I am going to ask for some thinking cap exercising. When Randle and I were at the F100 supernats in TN last year, we were talking to a guy with rear disc brakes on his truck. He was telling us something about he used an Explorer axle in his 9". He said he had to slightly ream out the axle housing I think to make it all work. I know I should have wrote down his directions, and neither Randle nor I can remember exactly what this guy said. I do remember he said it needed to be an older version like 1995-2000 or so. This appeals to me as to keep the strong 9", get rear disc brakes, and match the bolt pattern of the crown vic front end. Does any of this make sense to anyone???

 

If you'll look to the Bullnose trucks/Broncos, there was a 9-inch rear end in them that had the large axle bearing 'Torino' style end flanges.

They have the same 3.150" bearing bore as your current old style large axle bearing 9-inch rear. Where they differ is the hole pattern for the backing plates. Your truck's 9-inch would have a (4) hole pattern of 3.50" horizontal spacing with a 2.375" vertical spacing. The 'Torino' pattern is 3.56" x 2.00".

Your backing plate bolts would also be 1/2" in diameter. The 'Torino' flange pattern backing plate bolts are 3/8" in diameter. --there was also a 9-inch rear end in the trucks during that time (late Dentside through Bullnose era) that had 3/8" backing plate bolts but, they were on the old large bearing flange pattern of 3.50" x 2.375". --3 possible different backing plate bolt configurations on the 9-inch truck rear ends during that time.

The 'Torino' flange pattern is an exact bolt pattern match for the '95-'01 Explorer rear disc brakes to bolt onto the 9-inch rear end housing. There are two catches though. You will have to run a wheel lug pattern of 5 x 4.5" and, you'll need a custom pair of 5 x 4.5" axles with a pair of spacers.

This is a 1981 Bullnose 9-inch rear end I have with the 'Torino' style large bearing end flanges. --this 9-inch has a beastly set of 2.47:1 gears in it. This rear end has the 5 x 5.5" lug pattern.

Rear end shown still in the '81 wrecking yard donor truck, before I pulled it. I gave $100.00 for it.








Before you go to pull a rear end from a truck, measure the center-to-center distance between the two vertical 3/8" backing plate bolts. If the distance is greater than 2.00", it's NOT a 'Torino' style large bearing 9-inch rear end and the Explorer rear discs will NOT bolt up.

 

This is a 1981 Bullnose 9-inch rear end I have with the 'Torino' style large bearing end flanges. --this 9-inch has a beastly set of 2.47:1 gears in it. This rear end has the 5 x 5.5" lug pattern.

I had an 81 SuperCab with those 2.47 gears with a 351M and auto. That thing had no power, but it would spin the right rear like crazy in the rain, or on tbe boat ramp. Stupid Ford idea.

 

I wouldn't use the 2.47:1 3rd member in this rear end. I have several 31-spline Traction-Lok 9-inch 3rd members with much better gearing; 3.25, 3.50, 3.70 and 3.89 ratios. But, this 9-inch housing is compatible with a set of Explorer rear discs that I have.

 

Ranger nailed it. There was a write up by hot rod a little while back saying pretty much the same thing.

 

I knew that someone much smarter then I would have an answer about this. Now I just need to digest the information.

 

Chew with your mouth closed now johnny. Because it sounds like a mouthful!

 

Some additional visual aids to add to what I was previously trying to explain.

Old style large bearing flange on the right, newer large bearing 'Torino' style flange on the left.



--This diagram doesn't mention there was also an old style large bearing pattern (3.50" x 2.375") with 3/8" diameter backing plate bolts but, it shows the other Ford flange dimensions.



1984 Bronco 9-inch rear end with 'Torino' end flanges, Strange 5 x 4.5" lug pattern 31-spline axles and Explorer rear disc brakes. (Davewilde's photos).








Parts powdercoated prior to final assembly.

 

That is pretty much what I am trying to achieve, only on a tight budget.

 

Ultimately, I need to:

• Locate newer "Torino" style flange.
• Cut my existing flange off my 9" diff & replace with the "Torino" style flange.
• Locate axles with 5x4.5 bolt pattern to match my CVPI front end. (I understand it is actually a 5x114.3 bolt pattern.)
• Locate Explorer rear disc brakes.

Is this about the sum of things?