Читать книгу Ford Differentials - Joseph Palazzolo - Страница 11

The Ford 9-inch has a reputation as a durable axle that can transmit enormous torque, and this is rightfully deserved. Some even consider these axles to be bulletproof. This is by far the most common axle used by restorers, hot rodders, customizers, and racers. It has enjoyed a long production history with many variants. There is a huge aftermarket support for this axle design. Many companies, such as Currie Enterprises, Mark Williams Enterprises, Moser Engineering, and Strange Engineering, reproduce this design today. It is still used in NASCAR racing as well.

Because of the long production history of this axle, many variants are available. Most of the time, the differences are in shock and spring mounting brackets and, of course, brake hardware. It is a banjo-style axle as is the 8-inch. It was in production on many Ford cars and trucks, first appearing in 1957 and finally replaced by the Salisbury-style 8.8-inch axle in 1986, saving about 50 pounds and boasting increased efficiency.

Here is an example of a weld repair on a factory original housing. It was required to repair a leaking weld. The repair process requires the axle to be disassembled and thoroughly cleaned. The leaking weld area is then ground down and a MIG or TIG welder is used for the repair. This is a relatively common issue on these housings.

The straddle-mounted pinion has a roller bearing in the gear case, which provides additional support for the pinion under heavy loads. This bearing and the casting structure surrounding it need to be carefully inspected as this is a common area for cracks.

This pinion has the tapered bearings and collapsible spacer in place. The bearing cups are in the pinion cartridge and the third bearing trunnion roller bearing is located in the gear case. This pinion shows excessive wear on the trunnion surface and should not be re-used.