Ford 9" - big bearing vs small bearing

[candidate zero]

Ok guys, I just got a set of axles from a '76 EB and the rear is a small bearing. These axles will be going on a YJ, planning to run 36s.

My question is, should I still use the small bearing or would I be better off trying to find a big bearing? Or should I look into converting the housing I already have? Just trying to figure this out before I start spending money on this thing.

[gssfc]

Originally Posted by candidate zero

Ok guys, I just got a set of axles from a '76 EB and the rear is a small bearing. These axles will be going on a YJ, planning to run 36s.

My question is, should I still use the small bearing or would I be better off trying to find a big bearing? Or should I look into converting the housing I already have? Just trying to figure this out before I start spending money on this thing.

What do you plan to do with it?

Tim

[candidate zero]

Daily driveable trail rig. Nothing too crazy, but I want to it to be done right. Planning on SOA with 4.56, spool or locked rear (not sure yet). It's going in a YJ with a 4.0/AX15. I just want to make sure I'm not wasting money with the small bearing 9". From what I can tell by looking around, I'm limited to 31 spline axles, and it's harder to find a good disc brake kit. Thanks for any help.

[GoatASS]

do you have the brake equipment with the axle or just the housing? I bought a currie HD BB ford 9" housing used and it has been sitting in my garage for years because disc brakes will cost between $500 and $700. Just something else to think about. 31 spline shafts should be good for 35's and a 4.0.

You have a hell of a lot more cheap brake options with the small bearing and they are dirt cheap.

[sb643]

OP- a small bearing 9" will be just fine for your application.
3 variables necessitate strong axles; High HP, big tires, & weight. You're just fine on all 3 counts.

FWIW, you could put disc brakes on ANY 9" rear end (with 5x5.5) for under $200; and that's using all new parts, including paying the core charges on the calipers.. and doing the work yourself, of course.
Do some research, kids. The information's out there.

[greyzj93]

the big bearing housing is alittle bit stronger plus bigger bearing obviously. You should be fine with the small bearing but i'd find a big bearing if you haven't put any money into this one.

converted mine to disc with dana 60 weld on caliper brackets (some grinding to fit to tubes), waggy/k20 calipers and pads, and front f150 rotors (the ones from the hp44 era). and thats about it. way less than $700. its really cheap and easy and man do they stop well.

[mrblaine]

Originally Posted by GoatASS

do you have the brake equipment with the axle or just the housing? I bought a currie HD BB ford 9" housing used and it has been sitting in my garage for years because disc brakes will cost between $500 and $700. Just something else to think about. 31 spline shafts should be good for 35's and a 4.0.

You have a hell of a lot more cheap brake options with the small bearing and they are dirt cheap.

I don't know where you're pricing brakes, but a Torino Big Bearing Ford housing end will take 8.8 rear disc brakes perfectly.

31 spline shafts are good for bigger than 35's by a fair margin.

[GoatASS]

Maybe I'm shopping on google v2.0 and everyone else is using v3.0 because I'm not seeing where you are getting your parts so cheap. I've looked at all my options from welding brackets to getting it from a junkyard. The housing we are chatting about here is for the ford Bronco. I've got the 78 version with what I recall to be 1 1/4" spacing between the axle flange and the housing end. between running the new brackets, calipers, and rotors I can't find anything less than $400 if I go without parking brake. This is not something that is the typical swap because of the spacing between the axle flange and the housing flange. Also, running the big ends (see picture). Please prove me wrong because I need to get this off my garage floor.

The best deal I've found that looks like it will work is from here: ($295 w/o Calipers)

http://broncograveyard.com/bronco/i-...1-2-studs.html

[GoatASS]

Housing end

[mrblaine]

Originally Posted by GoatASS

Maybe I'm shopping on google v2.0 and everyone else is using v3.0 because I'm not seeing where you are getting your parts so cheap. I've looked at all my options from welding brackets to getting it from a junkyard. The housing we are chatting about here is for the ford Bronco. I've got the 78 version with what I recall to be 1 1/4" spacing between the axle flange and the housing end. between running the new brackets, calipers, and rotors I can't find anything less than $400 if I go without parking brake. This is not something that is the typical swap because of the spacing between the axle flange and the housing flange. Also, running the big ends (see picture). Please prove me wrong because I need to get this off my garage floor.

The best deal I've found that looks like it will work is from here: ($295 w/o Calipers)

http://broncograveyard.com/bronco/i-...1-2-studs.html

What shafts do you have?

[GoatASS]

I've got the stock 31 spline on one side and currie (or other) replacement on the other side.

[candidate zero]

Originally Posted by GoatASS

You have a hell of a lot more cheap brake options with the small bearing and they are dirt cheap.

Could you point me in the right direction? Thanks.

[GoatASS]

Originally Posted by candidate zero

Could you point me in the right direction? Thanks.

You will need to search to match your equipment and whatever you want to use (drum/disc). The best site I found for Bronco parts is http://broncograveyard.com

This site also has good info and good pricing.
http://www.bcbroncos.com/frontbrakes.html

Just to on the safe side I suggest you measure your housing end flange to determine what you have. From that point you have an assortment of possible options as posted earlier. The ford 8.8 and such...

If you are looking for the best prices I found if you ebay your brackets and source your parts from your local napa you end up with the best deal. But, the kits in the websites I posted cost about as much as putting it together yourself.

hope it helps.

[candidate zero]

I have a small bearing housing. It had drums, but I took them off to convert to a disc setup. I was wanting to use the weld on brackets, but now I'm not so sure.

[sb643]

Originally Posted by GoatASS

Please prove me wrong because I need to get this off my garage floor.

First off, stop looking at 'kits'.
For my response, I/we presume you have a welder &/or the capability to have things welded (which may up the cost, if you have to pay the welding labor).
I got weld on brackets from speedway, calipers/pads from summit, brake rotors & lines from o'reilly, and CO2, mig wire, & 4 1/2" grinder discs from the local metal/welding supplier. I got 95% of the info for how to do it from Pirate, and the other from one of the top results of a google search.

[edit to add- my e-brake setup is a line locker, & I got it at less than retail price. If you paid the full 40something that summit charges (or more for whoever's) it could put the total disc brake conversion cost at or above $200.]

I had 2 late 70s bronco 9" axles before I got the late 70s f150 unit I currently have, and neither are significantly different from the early 70s F100 unit I have under my dump trailer. So, I'm not sure I follow you on the 'difference' .

& as Mrblaine said, the torino housing is a shoe-in for 8.8 disc brakes- which only means a bit of your time at pick-n-pull & less than $100.
When I had an 8.8 under my jeep I got some PnP brakes (calipers, rotors, pads, hardware & backing plates) for 30something dollars on half-off day a couple years ago.


&& like I said in my previous post -ANY stock 9" housing (at least those I've come across, which include all the above named & more) can be used with the parts I outlined above.

[mrblaine]

Originally Posted by sb643

& as Mrblaine said, the torino housing is a shoe-in for 8.8 disc brakes- which only means a bit of your time at pick-n-pull & less than $100.
When I had an 8.8 under my jeep I got some PnP brakes (calipers, rotors, pads, hardware & backing plates) for 30something dollars on half-off day a couple years ago.

Yeah, but his axles may not have the right offset for discs. I'm still working on that one.

[candidate zero]

I was going to look into this:

2 brake rotors from a- 2001 Dodge Ram 1500 4WD Front Rotors
2 Calipers- IF you want the cable E-brake lever- 1978 Cadillac Seville rear calipers or I believe you can also use El Dorado calipers.
---------- IF you don't want the E-brake- 1978 Chevy K1500 Front calipers.
2 pair of disc brake pads- 1978 Chevy K1500 Front
Brackets- I home made mine, but that was before I found These from RuffStuffSpecialties.
You will also need 10 new lug studs from a 2001 Dodge Ram 1500 4WD

[candidate zero]

Any thoughts on the brake setup having issues with the EB housing? Thanks guys