9 inch 1 ton axle

[cumminsranger52]

So a buddy of mine that built a jeep for rock crawling told me that the 9 inch rear end is by far one of the strongest axles out there and if built right can be built for 3/4 or 1 ton application is this true? Also if it is what are things I would have to do to make this happen?

 

[RonD]

Good read here on differentials/axles: http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/axleguide.shtml

Here is specific 9" info: http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/9InchAxles.shtml

"Strongest" is an opinion of course, but in general the axles off a higher duty rated truck will be stronger than from a lighter duty, I know, duh

How to use/mount it would depend on the vehicle it would be going in, but pretty much any change would require removing and rewelding the supports to on the axle to match the vehicle

 

[cumminsranger52]

It's going on a ranger with a diesel

 

[Will]

No, no 9" will be stronger than a 1-ton axle. A one-ton axle is a full-floating axle, which means the axle shafts float inside of the load-bearing spindles and do not carry weight. A real truck axle is full-floating. Any semi-floating axle loads the weight onto the axle shaft. It uses much smaller bearings, there is only one bearing, and it subjects the axle shaft to a bending force while it is also transmitting power.

When Chrysler installed a Dana 60 in their Hemi cars, it was a semi-float Dana 60. What they were after was the ring gear and shaft twisting strength, not load bearing strength. My van had a Dana 60 as well, but it is not the same axle--it is full-floating with 1.5" shafts, but the weight is carried on much larger spindle bearings through which the shafts pass.

So, no, you aren't going to match a one-ton axle with a Ford 9", but you can make a 9" strong enough for any amount of power that a Ranger can put to the road. Just don't set a cube of bricks in the bed.