Call me stupid but could someone explain how a ford 9 inch will work in the front of a rig? I mean how does it rotate the correct way? Seems like if you put it in the front the tires would go in reverse? I am sure its a simple solution that I am overlooking but what is it? LASTLY, is a 35 spline braced front 9" as strong an a front Dana 60?
Thanks
Chad

Originally posted by 460 power:
<STRONG>Call me stupid but could someone explain how a ford 9 inch will work in the front of a rig? I mean how does it rotate the correct way? Seems like if you put it in the front the tires would go in reverse? I am sure its a simple solution that I am overlooking but what is it?
Thanks
Chad</STRONG>

FYI:
The front driveline is traveling the oposite direction of the rear driveline. (The rear travels Coutnterclockwise, while the front travels clockwise). That is why they can run standard cut D60 in Fronts.


LASTLY, is a 35 spline braced front 9" as strong an a front Dana 60?
Describe strength? As for the 35 spline shafts, they are made identical in size and strength.
But for housings, there are several debates on that subject. I personally have seen several guys snap their D60F housing when jumping and thrashing their trucks. But I personally have never seen someone break a properlly gusseted 9" rear. I have seen lots of non-gusseted rear 9" bend and break, but when built right, IMHO I think they are stronger(And severly lighter in weight)

B

I asked about strength differences because I have heard that the 35 spline 9" detroit is the weak link for the 9" hybrid. I have heard that the 35 spline detroit is weaker than the 31 spline detroit. Anyone else hear this? Where would the 9" be lighter at? All the components are basically the same except for the housing. Is a D60 housing that much heavier than a braced 9"?
Thanks
Chad

Who ever is telling you that they are weaker, I assume they have never installed one. To run a 35 spline Detroit or spool in a 9", you cannot run a stock thirdmember housing. The stock housing uses 2.95" diameter carrier bearings which are too small to fit the bearing and the 35 spline shaft through.
SO to run a 35 spline spool or Detroit, you must upgrade your thirdmember housing to a super High performance housing that has 3.250" carrier bearings.
This allows there to be more material around the splines on the differential or spool.

Yes, if you took a stock 31 spline carrier and recut the splines to 35, then you would substantaially weaken the carrier(Detroit).
BUT that is not the case because the bearing and carrier are larger to accept the 35 spline axles.
I dont have the numbers in front of me, but I believe that the D60 carrier bearings are around the same size as the large 9".

There are guys running 35 and 40 spline stuffj in 9" rear axles on race cars that run over 2000horsepower and these axles hold up. Very rarely will you see a drag car running a Dana 60, just for size and weight. (I am not saying no one runs a D60 in race cars, but if you went to a local race track and looked under some of the high horsepower cars, you would usually find a 9") I know 4 wheelers use their axles and drivtrain differently than race cars, but you asked about strenght issues.

B

Again, this is not from personal experience but from what I have been told. Being from a very reputable speed shop owner. The reason the 35 spline detroit is "supposed" to be weaker is in fact because of the bigger diameter axle shaft. The more space the shaft takes up the less space the detroit can use. Therefore less material of the detroit means weaker. I bet those 2000HP guys dont use a 35 spline locker. Why do you think they dont make a 40 spline locker? When you go that big a spool is your only option. When you are talking about "housing"do you mean third member or the actual axle housing? The guy I talked to said he has seen 35 spline detroits fail much more than 31 detroits. ust something to think about.
Chad

Quote -----
"To run a 35 spline Detroit or spool in a 9", you cannot run a stock thirdmember housing. The stock housing uses 2.95" diameter carrier bearings which are too small to fit the bearing and the 35 spline shaft through.
SO to run a 35 spline spool or Detroit, you must upgrade your thirdmember housing to a super High performance housing that has 3.250" carrier bearings.
This allows there to be more material around the splines on the differential or spool."
---------- Quote

OK, I'm pretty much sold on a front 9" front for my next trail rig project ...
The HiBred 9s are becoming pretty popular around here.
So where do you look for one of these "Super High Performance" housings?
Is it after market or something OEM? <IMG SRC="smilies/confused.gif" border="0">

super high performance is aftermarket only. As far as a 9" housing being light... You can hold a bare housing, gusseted even with your pinky. Try that with a 60!!!!!!! To people that care about the weight 9's are a good option. To those who say "weight don't matter" they probably need a 60 because their rig is so fawking heavy! Personally, I run a 35 splin 9 and have no problems with breakage even with 300+hp- I've tried. But then I only run 31"tires

er maybe they're 38"!! <IMG SRC="smilies/fj.gif" border="0">

summit has strange nodular iron cases for $350.
just about anywhere has high performance 9 inch stuff its the beauty of using an axle that all the dragsters run...

the reason 9 inch lockers are "weak" is because of the size of the gear... the 9 inch gear is thicker than any other gear so the ID is pretty small and when ya combine that with large 35 spline axles theres just not a lot of room for a locker which is why everyone runs a spool in the 9... its not that their weak its just that everything else is so damn stout when ya build it that the locker becomes the weak link....
if you havent read this you should.. http://performanceunlimited.com/illustrations/gears.html

peace
Jw

Ah just spool it. I've got 38" SX's with a full spool and 31 spline axles. It laughs at the 38's. 9" is a great differential.

<IMG width=640 height=480 SRC="http://www.pirate4x4.com/ubb/uploads/T3.jpg">
I just finished putting these CURRIE 9in. 31 spline 5:13/Detroits under this 91 SAS Conv. They used to be my axles! They have disc brakes all 4 corners!! I just finished putting the front "pumpkin" in today. I even trussed the axles for him. Another "SHOWTRUCK" done by SHAKER Go ahead and flame..... <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

Originally posted by Shaker:
<STRONG><IMG width=640 height=480 SRC="http://www.pirate4x4.com/ubb/uploads/T3.jpg">
I just finished putting these CURRIE 9in. 31 spline 5:13/Detroits under this 91 SAS Conv. They used to be my axles! They have disc brakes all 4 corners!! I just finished putting the front "pumpkin" in today. I even trussed the axles for him. Another "SHOWTRUCK" done by SHAKER Go ahead and flame..... <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"></STRONG>

WOW <IMG SRC="smilies/eek.gif" border="0"> Was that front axle under a full size rig before?
Those tires are hanging out far, Was that for stability, or just creativity?
B

BBrianR....it's the 16 wide bogger on 15x14 rims....

Witht that brace under the housing do you really gain much clearance over a D60???

The detroit is limited in size due to the 3rd pinion bearing. If your that concerned about breaking one, run a lenco locker.

The D60 still has a larger carrier and bearings than a 9". 3.815 vs 3.25, but its easy to shave the 9" to gain about an inch. Id add the brace to the front (back) of the housing insted of under it.