Number 2 son has a '71 F-100 with a bad rear axle bearing. It looks like there were 3 different rear ends available - so 3 different bearings - and he says there is no tag or anything stamped on the axle tubes (I haven't driven out to see it myself yet).

Is anyone here aware of a quick way to ID the different rear ends with an external visual inspection? # of bolts, diff cover size/shape, etc?

I hate to rely on door tag info in this case b/c this truck has apparently been around the block a few times so no way to know yet what's original. I figured I'd head out and look at it this weekend but I'd sure like to start out with y'alls accumulated knowledge.....

 

Since it is a F100, I would guess old fashion 9 inch rear, but this is my favorite site for reading about axles. I was going to say rears, but that's another publication altogether...

Kevinstang's Ford Nine Inch Differential Page +

--Mike

 

Since the bearings need to be pressed on, find a shop that:

a: does that kind of work

b: has the bearings or access to them.

If you have the ratio tag and code (and it is original, a big IF) we can find out what ratio and if it's 28 or 31 spline.

 

Pressed on? I hate it when that happens. But, if that's the case then I don't need to ID it, I just need to carry the axle in and have a machine shop deal with it. Thanks for the info.

Mike, that link is pretty much what I was hoping to find (pictures/descriptions), thanks very much. And yes, pictures of differentials is definitely a different set of sites than pictures of rears....