97+ rear ends
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From: Pleasant Hill OR
97+ rear ends
How strong are the 97+ rear ends? Do they compare with the 9 inch? Do they have disks? Would they hold up to a healthy, but not wild 460 with a heavy footed driver? Or tall tires? Or both?
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2000
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From: Senoia, GA
the rear in a 97 is the sterling 10.25 and the rears after that are the sterling 10.5. they are way strong than the ford 9" but there are alot less upgrade options for the sterlings. 97's are drums and the 99 's and up are disc. they will hold up to a considrable amount of abuse
-cutts-
-cutts-
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From: USA
The 9.75 is on the light duty F250 (the one that uses the F150 body) and possibly on some heavy duty F150's. I really don't know why Ford doesn't just call all of the trucks with that body F150's, it would be alot less confusing...
The 9" is rated from 2700 lbs in cars and early Broncos to about 3300 lbs in full size Broncos. Not sure what it was rated for in F150's, probably not more than 4000 lbs. The 8.8" is rated at 3800 lbs in pickups. The 9.75" is rated at 4500 lbs. The 10.25" semi-float is 5300 lbs, 10.25" full-float is 6250 lbs with single wheels and 8250 lbs with duals. The 10.50" is rated to 9750 lbs for single and dual.
These are weight ratings for the actual axles (except the 9", since I don't have that info). Weight ratings for the axles in the truck are different, as they take into account tires, wheels, springs, frame, ect.
The 9" is rated from 2700 lbs in cars and early Broncos to about 3300 lbs in full size Broncos. Not sure what it was rated for in F150's, probably not more than 4000 lbs. The 8.8" is rated at 3800 lbs in pickups. The 9.75" is rated at 4500 lbs. The 10.25" semi-float is 5300 lbs, 10.25" full-float is 6250 lbs with single wheels and 8250 lbs with duals. The 10.50" is rated to 9750 lbs for single and dual.
These are weight ratings for the actual axles (except the 9", since I don't have that info). Weight ratings for the axles in the truck are different, as they take into account tires, wheels, springs, frame, ect.
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Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Pittsburgh
The F150 9.75 has thicker tubes to get the greater weight rating. I've seen them often referred to as on par with the 9" as far as everything else goes. Kinda like how a D60 is a heavier duty axle than a 9, but R&P and axle wise (in a semi-float app), it's not as strong as a 9". A 9" with 3/8 tubes would be a good equivalent.
Justin
Justin
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From: Pleasant Hill OR
Sorry for the confusion, I was talkin about the half tons. I was hopin, haven't really looked into it though, that if The newer f-150 rear ends we're as strong as the 9 inch, and had disk breaks, I wouldn't have to worry about converting a 9 inch. How low of gears can you get in these rear ends?
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From: Rancho Cucamonga, CA
The light duty F-250 had an F-150 body, 8 lugs and Sterling 10.25 rear end.
The 9.75 are only on F-150's with the 5.4 V8.
Doesnt the D60 also have a 9.75 ring or something close?
My 99 F-150 (LOBO) 4x4 has the 9.75 rear end with 3.73 gears and a really tight LSD. I have done numerous burnouts and launches with 35" tires on pavement in 2wheel-low range (disabled the front axle lock) and I've even dragged a 7 ton RV up a slight incline for a few miles (in low range of course) and its still as solid as it was when new. The only weak thing about the axle is the E-brake. I had it in low range once and forgot to disengage the E-brake. The shoes and mounts inside the disc (it has disc brakes, but it has a drum based E-brake inside the rotor) got twisted and sheared off half way from all the torque.
To give you an Idea on how strong they are, The Ford 9.75 inch rear is also used on the F-150 Lightning and Supercharged Harley Models.
The 9.75 are only on F-150's with the 5.4 V8.
Doesnt the D60 also have a 9.75 ring or something close?
My 99 F-150 (LOBO) 4x4 has the 9.75 rear end with 3.73 gears and a really tight LSD. I have done numerous burnouts and launches with 35" tires on pavement in 2wheel-low range (disabled the front axle lock) and I've even dragged a 7 ton RV up a slight incline for a few miles (in low range of course) and its still as solid as it was when new. The only weak thing about the axle is the E-brake. I had it in low range once and forgot to disengage the E-brake. The shoes and mounts inside the disc (it has disc brakes, but it has a drum based E-brake inside the rotor) got twisted and sheared off half way from all the torque.
To give you an Idea on how strong they are, The Ford 9.75 inch rear is also used on the F-150 Lightning and Supercharged Harley Models.
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Joined: May 2000
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From: Senoia, GA
Originally Posted by Amtek
To give you an Idea on how strong they are, The Ford 9.75 inch rear is also used on the F-150 Lightning and Supercharged Harley Models.
-cutts-
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From: Metamora
The light duty F-250, later known as the F150 7700 had a weird 7 lug bolt pattern. Unfortunately, this has carried over to the 2004 F-150's.
Anyone know if the 9.75 and SF10.25 use the same axles in terms of shaft diameter and spline count? That would be a pretty good indication of survivability off road. Most of the carnage that I've seen is broken shafts, not gears or housings.
Anyone know if the 9.75 and SF10.25 use the same axles in terms of shaft diameter and spline count? That would be a pretty good indication of survivability off road. Most of the carnage that I've seen is broken shafts, not gears or housings.
Hotshot
Joined: Aug 2002
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From: BC, Canada
I'm pretty sure that the 8.8 and 9.75 use the same axles but the 10.25 uses bigger axles with bigger bearings.
One thing to remember about these rear ends is that they have C-clips holding the axles in. If an axle breaks the wheel falls off.
One thing to remember about these rear ends is that they have C-clips holding the axles in. If an axle breaks the wheel falls off.