There has to be a limit , and G.M reached it ! That 6.2 put's out more power and torque
than a older 454 big block with a 3/4 or 1 ton rear (14 bolt). that gm 10 bolt is maxed out for sure.
They could either build a bigger rear or lower the trans ratio to make it up . It's simple math.
Ford did the same thing , it's a cost thing

 

and im sure there are modded 6.0s putting down more power then a stock 6.2, and simpe math it def is not, we dont know the stresses and strain that axle undergoes and the safety factor they use, is the axle under the 6.2 the same axle as the 6.0?

 

People can mod anything,that means nothing. you can stick a blown big block in your ranger with a 8.8" or 7.5" , or put 44" tires on your 10 bolt G.M that does not mean it works right. or it will last.

Every wonder why G.M made the SS truck a few years ago AWD ? (10 bolt)
The tahoe with the 5.3 in part time but the gmc/cad with the 6.2 is AWD (10 bolt)
AWD take's 50% away from that weak rear and spreads it out.
That is to save parts and help that weak rear to last.
Sorry it is simple math to most ,it's just about cost and getting more from less.
It is a lot cheaper to use and make work what they got.
If you refuse to belive the truth thats up to you but :

Why would G.M not offer the 6.2 with a 4.10 and have a killer tow machine ?
Why NO part time four wheel drive 6.2 that gets better mileage than AWD ?
The smaller motor's get part time and the bigger get AWD WHY not get the best milage out of them all?
REAR AXlE failure is why.

 

I don't know too much about axles, but you make a very strong argument....

 

I have not seen dyno numbers of through the range torque on either the 6.0 or 6.2, but I don't think the 6.2 is a 3/4 ton motor either, maybe the 6.2 is just a high horse power motor that has a peaky torque curve(compensation motor if you know what I mean), and will not pull a load as well as the 6.0. That makes sense to me because Chevy people seem to like to brag about how fast their trucks can go more than the towing or off road capability, and I don't mean that in a bad way it's just a Chevy heritage thing, it goes back to the 50's or further even.

I always thought high gears like 3.42 were harder on the tranny and axles, but easier on the motor, but low gears were easier on the tranny and axles, but harder on the engine because it revs higher. Is this correct or incorrect?

 

maybe no 4.10 gears bc the truck cant handle it, ford thinks the 5.4 is good till 12.5k in a 250, or maybe its tq curve isnt as good as the 6.0l and the math i was talking about was the actual stresses and strains on the axle, which is NOT simple math for most people

awd btw is rarely 50 50 split and it not to take tq away from a weak axle its what people want, gmc products are marketed to a higher braket then chevys, and those ppl want the no hassle awd, it has nothing to do with the rear axle being to weak, and awd actually causes more wear on tear on the powertrain

and a ss truck should be awd, for getting the power to the ground its an obvious choice since you cant run 4x4 on pavement, theyve also had tahoe with the 5.3 with awd,

your points may have correlation but are lacking cause and effect, axle failures just dont happen unless huge tires are put on

 

All I'm going to say is the more I see of this truck, the more I like it.

 

#1 AWD has no low range
#2 I used the 50/50 split to make a point that the power is split front to rear
#3 the Tahoe is NOT AWD it is part time 4wd with low range
#4 AWD has much less shock load (easy on parts),but has more to wear out and eat gas. You can NOT do a burn out with AWD. but can with part time 4wd or 2wd
#5 The fastest trucks out are Not AWD they are Rear wheel drive (Viper truck) for example.
#6 The 10bolt 3.42 axle is Much, Much stonger than the same axle with a 4.10 due to the large pinion
#7 With modern transmission's the rear axle ratio is not the final say in tow ratings
#8 Just as another example : the Toyota FJ with a stick is Full time 4wd ,the Auto is part time. Why ? They don't want REAR axle problems from dumping the clutch. The V8 4runner is Full time ,the V6 4runner is part time. WHY ? because they both use the smallish 8" rear axle. see a pattern forming here.
#9 Everything has to be idiot proof these days.
#10 I am done

 

Previous generation Denali with the high output 6.0 (same as the SS) used 4.10 gears.

Current generation Denali is available in both 2wd and awd.

I might be wrong, but I think that 3.42 gearing is more for nvh and economy than trying to keep it from breaking. They have over 4 seconds of tq management to help save the drivetrain.

btw, the 6.2 is available in several 09 models of gm trucks that are not awd, it is no longer Denali/Escalade exclusive.

 

a trip to the dragstrip lets you know how chevy rear ends go. usually something like this:

10 camaros show up.

7 of them are on street tires
2 of them on drag radials
1 of them on slicks.

the one on slicks and 1 of the drag radial ones have automatics and a ford 9" rear.

the other one on drag radials goes home on a flatbed.