2009 H3 Half Shaft (cv) compared to non 2009 Half Shaft (cv)

[theBroken]

What I have here is a 2007 and a 2009 front axle shaft for a hummer H3. I recently started selling take offs for Gm vehicles and as of late I started partnering to buy H3's to re-sell. I have sold more halfshafts than anything from all years and I also get more questions about them than anything. What I have found out it that the dealer still only has 1 part # for the H3, H3T, and H3 alpha including the 09 with the front locker, they are all the same front axle shaft part #. There are definite changes in the design. The 09's are bigger, thicker, longer and heavier. Now I measured them with a tape so its not real accurate but it looks like the 09 has a different inner cup and shaft but the outer cup unfortunately looks the same. I would be interested to see someone who has had ONE replaced in a 2007. They should have two different size half shafts installed. Here are some pictures, like I said the tape is inaccurate but I never moved it so you can at least see the difference between the 2. The inner splines are at zero.

bOTTOM ONE IS THE 2009 TOP ONE IS THE 2007

2007

2009 YOU CAN SEE IN THE TOOLING, ITS NOT TAPERED AS MUCH AS THE 07

2009 TOP 2007 BOTTOM

2007 LEFT 2009 RIGHT

[Hunner]

It was my understanding that the Alpha had different ones (longer) than others with aluminum diffs, maybe the same as that 09. I found when I was looking for steering racks and such that when something new or changed came out, it was awhile before the books or online Hummer parts even at the dealer showed the new part number as a replacement. The front locker was like that for a long time after they came out that was not a parted out list for it alone. I wonder if the 09 is even different because of the front locker? F5 might can shed some light on that issue. Keep us posted.

[theBroken]

It was my understanding that the Alpha had different ones (longer) than others with aluminum diffs, maybe the same as that 09. I found when I was looking for steering racks and such that when something new or changed came out, it was awhile before the books or online Hummer parts even at the dealer showed the new part number as a replacement. The front locker was like that for a long time after they came out that was not a parted out list for it alone. I wonder if the 09 is even different because of the front locker? F5 might can shed some light on that issue. Keep us posted.

I should had also mentioned that Ive had 8 of these so far, they all came from base models and all the 09's were these heavier shafts. I wanted to put the carriers next to each other and compare them but I sold the 09's I have.

[Hunner]

How much were you selling them for??

[f5fstop]

Many dealers use non-GM parts catalogs published by firms such as Reynolds and Reynolds and they are not as up to date as the actual GM published catalog which can be updated hourly if required.
If the Alpha required a longer and different shaft, and then through testing, GM might have found that it could be used in older vehicles. If so, they would drop the old style from production and let it slowly sell away stock in the warehouses, and which point the newer shaft would be the only one available. Don't want to warehouse two different shafts if not necessary. (That's what happened with tie-rods in mid 07.)
Other than that I have no f'ing idea what GM is doing right now; hell, the don't know what the f' they are doing. And honestly don't care as long as my pension check keeps arriving in the bank monthly.

[theBroken]

How much were you selling them for??

185$ shipped in most cases. I had to charge shipping in canada.

[4speedfunk]

I know a guy with a 2008 Alpha, that had the retaining snap-ring fail (while cruising on the street). The half-shaft slipped out far enough to clear the splines, and caused him to be stranded. Not sure if it screwed anything up. The dealer replaced the half-shaft and all was well. Maybe thats the reason for the slightly longer length?

[theBroken]

I know a guy with a 2008 Alpha, that had the retaining snap-ring fail (while cruising on the street). The half-shaft slipped out far enough to clear the splines, and caused him to be stranded. Not sure if it screwed anything up. The dealer replaced the half-shaft and all was well. Maybe thats the reason for the slightly longer length?

Its good to know they are fixing problems though.

[4speedfunk]

Yeah. I sort of feel sorry for GM. At least they are trying.

[f5fstop]

Part Number history of shaft...
Manufacturing part number was originally 10374204 for start of production. Then went to 15905106 on September 1, 2006. When the Alpha was released the service part number went to the current number 15886012 and has not changed since. No explanation as to why, but I will assume it was either for the Alpha that will service all as I explained earlier.

[theBroken]

Part Number history of shaft...
Manufacturing part number was originally 10374204 for start of production. Then went to 15905106 on September 1, 2006. When the Alpha was released the service part number went to the current number 15886012 and has not changed since. No explanation as to why, but I will assume it was either for the Alpha that will service all as I explained earlier.

This is a nice little upgrade then. People have been just buying them for spares I think.

[Hunner]

Mystery solved??? Thanks F5stop (D300)

[phazer42]

PN 10374204 was changed due to an insertion issue that would sometimes arise into the differential. It was supposed to break point sometime around January 2006 to PN 15905106

The PN 15905106 was changed to PN 15886012 with an implementation of November 2006. This change was to increase the shaft bar length to 341mm and increase the shaft diameter between the boots to 28.6mm. The inboard joint also changed (was increased) due to off-road warranty issues.

[Hunner]

PN 10374204 was changed due to an insertion issue that would sometimes arise into the differential. It was supposed to break point sometime around January 2006 to PN 15905106

The PN 15905106 was changed to PN 15886012 with an implementation of November 2006. This change was to increase the shaft bar length to 341mm and increase the shaft diameter between the boots to 28.6mm. The inboard joint also changed (was increased) due to off-road warranty issues.

That is very detailed information. Was that available thru notifications that dealers are supposed to have or did you have some other reputable source? or would you have to kill us if you told us?
Thanks
I checked at my dealer parts yesterday since the sales manager called me down there to answer some questions they had about dumping some parts on EBay. I still really like the sales people. They parts guy gave me that "I dunno answer" like that was too much trouble to look up. I think parts like service is glad to get rid of Hummer. The have always acted like it got dumped on them when the Chevy dealership swapped out with the GMC, Pontiac, Buick, Hummer one, and the three Hummer experienced tech went up there. Seems they are dumping anything Hummer they have in stock. It was a strange meeting. "Dump" seems to come up alot
I was going to ask again at the GMC place today about more details, since that is where I get service, that is where I got the information about the length.
Thanks again for the info.

[phazer42]

the info I have at my finger tips is more detailed then that of which a dealer can get.... I sit a couple of isles away from the engineer's who worked on that program....