I picked up a Explorer rear end for my F2 and when I got it home I notice it had about a16th of an inch play in both axels, thats in and out not side to side. Is this normal? theres also a big rubber lookig like doughnut off the front whats that for? It came off of about a 90 4x4 [drum]

 

While I`m sure you will get answers here soon you can also post this in the Clutch,Transmission, Differential, Axle and Transfer Case forum https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/forum69/

 

yes thats normal, it just bumping against the cross pin and the c clip. The rubber donut thing is probably a vibration dampner. You can toss it.

 

Gary E, why would you advise to toss the donut??? Jon

Flushed, you have a PM

 

I also have a 94 explorer rear end in my 55, I ran mine with & without the rubber doughnut and haven't noticed any difference so I also tossed it.
Jaye

 

That in and out play is normal for any rear end where the axles are held in place with C-clips...

 

Well, I wanted to read what Gary had to say about tossing parts that actually serve a purpose. The donut thingy is a damper since this rear had a built in flaw with vibration which led to possible cracking at the plug weld. . On some exploders , you can hear the " whirring " noise. I heard mine with and with out on a dyno during build and I was convinced it works. Not real loud when in an old pickup, very loud in a new ride,but the vibration is still there. It is a good idea to never toss parts until you are real certain what the engineered intent is.
Jon

 

I would not be too worried about it, if you want it to look really clean underneath there and are concerned about weight ditch it.

 

I'm going to leave it on. one of the reasons I picked this rear end out of a bunch of Explorers was this one was the only one that had it.
thanks for your help Dennis

 

Good thinking Dennis. SOmetimes common sense does prevail. And don't forget to start your gallery, we just love pictures.

Jon