Howdy all, i recently swapped a 9" axle in my 95 ford bronco. After many re-fabrications it worked. Well due to the recent breaking of an axle shaft i decided to upgrade the shafts to 31 spline and get a full detroit locker instead of the welded open i had. My only delima is im not quite sure exaclty the type of axle i have. I know its a 9" axle from an early model ford. Thats about as far as my knowledge goes on it though. I have all the measurements on the axle tubing and the axle shafts should that be any help and i believe the original shafts. the old shafts are 33.5 inches tall from bottom of axle(stud flange) to the top of the splines. I will say that the axle did not fit under my bronco due to the wide stance of the leaf spring perches, so we cut them off and welded them a little closer in. The local Four Wheel Parts store here in Dallas sold me some shafts but they are to short by a few inches. The million dollar question is what axle do i really have? and did ford make a heavy-duty 9" axle that is wider than the rest, or do i simply have an older model axle? I do have the stock axle identification plate if anyone knows how to decode it. Here is the info on the plate:
WEV - R1 6F1 (top line)
3 00 9 711A (bottom Line)

Any and all help and information on this would be much appreciated.
Thanks,
Gary
:-X11

 

I have noticed a difference in the axle shaft lengths. Got to be carefull when junk yard shopping.

Silly rabbit. Jeeps are for chicks!!
"If you're not getting stuck, you're not trying"
76 F100

 

I have found that pre 74 9" truck rears are narrower than the axles in 74-82 trucks. Try to find out what year the donor vehicle was.

 

Hey!
I have hear that Ford vans used a wider axle than the trucks. The springs perches also were different. Also hear that they discontinued many of the parts for this 9" out of the 70's. So steer clear and get one from the 80's. My suggest to you would be go to Jefferson street in Dallas, take a buddy that has lots of tools, and find a 9" houseing out of a truck. Then bust your finger in between a driveshaft and steel wheel. Then and only then you will get the right axle! OOOOO WAIT.....we did that today!

Dan "Mudinford" MacDonald

'86 Ford F-150 4x4 w/ a spooled mono Dana 44/a spooled 9" running 38" TSL. 300ci, Clifford Intake and Headders, .05" Milled Head with SBC valves, port work
500 CFM Edelbrock, Clif. 290* cam with Rhoads lifters, .040" TRW Pist w/ Moly rings.
Future plans: A draw through Twin(or big single) Turbo setup (to help with the upper end)

 

 

Yea thanks Dan good idea, shame you didnt tell me that before we went and maby I wouldnt have busted my finger. Good information on the history of the 9", how did you get that per chance cause im sure your sources are very reliable. HEHE. thanks.