These were 5 lugs - From the outer edge of the bearing to the tip of the spline: 27 1/4" on the long axle 23 1/4" on the short axle
Thanks! I knew I had seen those numbers somewhere on here before, but search only brought up exhaust over axle posts, for some reason.
What year and how many lugs???? 70-72 4-lug 8" is 29-1/2" (R.H.) and 25-9/16" (L.H.) 71-73 5-lug 8" is 29-5/8" (R.H.) and 25-9/16" (L.H.) 74-77 5-lug 8" is 29-39/64" (R.H.) and 25-35/64" (L.H.)
Hello, new user here. I'm third owner of an older '23 T-bucket, and I ended up here because I have a bad axle on one side. I'm 99% certain the diff is from an early-'70s Maverick. Can anyone confirm that the LH axle length shown above for the 71-73 5-lug is correct and not a typo? A local salvage yard is telling me that the Interchange book shows it to be 25-5/16, not 25-9/16. Incidentally, I've spent hours of research under the car, online and on the telephone, just to get to the point where I could even ask this question. Any help would be very much appreciated! :Handshake Jack
I've got the axles pulled from my original '73 8" (5-lug). I can measure both axles tomorrow to verify. Jeff, do you know if those measurements are from the end of the spline to the outside of the flange?
Rusty, the catalog doesn't specify where they measured from. http://dixiemaverick.com/DMaxlecode.html
Jeff, I'm heading over to a salvage yard this morning that has put one aside for me. I'm taking the old axle and the numbers you posted. This might be a typo in the Interchange manual. Thanks! Jack
So I measured my axles. I took two measurements on each: one from the end of the splines to the bearing stop (no bearings installed on mine) and one from the spline end to the outer face of the axle flange (the interface for the wheel). A straight edge was placed on the spline end. R.H. - 30 3/8" spline end to axle flange, 28 3/16" spline end to bearing stop L.H. - 27 3/16" spline end to axle flange, 23 7/8" spline end to bearing stop These measurements are within +/- 1/32, the best I could do with a tape measure. Hope this help you or anyone else in the future.
Well, I'm a little confused about all these different lengths. Part of the problem seems to be that there are different ways to make the measurement. Rusty, when I measure from the splined end to the far side of the bearing race, I get 23-3/16". Measuring diagonally from the splined end to the far side of the axle flange, it's 25-3/4". If I measure straight from the splined end to the far side of the flange (the "true" length of the axle), it's slightly greater than 25-9/16". I did pick up a used axle the other day, and it's in the car now. The salvage yard says it's from a '74 Maverick, but also that an axle they inspected from an earlier model was different (I don't know if it was too long or too short). The new axle is exactly the same length as the one I removed, although it's made a little differently. I assume this just means the two axles were contracted to different plants. The most noticeable difference is the addition of two holes in the axle flange (pic below). Thanks again to everyone. I realize I'm not a bona fide Maverick/Comet owner, and your help has been really appreciated. Best of luck with your projects! Jack
One of the main differences between a early/late axle is the diameter of the center hole that fits into the wheel. When things went to a larger front spindle for the disc brake the center hole on the wheel got bigger. I never measured but I'm guessing it grew about 1/32" or maybe 3/64". Ford changed the rear axle so rims would fit on all four corners instead of having front only rims and rear only rims. Another difference, that is moot to your application, was the 8" 4-lug axle used different OD and ID axle bearings than the 5-lug 8". BTW...I never seen a 3-hole flange axle. Glad to hear that you are ready to roll again
