Ford 9" and Sterling questions.

[koda6966]

My truck will be definitely seeing 35's, and it MIGHT see larger but I won't guarantee it. Instead of just tossing a 31 spline 8.8 under it I want to go with something a little heavier, plus I want to match my front width as I am doing an SAS for my 4x4 swap as well.

I could probably find a 9" easy enough, there's a lot of older trucks at my yard. But if I can find a Sterling, is it worth the effort? I'd be paying the same price for either one.

Also, what entails the swap? I noticed we don't have any write-ups on it and any thread I saw it was shortened. I don't plan on doing any shortening. From what I've read on the 9" swap, it's little more than playing around with the spring/shock mounts and then switching around the u joint on the driveshaft and your golden.

Also, I've heard of disk brake conversions for the 9" axle, is this true? That would be handy, but not entirely necessary. I think it had something do do with raping a 31 spline 8.8 for parts.

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

The narrowed sterling thread would probably be mine. Installing it full width would be no different than the 9" swap really. Move the spring pads to where they need to be, set the pinion angle and weld on. Weld on some shock mounts and put it under the truck.

There are a lot of disc swap kits for the sterling that are pretty damn affordable. Only downside is not having a parking brake unless you went with something like Cadillac Eldorado rear calipers which have the park brake built into the caliper.

You will probably need your rear drive shaft shortened as the sterling has a much longer pinion snout than the 8.8 does. You will also require a conversion U joint to mate it up to the sterling or change out the end of the shaft to the larger U joint size.

 

[koda6966]

I think it was your thread.

How does the 9" compare to the sterling for the length of the pinion? I think I might already be looking at a custom drive shaft either way due to my engine/trans/t-case swap.

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

I would assume that the sterling would be larger over all than the 9"

 

[bobbywalter]

10.5?


not much of a comparo.

if your staying under 300 hp and 40's i would do a ff9 for clearance and weight reasons.

actually just ff the 8.8

 

[kryptonitecb]

Or do your wallet a favor and get a 14bolt. More of them have been made than any sterling. Newer ones have disk brakes, and it you really want you can shorten them and still use stock shafts. Aftermarket parts are more abundant and cheaper as well. Only weak point is the pinion yoke but companies make guards to take care of that.

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

You can shorten a sterling and use stock shafts as well. Not to mention the better ground clearance you get with the sterling.

 

[cyclegrip]

I ran an 8.8 with a detriot under and f150 on 37's and never once broke anything on it and I like the skinny pedal

Sent from my DROID2 using Tapatalk

 

[koda6966]

It all depends on what your running it on.

I know for a fact that I would trash my 8.8 axle sooner or later.

Eventually my Ranger will no longer make sense as a daily driver (can't put kids in it) and then I'll have to get another vehicle. Since I am never going to sell this again (made that mistake once) it will become a dedicated trail rig. I'm not keeping my 28 spline 8.8 on a DTR, and I don't like spending money and upgrading more than once.

Going with a 9" for my truck.

 

[Bennybooster]

don't get a sterling for 35's, the diff will be dragging the ground

 

[koda6966]

lol, that's what I was thinking. Overkill for my tire size.

 

[Todd]

Or do your wallet a favor and get a 14bolt. More of them have been made than any sterling. Newer ones have disk brakes, and it you really want you can shorten them and still use stock shafts. Aftermarket parts are more abundant and cheaper as well. Only weak point is the pinion yoke but companies make guards to take care of that.

14 bolts are for the ford guys that don't know the 10.25 and 10.5 have stronger shafts and better ground clearance. Also the whole aftermarket thing was true 5-8 years ago.

 

[koda6966]

Agreed.

 

[Ford78]

Another choice could be a Dana 60. Parts are cheep,preety much any locker u could want and can always upgrade to 35 spline shafts and u should be able to get one for a lot cheaper than a sterlin or a 14 bolt.

Did a disc brake,spool and 5.13 gears and total rebuild alot cheaper than either of the other ones.

 

[koda6966]

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.