I have a TJ with a Ford 9 regular pinion rear with 35 spline axles and 488 gears.
Don't wheel much in the winter, since it is snowmobile season, but I do drive it on the road daily.
I have a Detroit in the rear and don't like the way it handles on the snow and ice too much.
Is there any vehicle that I can scrap a third member out of that would be set up for 35 spline axles? I can't think of any, but I ain't so bright. I would like to set up a cheap third member with an open carrier that I could swap in in the winter. After all, that's one of the things that is nice about a Ford 9.
Thanks.

Sorry bud, but the 9" never came from the factory with 35-spline axles. They're an aftermarket thing only.

Maybe your best bet is to swap in a 31-spline 3rd member from an old Ford, and the shafts that went with it? This will work if your shafts happen to be the same lengths as some factory ones...

Chris

Thanks, that's kind of what I figured. I don't really want to switch the axles in and out too. I haven't looked into what it would cost to have a third member put together to fit this, since my whole idea was to do it on the cheap.

you have to pull the shafts to pull the 3'rd member:rolleyes:

Gosh...

Pull the drive shaft, (4) bolts.

Remove rear tires, (10) bolts

Remove axle shafts, (8) bolts

Remove 3rd member, (can't remember how many bolts)

Time 30 mins. That seems pretty damn easy to me...

I think if you look, you can a standard 3rd member with a 35 spline open carrier for about $500-600 bucks new. I'm sure you did some looking you could a used one for cheaper. Talk to your local 4x4 shops and see what they have kicking around. Maybe you could find one with a LS in it. Or sell the Deroit and get one of the ARB 35 spline units.

:flipoff2: welcome newby H.P.:flipoff2: nobody said it was hard to swap a 3rd or pull the shafts lamo. You might want to check your sources... 35 spline 9" open diffs don't exist, and don't fit in standard centers. I digress...back to the subject at hand.

If you can out until next spring, ARB is coming out with a 35 spline ARB for the nodular Ford 9" center section. Just checked into myself.

I talked with ARB as well and am aware of the ARB option. In fact, I have a warranty credit with them, from my ARB that blew up in my old 35 (what was I thinking). The only thing is, is that the Detroit is a much more reliable locker. And, I might put the ARB up front, because the Detroit up there makes for difficult steering on the trails.
$500 for an open carrier third member is more than I wanted to spend, although after the first snow and ice, I may change my mind. I will look around for a used one, although I don't suppose that is going to be too easy.
Thanks for the help.

What's wrong with you newbys?? What part of 35 spline open carriers don't exist do you not understand?!?!:flipoff2:

So what you're trying to say is that open carriers for a 35 spline axle don't exist? Why didn't you just say that in the first place? :rasta: :flipoff2:

maybe its because i'm a fawkin newbe, but why cant you just run a 31 or 28 spline open 3rd member in the winter? with matching 32 or 28 spline shafts of course. if youre not wheeling in the winter then you probably dont need the extra strength of 35 spline axles. and you have to pull the shafts to swap the third member, why cant you just throw in some different ones to match your open third? and its only like $90 to have currie narrow and respline some stock shafts. seems simple enough to me.

Wouldn't you need to change the bearings too if you changed the shafts?? Aren't the diameters different???

the carrier bearings come out with the carrier and the wheel bearings come out with the axle.

This might be the answer. I will see about getting a 28 or 31 spline carrier and axles. These I can probably find cheap. In fact, I think a buddy of mine has them. May just have to get them cut down. Thanks for the help.