i think this goes here.. but anyways.. will a f150 9in rear axle fit on our trucks? with or with out mods?

 

Useable if you don't mind pushing the track width way out. You may need to relocate the spring perches and/or shock mounts as well. You'll also need bigger u-bolts, and different spring plates to go over the springs. When you weld the spring perches back on, keep pinion angle in mind.

If you can get one cut down, that's even better. Plan on using the brakes on the 9" because I think Ranger brakes will not fit. Not sure about parking brake cables and all.

 

Plus you will need the wheels off the 9 inch. The lug pattern isn't the same.

 

aight thanks alot.. was lookin at one today on a wrecked f150.. but i just changed my mind

 

also after you fab the crap out of it to make it fit your spedometor wont work any more because ours runs off the diff.

 

Yup, no speed sensor in the diff of a 9". I wish, but thats why i have to use an exploder 8.8 on my sas.

 

nope...different bolt pattern, wider, no VSS, requires new driveshaft...anything else u wanna know?

 

Depends on the year. 2001 and up have a separate transmission tailshaft sensor and only use the axle for ABS. That may have changed in 2004, but I don't have prints to confirm that.

 

if you use a 9 inch of a car, then the bolt pattern will be the same. it will still have to be narrowed however. now im a huge fan of the 9 inch, many people know that, i have one on the torino from the factory. but, on a 2wd, your best bet would be an explorer 8.8, with discs, and the 31 spline axles.

john, disc brakes are easily added to ford 9 inch rears, using a cheaply fabricated bracket and S10 calipers. my brother in law and his friends mass produce the brackets. i cant remember what kind of rotor they used though...

 

Well, I hope Tom Barcia figures out adding discs to the 8.8 cheaply soon. I could use them with the 35's.

 

If that is true, then how can the speedo read accurately in 4wdlo? Just wondering because i would much rather run a 9" than an 8.8.

 

Very simple. There is a signal that goes from the transfer case limit switch to either the GEM or the PCM (I forget which handles the speedo signal) to tell it that 4lo is engaged.

If it came from the rear, that would be excellent, because then re-gearing wouldn't change the speed indication -- but it does.

 

If you want to know anything and everything about 9"'s including which are the best to use (they are not all the same) read over at www.dezertrangers.com all the dezert guys use the 9" to widden/strengthen the rear and know exactly whats needed to do the swap.

 

2004 Rangers also take the vehicle speed signal from the OSS sensor in the tailshaft housing.



2001-on send the OSS signal to the PCM where it is adjusted for axle ratio, tire size and transfer case range before being sent to the speedometer as the VSS.

 

I've heard that the swap can be a major pain in the backside, mostly for legal and inspection issues. Although I believe the recount(s) I read were in reference to older (late 90's) trucks, not '01 plus. So if what John is saying it might be easier. Although ABS might still generate a CEL and give you legal trouble. I seem to recall a guy on ORR that was after a stock axle to 'borrow' for a weekend. I got the impression he wanted it to pass an inspection!Yup, it is electronically massaged. In fact if you were to say have some sort of problem where your t-case position sensor were to go south then when in 4Lo vs 2/4Hi you will sometimes get very interesting speedo readings.. like driving down the highway and passing everyone in sight at 35MPH.. or crossing a parking lot at 60MPH..

Ask me how I know!

 

So how do you know?

If they guy on ORR was in CA (I remember that, just not who) then inspection isnt a problem. We may ***** about SMOG, but we can do ANYTHING to our trucks here and no one will inspect it or give a damn (as long as its not SMOG related )


If your going to swap in a 9" with stock front end, then do a lot of research as some years of the 9" were smaller than others. Some are real wide and some are real narrow. And dont just limit your search to F150's, the 9" came on TONS of Ford vehicles for the last 30years or so...

 

Why would you want to do a 9" swap ? I know its stronger but I think the 8.8" 28 or 31 spline is very capible and rated to handle a lot of horsepower, and torque.

 

Because I had that exact problem. Thought the sarcasm was pretty evident.

I've heard a couple reports of people having issues w/ the manual t-case in LII equipped trucks. The position sensor was just one of them. There is also a TSB out regarding part of the linkages. And then there are the general fit/finish issues many, like Bob have reported. I know I read somewhere that one guy took his shifter out and bent it w/ the help of a bench vice to get it to work a little better.
It was my understanding that a CEL = failed inspection. I thought that guy's problem was than he had a CEL due either to no speed info being sent (no sender in pre '01 truck w/ swapped axle) or because of an ABS fault (no ABS sensor on swapped axle).

Either way, he couldn't get a sticker.. ..Well, that's what I thought I read anyhow.