I notice that the rear end charts on the internet say that a Maverick rear end is 56.5" wide. I measured and came up with closer to 55.75". Anyone else actually measure a Maverick rear end? If so, what number did you come up with?
View attachment 132757 Here are pictures of my 71 Comet GT rear housing/axles, that housing is 51.25", however some people have said theirs where 51.50", so? Axles length can vary slightly, but should not change overall width......... I think on Fords, they used same 2.50" backspacing, measured from outside face where wheel mounts to outside face of bearing. So 5" (2.50" x 2) would be added to housing measurement, which on my 71 Comet GT below, would be 56.25" For yours to be 1/2" narrower, while bearing width should all be standard, it is possible that axle flange was machined thinner and/or where the bearing seats on the axle could be machined for backspacing of 2.25"? What is the width of your housing? David I just checked one of my axles/bearings and its has 2.375" backspacing, although my flange face was "machined/trued", so it is slightly thinner than factory. So would bring overall width to 56"........
I didn't measure the housing or axles separate ...just flange to flange. Rear end came out of a '71 4-door Maverick and looks un-molested.
Just measured my '75 with a factory 8". Its 56 - 1/4" wms to wms on the drums. So you can probably delete a little for the thickness of the drums.
I wouldn't be surprised of there's a tolerance for the rearend width of these cars, because some Maverick owners have run wheel size/back-spacing and tire sizes that rubbed on the inside while others have run those same sizes and report no rubbing whatsoever...
Wonder if the depth the bearing is pressed on the axle makes a difference. Could also have to do with the milling of the axle bearing area if there are some tolerances there.
I see what you'll saying about tolerance. I measured a 65 K-Code rear that supposed to be 57.5" and came up 1/16" too short using a tape measurer. I would say it's close enough to say 57.5" without drums installed. Drum thickness is 3/16" each or 3/8" for both drums making total width 57-5/8"...again close enough in my book to call it 57.5". I do believe ride height will have a lot to say why some tires fit and some tires rub. Tire manufacturer could also affect fitment.
Just pulled 8” from a 71 2 door v8 car and housing measures 51 1/4”. From axle flange to axle flange it measures 56 1/4. That puts the brake spacing at 2 1/2”
Cars were still being made by humans, instead of robots, when these were made. They probably had preset jigs to work with and those may have been a little off from each other. Welding the housings and attempts to keep them straight in the process is a bit of an art form. Some humans may have come into work with a hangover on a Monday or a little gassed up after sneaking a beer (or joint) at lunch. Lots of room here for "close enough ..." LOL.
