliminator Kit For GM 7.5in & 8.2in

The GM 7.5 in. 10-bolt sat under S-10 and Sonoma pickups, Blazers, Astro vans and third-gen Camaros and Firebirds, and the older Chevy 8.2 in. 10-bolt was used in 1960s and early-1970s Chevrolet cars. Both are often rebuilt with steeper gears or a locker, and both come from the factory with a crush sleeve on the pinion. Yukon Gear & Axle SK CSGM7.5 replaces that sleeve with a solid spacer and a precision shim kit made for these two axles, so pinion bearing preload is set by measurement and does not creep loose behind a built engine.

How a solid spacer changes a 7.5 or 8.2 pinion setup

On a factory 10-bolt, the pinion nut does two jobs at once: it clamps the yoke and it collapses a soft sleeve between the two pinion bearings. The amount of collapse decides the preload. It is quick, but there is no reverse. Yukon's manual says the sleeve gives way at roughly 300 to 400 ft-lb of nut torque, and if you overshoot the target the sleeve is scrap. On small axles like the 7.5, a sleeve that relaxes after a few hard launches lets the pinion float, and the gear contact moves off the pattern you set.

The solid spacer from this kit does not move. Bearing spacing is set by the shims stacked against it, so you torque the nut fully, measure rotating drag, and change shims until you hit the number. Yukon's setup table lists:

• GM 7.5 and 7.6: 12-15 in-lb preload with new pinion bearings, 6-8 in-lb with used; 6-11 thousandths backlash; 65 ft-lb ring gear bolts; 60 ft-lb caps
• Chevy 8.2: 12-15 in-lb new, 6-8 in-lb used; 6-11 thousandths backlash; 55 ft-lb ring gear bolts; 60 ft-lb caps

Signs the pinion setup is loose

• A howl at steady cruise that started after a gear change or a rebuild
• Clunk in the rear when getting on and off the throttle
• Gear oil seeping past the pinion seal and onto the driveshaft yoke
• The yoke moves fore and aft when pushed by hand
• Repeat pinion seal failures on the same axle

Our GM 7.5 and 7.625 rear axle problems guide covers the noises and wear points that show up on this axle, and the pinion bearing noise guide explains how to tell a bearing from a gear problem.

How to confirm before you order

Pull the cover, drain the oil and wipe the magnet. Then hold the yoke and try to move it in and out of the housing. Any movement means preload is gone and the pinion bearings should be replaced; the eliminator alone will not fix a worn bearing. Plan the job as a pinion bearing service with this kit added. A GM 7.5 differential bearing kit covers the pinion and carrier bearings for a 7.5 rebuild.

Fitment

• Yukon Gear & Axle part number SK CSGM7.5
• GM 7.5 in. 10-bolt rear axle
• Chevy 8.2 in. 10-bolt passenger car axle
• Contents: solid pinion spacer and shims only

Two GM axles cause most mix-ups here. The Buick, Olds and Pontiac 8.2 in. axle is a different design from the Chevy 8.2, and Yukon gives it its own setup row. GM's later 7.625 in. axle is a revised 7.5. If your axle is a BOP 8.2 or a 7.625, or you are not sure, check the axle tag or ring gear size and send us the year and VIN before ordering. Other 10-bolt parts are in our rebuild kits section.

Install notes

• Press the inner bearing onto the pinion, then fit the spacer with a starting shim pack before installing the pinion in the housing
• Torque the pinion nut to the full spec in the service manual; do not stop short to control preload, because the shims now do that job
• Check rotating torque with a dial or beam inch-pound wrench; thicker shim stack lowers preload, thinner raises it
• Use a new pinion seal and nut and recheck preload after seating the bearings
• For a complete 7.5 refresh, the USA Standard 1982-1999 GM 7.5 master overhaul kit includes the bearings, races and seals
• If an axle shaft is worn at the bearing surface, a Yukon 1541H GM 7.5 rear axle replaces it
• Refill with 75W-90 gear oil, adding friction modifier only if the carrier is a clutch-type limited slip

Does SK CSGM7.5 fit the Buick, Olds and Pontiac 8.2?

It is sold for the GM 7.5 and the 8.2. The BOP 8.2 is a different axle from the Chevy 8.2, so send us the year and VIN or axle code before ordering for a BOP car.

What preload do I set on a GM 7.5 with a solid spacer?

Yukon lists 12-15 in-lb of rotating torque with new pinion bearings and 6-8 in-lb with used bearings, with 6-11 thousandths of backlash.

Is a pinion seal or bearing included?

No. The kit is the solid spacer and pinion shims. Order bearings, races and a seal separately or use a master overhaul kit.

Will it fit the 7.625 axle in later S-10s and Blazers?

The kit is titled for the 7.5 and 8.2. The 7.625 is a revised version of the 7.5, so confirm with us using your axle tag or VIN before you order.

Is a solid spacer worth it on a mild street car?

It is most useful on axles that see hard launches, steep gears, a locker or repeated gear setups. On a stock axle a new crush sleeve set correctly also works; the spacer just removes the risk of crushing it too far or having it relax later.