A couple 9" questions...

['99 EB Explorer]

I posted this same thing in the Ranger axles section and didn't notice. So I'm re-posting here. Sorry.




So to start things off, I'm looking into saving up for the Dixon Bro's Racing long travel coilover swap for my Explorer.

http://www.dixonbrosracing.com/content/view/8/6/


It says it makes the truck 4.5" wider per side.

Based on my measurements, I'd have to find a rear axle that measures 68.5" in order to match up to the front.

I've found that a '72 Ford Van 3/4 ton has a Ford 9" that's 68" wide.

My big problem with that, however, is that I JUST bought my rims that are 5x4.5 bolt pattern and that's the way I want to stay.


Is there a way I could get this axle to work with my stock bolt pattern? Or, is there another axle available that I haven't noticed that would work with this?

Thanks for the help in advance.

 

[Bennybooster]

You could get wheel adapters, which I would not rccomend. Or I have heard or people either re drilling the axle shaft ( probly wrong term) or getting custom axles for the rear

 

['99 EB Explorer]

Yeah..I was leaning towards custom shafts..but I have no clue how much that would set me back and not sure where I'd get that done around here.

Ideally I'd like to maybe come across some shafts that have the 4.5" bolt pattern that are long enough to swap in. Although I doubt that any of those exist.

 

[Rogue_Wulff]

Check for 80-82 F100 axles. Some of these trucks used the 4.5" bolt circle, and they all had a 9" axle.
If it wasn't pouring rain still (6" and counting in the last 3 days) I'd crawl under my 80 F150 to get an axle width measurement for you.

 

[wahlstrom1]

You won't find a stock axle in the 4.5" pattern that wide, and if you do manage to wrangle up a 3/4 Econoline axle (they're rare around here...) then all you need to do is redrill the axle flanges to the small pattern and do a little work to throw your explorers disk brakes on it.

Having a slightly narrower rear isn't usally a big deal though, and actually helps in cornering. IIRC they're 65", so 1.75" per side which wouldn't be too bad.

 

['99 EB Explorer]

it would be more than that. The 8.8 on the explorer is only 59" wide according to the charts in the tech library and the econovan axles "should" be 68".

I'm just trying to get as close as possible 'cause I can't stand the look when the front is wider than the rear. The old chevy 3/4 tons are bad for that.

 

[mhughes165]

it would be more than that. The 8.8 on the explorer is only 59" wide according to the charts in the tech library and the econovan axles "should" be 68".

I'm just trying to get as close as possible 'cause I can't stand the look when the front is wider than the rear. The old chevy 3/4 tons are bad for that.

actually.....the front of your explorer is already wider then the rear, take a tape measure to it if u dont believe me....

and it wouldnt be more then that.....u take the axles out of the 9" that measure 68" and u take them to a driveline shop(if u cant do it yourself) and have the flange redrilled for 5x4.5 and then get creative for your disc brakes to be swapped or look into the dirt simple 9" disc brake conversion.

simple