96rokee

So as some of you may have read my rear end sheared all the ring gear bolts.

So i found a ford 9in with 4.56 gears and detroit locker preinstalled.
for 450. snagged it up. thinking i was getting everything i needed plus a locker all for within my budget.

but once i got it home and apart to inspect it, im just hoping the housing is usable...

whoever installed the adjustable spanner nuts ( for adjusting backlash and contact pattern ) installed it crooked creating a probly 3/64" gap ( just less then 1/16" ) between the bearing cap and the thirdmember housing.. and didnt measure for backlash im guessing since theres probly 30-40 thousandths at least.



so the gears are pretty well shot. even after the only 2000 claimed miles on the setup..

soo ive accepted that new gears are needed.. hopefully ill be able to get a little refund from the guy to help ease the pain of another 300$ out of pocket.

but now looking at the axle housing closer im seeing the the outer bearing races that are machined into the axle housing tubes are kinda buggered up
and i dont see a way to fix that really since machining any material away to clean it up would create play in the bearings..

left side




right side





soo my question is, is the housing usable? will the scratches and rust patches and dings matter for the outer bearing being pressed in there?
getting a new r&p i can handle but if i need a new housing im gonna try to get all my money back.

Aljay

Take it back if thats not an option whack the ends off and replace them. Im betting its got big bearing ends.

ktmracer419

Are the bearing caps installed properly? I have limited experience with the 9", but as with any rearend the caps are specific to the housing/third member and if they are wrong/ backwards/ upside down they could not seat properly when torqued down.

JBimmolate

Gear are shot! Also X2 on the main caps being on the wrong side. line up the thread on the adjuster with the caps off and the caps should just fit flush by hand once the bolts are started. As far as the housing ends go what style bearing does the axle use? Sealed bearing or A-20 style?

Miles

96rokee

how can you tell without a picture? lol but ya they are pretty shot

and it is a possibility that left side cap got put on right side, but they arent upside down or anything. and only one side it crooked.
i think he just didnt get the threads lined up with the spanner nut and then he probly tried to tighten the spanner nut and thought it was bottomed out because it wouldnt turn. idk what was going through his head..

and as far as the bearings ill have to take pictures so you can tell me.. lol i know theres a big bearing type and a small bearing type.. but other then that ima little lost.

i know its 5x5.5 bolt pattern and 31 spline.
and the bearings are pressed onto the axle shafts and there no race to be inserted into the tube its built onto the bearing (hope that makes sense)
hope that helps

Aljay

From his pics it looks like he has the sealed bearing .
I could be wrong . Pictures

96rokee

heres a picture



sorry for not knowing the term for the style bearing ..
thanks for your help

JBimmolate

No not a sealed bearing that is an A-20 style. It seals on the outside and uses the gear oil to lubricate the bearing. I would say replace the housing ends with this style bearing.

Miles

Aljay

I could not think of the proper bearing name guess I shoulda left this one alone .

96rokee

by replace the housing ends, do you mean cut em off and weld on new ones? wont that damage the integrity of the axle?

and you say "replace the housing ends with this style bearing"
what style bearing are you referring too??

96rokee

can anyone clarify what he meant ?
i have tmrw off from work and was planning on relocating perches and such but dont want to waste my time if its a scrap tube anyway

Aljay

Cutting the housing ends off will not hurt the integrity we have cut ends off and replaced them on cars when narrowing housings or fixing someone's else's screw up ( welding , adding brackets for 4 link , housing floater race car stuff ) to do this job right it takes a housing jig and the welder know what he is doing . It is doable but how much work are you willing to do, how much $$$$ can you throw at it to make

96rokee

ok well no one has really answered wether or not the old housing is trash or not.

is it usable? just not the desirable bearings?
whats the difference from sealed bearing and a20 bearings?
are the housing ends on my tube trash or no?

JBimmolate

Yes I meant have the ends cut off and new ones welded on. Those ends are spun where the bearing goes and the way those bearings seal they need to be a tight fit or they will leak (seal is a compression style seal). The a-20 style bearing is much beefier since it uses tapered roller bearings over ball bearings.

Miles

96rokee

first it seemed like you were me it was an a-20 style. and said replace with this style bearing without mentioning what to switch to.
now it sounds like your telling me i have ball bearing style and should switch to a-20 style...

i apologize but im kinda lost here.