Mine's a little short, so I am looking for a 9" rear for my TJ. I want one that is already 62 to 64" wide. Most I am finding in F150's and Bronco's are 65" which is getting too wide. I know they made a million differnent widths and the whole big bearing, small bearing, 28 spline, 31 spline etc. Can someone tell me what axle I need to be looking for? Early Bronco? Some old Car? Station wagon? Is there a chart of widths somewhere on the internet?

early bronco is closer to 60-61 I believe. A car may have the width your looking for, but you'd most likely have to change out to 31 spline

For how common the 65" axle is in vehicles and junkyards I'd just run it. 64 to 65 inches is 1/2 of 1 inch each side, just use a set of wheels that push the tires in another 1/2" per side.

plus all of the 65" truck axles are big stud, big bearing, 31 spline axles.

Justin

For how common the 65" axle is in vehicles and junkyards
They are also very easy to shorten to what you want. Just grind the welds, drop on flange end to your length. Check to make sure you kept is straight, and weld up!
I've a friend that did this, worked well enough for him.

For how common the 65" axle is in vehicles and junkyards I'd just run it. 64 to 65 inches is 1/2 of 1 inch each side, just use a set of wheels that push the tires in another 1/2" per side.

plus all of the 65" truck axles are big stud, big bearing, 31 spline axles.

Justin

Not necessarily...My 9" is out of an 80' 2wd f150 and it is 31 spline small bearing.

I should know better with Ford. I should rephrase that.

All of the 65" truck axles should be big stud, big bearing, 31 spline axles. If it came out of an F-150 it should be a 3750lb axle which are supposed to be the big bearing axle.

Justin

plus all of the 65" truck axles are big stud, big bearing, 31 spline axles


As said, they should be but no, 28spl are there too, i have one iin my 82 f-150 flareside.

Also axle lengths vary greatly too, as well as if its either a tapered roller bearing or not, which also determines the type of seal, which also determines whether the axle is machined for the seal too.

I talked to someone today and got even more confused. There apparently is something called a 9 3/8 rear that was used also to add to the mix of splines, bearings, etc. (Looks almost identical but has a 9 and 3/8 ring gear). The 9" carrier will fit a 9 3/8 hsg but not vice versa. But I think you just have to cut a notch in the 9" housing to make it work.

I am interested in cutting down a housing. I have heard everything from it's no big deal to you will almost certainly warp the housing and have problems.

That rear was used in the lincoln's, and yes they can be swapped, but theres no support for the bigger 9. whatever it is.

the 9 3/8 came in late 60's thunderbirds, mark series, and big mercuries. they are 31 spline big bearing and fit into a 9" housing. the common swap is to put a 9" third memebr in one so you have more gears to chose from that 2.75, 3.0. and 3.23.

But you haev to swap the whole third, i don;t think any internal parts swap.

Justin

You might check some ford vans. I've got a couple 9's here, both from vans. I'll dig em out and measure. I'm pretty sure the 1st gen econoline is too narrow, maybe even narrower than the eb. I have a 9 from a 2nd gen econoline that might be close. Only downside is it's 5x5.5 not 5x4.5 like your Tj. Most of the truck 9's will be 5x5.5 anyways I guess.

i built a 9" for a tj about 6 months ago and used a housing from a '69 mustang with a 390 (i know these are kinda rare) and the width was almost perfect. i did have to buy custom axle shafts though.

the 9 3/8 came in late 60's thunderbirds, mark series, and big mercuries. they are 31 spline big bearing and fit into a 9" housing. the common swap is to put a 9" third memebr in one so you have more gears to chose from that 2.75, 3.0. and 3.23.

But you haev to swap the whole third, i don;t think any internal parts swap.

Justin

You can also find 9 3/8" in some early F100's. Generally with a 4 pinion track lock. The carrier bearing caps swap, the adjusters swap, the CARRIER swaps, but the housing, pinion support and others do not. the housing is something like 5/8" longer than the 9".
Teh only internal difference is a bit of clearancing on the lower and uper sections where the ring gear enters the carrier and minor clearnacing on the back of the housing.

The good thing about the 9 3/8" rear, is that the axle housing is of the stouter variety.

You can run a 9" third in this housing. I ran a 9" in a 9 3/8" housing for over a year, and now i have a HI9 in there.

two more things to add, the 9 3/8" housing is easy to find, they are give awasy because people don't know what they are, and the axle shafts will go right into a 9" 31 spline. and they are of the older heavier type that can be re-splined.... some food for thought

Well if you can live with a 8.8" you can do what I've done. I took a 1987-96 full size 8.8" & used two short side axle shafts ( passengers side axles ) and narrowed the drivers side of the housing 2.25". This will give you a 31 spline axle with 5 on 5.5" lug pattern with a 62.25" wms to wms. This also makes carrying a spare rear axle easier because the shafts are now the same length. You should also note that the tubes should be welded the the center section of the housing & or a weld on truss will help too.

2wd 70's F100's were 61-63 inches.
Came in both 28 and 31 spline.

2wd 70's F100's were 61-63 inches.
Came in both 28 and 31 spline.

You sure? I've only found 31 spline axles in all full size Ford trucks, 28 spline axles in EBs & passenger cars.

Yes 28spl were used in trucks, not overly common but they are out there, i have a set of 28spl out of an 83 ish in my 82 flareside.

Pre 1973 truck were 28 spline.

Good info to know. I've built 9"s for cars from the 50s, 60s & 70s, but trucks from 70s & 80s.

I got a cheapo EB 9" (wanted to be as close to stock width as possible). Small bearing & 28 splines. After a days work - it is now a 35 spline big bearing 9"

http://www.4x4shots.com/albums/userpics/10016/normal_P1010370.JPG

http://www.4x4shots.com/albums/userpics/10016/normal_P1010371.JPG

http://www.4x4shots.com/albums/userpics/10016/normal_P1010376.JPG

the new ends were about $80 for the pair. God knows what I got the shafts for... Moser.

Pre 1973 truck were 28 spline.

not all, i have a 31 spline out of a 72

I have a question (not to hijack a thread), but I was told that some EB have big bearings and 31 splines. Is that correct?

I have a question (not to hijack a thread), but I was told that some EB have big bearings and 31 splines. Is that correct?

From what I've seen and read they only came with 28 spline. But did have both big and small bearing sizes.
I have one from a 66' another from a 74' both are big bearing 28 spline.
For one source. http://www.wildhorses4x4.com/category/rear_axle

From what I've seen and read they only came with 28 spline. But did have both big and small bearing sizes.
I have one from a 66' another from a 74' both are big bearing 28 spline.
For one source. http://www.wildhorses4x4.com/category/rear_axle

This is correct. There were no 31 spline EBs from the factory. And I have yet to see one, but apparently there is a medium bearing as well:shaking:

You also have to realize the last EB rolled of the line 30yrs ago. There's no telling what's stuffed under/in it now without tearing it apart.;)

This is correct. There were no 31 spline EBs from the factory. And I have yet to see one, but apparently there is a medium bearing as well:shaking:

You also have to realize the last EB rolled of the line 30yrs ago. There's no telling what's stuffed under/in it now without tearing it apart.;)

If I understand correctly the medium bearing is basicly a big bearing axle with the small bearing brakes, or somthing along those lines.

Did the Stroppe broncos have 31 splines? For some reason I thought they did, not sure if you could call them "factory" though.

Brewchief:D