I'm new to 9" Ford rear ends. I'm looking at an 85-89 Bronco rear end with 3.50 equa-lock. Is this a good housing to narrow. No matter what rear end I use it will need to be narrowed, there isn't a factory 9" narrow enough. Anyone any experience cut-to-fit axles? I need to put together a rear about 48" backing plate to backing plate. I searched the site but couldn't find the answer I'm looking for. Thanks
I'm using a '57 Ford station 9"---All stock, you can work out the width outside to outside of tires with offset (backspace) wheels, to get desrired look.
1957 and 58' Ford wagons or Ranchero's are the narowest 9" housings Ford produced. You shouldn't have to narrow one of these. Early Ford Maverick's have the narrowest 8" housings. Hope this helps you out. Ron
What do you want it to look like when you are done - centered housing / centered pinion / don't care? And what brake package? Most Bronco rears were small axle bearing housings and have more than normal pinion offset due to the transfer case arrangement. You could probally get close to what you want by shortening the Bronco housing on one side only. Maybe even shorten the long side to use the same axle length on the short side.
Ford Bronco Used small bearing 9" from 1966-75 big bearing 75-76 the 78 and up are the same as F150s the early ones use a 27" and 29" axle. I would cut down a 150 housing easer to find and cheeper. If you don't care what you use check out a CJ5 they are stout same 5 on 5 1/2 pattern and about 50" wide.
Go for the 150 axel.....They come (usually) with the hat rotor style disk brakes,....which are still in production, and parts are available all over the place...... Not certain which ones are which width,... 4TTRUK
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