I know it`s 9 inch, but from what? ID badly needed

[James R]

What is it with this cursed axle?

Check it out, This is it!
But the seller doesn`t know what it`s from either..

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Ford-9-i ... enameZWDVW

[fordman]

something i just thought of. the rear axle that sticks out of the center of the hub is larger on a van and truck than a car. car hubs or rims wont fit a truck rear axle. the rims will fit the front of a truck but not the rear of a truck.

[AustinTom]

For a long time Ford 4x4 ran a wider front than rear track width. Even 67-72 2wd have a wider front, which would account for your Front axle being as wide as it is. As for the Dana 60 rear in a half ton, Ford used a semi-floating unit with 5 lugs in 1/2 tons occasionally.

[James R]

fordman, do you mean like the hole in the wheel won`t fit over the hub and/or the raised portion of the rear drum kind thing?

For a long time Ford 4x4 ran a wider front than rear track width. Even 67-72 2wd have a wider front, which would account for your Front axle being as wide as it is.

my front is a Dana44 though, does that matter?
The mystery is still the 65.25 wide 9 inch, judging by that e-bay seller I know mine isn`t a one of a kind axle, they were put into something!
Do you suggest my 9" was swapped in from a 2 wheel drive F-100?

[fordguy_78]

cuple of 9" width sites say 73 to 86 ford van

[craftsman]

Went this weekend and removed the third member from an 1981 van, the passenger side axle was a couple inches longer than the driver side axle.
Also the axles were 28 spline with big bearings, the axle shafts slimmed down at the spline end.
This was out of a 300 six drive train van.
I have the tag that was on the thirdmember if it will help any, i believe that this rear has never been opened, the gear ratio was right on with what was on the tag.
Also i could be wrong but while laying under the van the axle housing looked wider than that on the 73-79 trucks, but i did not have a tape measure, i still getting parts off of it i will check on it next time i'm there.

[fordman]

fordman, do you mean like the hole in the wheel won`t fit over the hub and/or the raised portion of the rear drum kind thing?

yes the car rims had smaller center holes in the rims and would not fit on a truck rear axle. they would fit on the front because the front of the hub where the bearings are is smaller in front than the rear stubby axle thing sticking out of the hub.

[James R]

Thanks guys.
I am having new shafts built with my original shafts as the template, I`ll check back if I figure anything out and to see if any of you happen to stumble upon an answer. I hate a mystery like that and although I will have new shafts I`ll still always be searching for the truth!

Fordman. My rims are Bronco style, i.e they will fit trucks, so I don`t think the 9 inch is a car axle then if what you say is correct

Went this weekend and removed the third member from an 1981 van, the passenger side axle was a couple inches longer than the driver side axle.

hmm that kind of squashes the van idea right there, since my shafts are equal length.

Don`t forget the 9 inch housing is the old "Banjo" style as seen in the pics and the ebay listing.

Thanks again guys, great community here!

[fordman]

i contacted the guy in the listing and his center of axle that sticks out is the same as my trucks 2 7/8 inches so his must be out of a truck or van

[James R]

HEHE, that`s funny, I`ve had some of my explorerforum pals email him to try and milk an ID from him, he must be wondering why there is so many questions and zero bids.

It all kind of adds up to being the same as mine but he did tell me that his perches were 44.5 inches center to center. Mine were 44 inch I`m pretty sure, but I wasn`t too worried at the time I measured them because I was cutting them off at the time, I could be wrong cuz it`s not something I can check..
Those shock mounts (ebay)are exactly as I remember them.

[James R]

A breakthrough of sorts, next door neighbor to the guy That gave me the axles apparently knew the previous owner well. He swears the donor was a Bronco, either 72 or 73. It fell down a gully onto it`s roof hard and they cut th ebody off and scavenged the engine out of it.