When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
sorry if this is a dumb question, but how strong is a 9" rearend? what is it comparable to? dana ** just curious because a junkyard im doing some work at has quite a few around.
imo, It compares well to most axles for up to 35 inch tires. What it lacks is weight carrying ability compared to a Dana 60. Being off-road with weight in the back, an axle with a much bigger tube would be nicer. Then again, the 9 inch is nice for clearance and being able to get a HP carrier.
It is the standard by which all others are measured. Preferred by the hotrod crowd because its easily adaptable to a wide variety of applications. Ratios can be swapped in a parking lot because the carrier removes in one unit. Abundant as originals and lots of aftermarket upgrades. It was produced from 1957 thru the late 80's and used in half-ton pickups and hi-po cars. Drum or disk brakes, 28 or 31 spline axles.
It is at least as strong as the 8.8" and dana 44. You have to go to a dana 60 to get something more rugged, but the 60 is much larger in bulk and weight.
That's my perspective anyway.
The 9" is very strong for it's size. Some components that make up the 9" are comparably AS strong or STRONGER than the same pieces from a D60. The ring gear is much thicker, although only 9" in diameter. The bearing caps are much stronger than those on a dana 60. The pinion uses 3 bearings, almost completely elininating any side to side movement of the pinion under load. It's only draw backs are the small diameter tubes, small diameter axle shafts and small diameter ring gear. sunray engineering has a bunch of pages dedicated to the 9".
If the axle is a 8.8" then yes it is stronger, and not just because the ring gear is .2" bigger, there are those other factors. It's the best 1/2 ton axle with the a stock 5 on 5.5 lug pattern you can put in a vehicle. And the aftermarket is huge. If your looking for brute strength and not caring on lug pattern, don't waste your time with a 9" or even a dana 60, 10.25 is the way to go, rated the second strongest 1 ton axle out right now.