Ford 9" and Sterling questions.

[wahlstrom1]

I was HARD on my 31 spline detroit locked 8.8 on 37's and it never gave me issues... I'm now rocking a full float 35 spline 9" for what its worth....

 

[koda6966]

I'm inquiring with the local and state PD about the laws and how often they're enforced regarding my tires. May go with an explorer 8.8 but I'll definitely pick up a 9" to build on for when I take the ranger to trail rig status.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

It will cost me the same no matter if I get an 8.8, 9", sterling, or D60.

I'd much rather go with JY parts and build it up myself, than buy one pre-built and have to deal with another persons mistakes and half ass jobs.

I don't know what they are like in your area, but JY's here are full of trucks much more likely to be packing 14B or D60's.

For me that would mean I would have greater selection to get a better axle and better chances of finding more parts if I should happen to break something.

 

[Andres629]

I'm going to be rocking a locked 9" on 37's, and then 39.5's. It depends on what front axle you're going with though. If you're going with something 8 lug, go with a 14b. Everything is cheaper for the 14b than a 60, lockers, gears, etc. A Sterling is great though too, but sometimes hard to come by in the JY. Here, we have 9" axles out the wazoo, so it's no problem to get parts if I break something. And they can be hogged out to run 35 spline shafts, too.

 

[koda6966]

I have an incredible supply of parts. I'm very well connected to the local yards.

 

[koda6966]

Plus if I can't find what I want I'll just buy a whole truck. There's no such thing as having too many parts trucks.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

There's no such thing as having too many parts trucks.

My wife thinks so but she's WRONG!!!

As I quietly sneak into the next room to type this so she can't hear me

Richard

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

Sterlings are hard to find? They came under every f250/350 since 1984 in both semi and full float.

 

[kryptonitecb]

Every yard I go to has rows of chevy trucks with 14b's. Dana 60's and sterlings are there but still the 14b has been put on more vehicles than any other. Which makes finding parts for it cheaper. As for strength I have no idea which is truly better. Both are on 1 ton trucks so they can't be that different.

Sent from the road while ignoring traffic

 

[cdawall]

You could always run the bastard child Sterling 9.75 which is just as strong as the D60 and just as abundant. Only downside being the semifloater issue. I am personally going 93 up Sterling 10.25 so I can keep my speedo, the shafts don't sheer at the splines like 92 down and the better clearance vs a 14B then again I am also going to run a set of 38.5 or 39.5s on it.

 

[kryptonitecb]

X2 on clearance, one downfall of the 14b is the massive diff it has. They can be modified but that takes money and experience.

Sent from the road while ignoring traffic

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

You could always run the bastard child Sterling 9.75 which is just as strong as the D60 and just as abundant.

Dunno if they are as strong as a D60...

Since to my knowlage only 5.4 E/F-150's got them they really are not as abundant, they ran that D60 forever and most of the '150's are new enough they get stripped for shops rather than go junkyards. They also have goofy five lug or six metric boltpatterns.

They don't have NEAR the aftermarket following even the 8.8 has in stuff even as simple as gears let alone lockers or limited slips.

 

[cdawall]

Dunno if they are as strong as a D60...

http://www.fourwheeler.com/techarticles/drivetrain/129_0802_ford_f150_975_axle_build/viewall.html

Overall it is stronger if you want to get technical. 1050 steel 34 spline shafts vs the 1040 steel 35 spline shafts of a good D60. It holds a heavy advantage.

Since to my knowlage only 5.4 E/F-150's got them they really are not as abundant, they ran that D60 forever and most of the '150's are new enough they get stripped for shops rather than go junkyards. They also have goofy five lug or six metric boltpatterns.

# Expedition: 1997 - 2003 (Rear)
# F150: 1997 - 2007(Rear)
# Mark LT: 2006 - 2007 (Rear)
# Navigator: 1998 - 2007 (Rear)
# E-150 1/2 Ton: 2008 - 2010 (Rear)
# F-150 1/2 Ton: 2008 - 2010 (Rear)
# F-150 1/2 Ton: 2008 - 2010 (Rear)

They also offer 5, 6, 7 and 8 lug versions all of which are metric however some do match the Ford D60 fronts and you could always redrill to your lug of choice. This on top of the F150 being the best selling truck in America so there are a few out there.

They don't have NEAR the aftermarket following even the 8.8 has in stuff even as simple as gears let alone lockers or limited slips.

How much more aftermarket do you need it has all of the big name lockers, lunchbox lockers, and LSD's. Gear choices are good enough for the size of axle and it has plenty of covers. What more do you need? That's like saying buy a 14B over a 10.25 for the aftermarket when the 10.25 has better clearance than a shaved 14B.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

How much more aftermarket do you need it has all of the big name lockers, lunchbox lockers, and LSD's. Gear choices are good enough for the size of axle and it has plenty of covers. What more do you need? That's like saying buy a 14B over a 10.25 for the aftermarket when the 10.25 has better clearance than a shaved 14B.

Where do you find this stuff at? Neither Summit, Jegs or Randy's Ring and pinion show dit squat for lockers. Randy's Ring and Pinion shows two lockers for the 9.75 (and none of those are lunchbox) and eight for a 8.8... the 9.75 is a lot bulkier too. Gear selection is pretty thin too. I have a 9.75 and have done some looking for something besides the problematic factory L/S before.

The trucks that had a 9.75 in a u-pull-it type operation usually either have the rear axle folded in half from the wreck or the axle is long gone (and so is the engine so unless you can read a VIN you don't know what you missed anyway) Basically only wrecked million mile beat down POS '97+ trucks make it there to start with.

I have never had a problem with mine, it has only needed brakes... but if my 8.8 can't hack it in my Ranger I would go floater and be done with it.

I was suspect of the 9.75's strength because they didn't even make it into the F-250LD/F-150 7700 trucks, they opted for the semi-float 7 lug 10.25 instead (the 9.75 was never 7 lug) What did they put it in that got them 8 lugs? All of their applications are very cleanly half ton rated as far as I know.

 

[Decker]

If it helps any, I had an open-diff 8.8 with 36's on my full size bronco. I've beat the TAR out of it. I jumped it in the sand dunes, dragged it across rocks, dropped the truck on it and wheeled everywhere in 4-Low 1st gear (E4OD) and it never, EVER gave me troubles until the last time I jumped it. (on accident).

I went off a 10' tall razorback and landed all 6500 pounds of Bronco on the back axle. It slightly bent the tubes and punched holes at the leaf perches. I ran that for another YEAR before the u-bolts started working themselves loose and eventually took out the pinion.

Yeah, I'd say an 8.8 is pretty damned tough... I'd venture and say it's just slightly behind a 9" in strength...