I'm looking for a rear axle to put under my car to replace my 4 lug, 6 banger axle before it breaks. Preferably a completely assembled bolt in 9" but would consider an 8". And yes 5 lug of course since eventually I will also be upgrading the front end. Since Maverick parts aren't as easy to come by as other cars, what else could I look for as a direct replacement to install? I'm looking at one from an 81 Ford Bronco but thinking that may be too wide. My car is a 1970 if that makes any diference
If I had it to do all over again I would get a complete rear end out of a Explorer or Mountaineer. I have one that is limited slip/posi and it fit in fine. The price is right at most Pick A Part places
The Bronco 9 is too wide, but can be narrowed to fit. It should have 31 spline axles and trac-loc. The Explorer/Mountaineer 8.8's are a bargain to buy, but are not a direct bolt in, there's going to be more costs involved before it's ready to drive. The only rears that will be a bolt in are the 76-80 Granada/Monarch/Versailles 8's and 9's. The 8's all had drum brakes, the 9's had a disc option in the Granada and Monarch, the Versailles 9's were all disc brakes. These rears all had lazy gear ratios from 2.50 to 3.00 . I bought a Bronco 9 for mine, but bought a narrowed 9 housing to use in the car, filling it with the Bronco's 3.50 geared trac-loc center section and Strange axles. I ended up spending about $800 before it was ready to drive with the 9. ($150 for the Bronco rear, $400 for the axles, $50 for the spring pads, $150 for the narrowed housing)
Thanks guys. Those cars, the 76-80 Granadas, Monarchs and Versailles, would the front end parts fits as well? If I were to find one as a parts car for the front disc conversion
The Versailles spindles have a larger diameter hole that went with a larger ball joint, you need sleeves to adapt them to the Mav/Comet/Mustang spindles. Look up "mustang steeve" as I recall he was making the sleeves for this. These cars are getting scarce now, although they're still the best donors to look for. The 9's were pot luck in the Granada/Monarchs, but still I never pass up the opportunity to look under one for them. Seen two 80 models that had a drum brake 9 under them. That was the last year for a leaf spring Ford car, they must have pushed the 9's in them to get rid of the inventory. The first I bought was a disc 9 out of a Monarch.
A used up '75/'76/'77 4dr Maverick is probably now easier to find than a Granada, those all had discs(as did same year 2dr & some '74)... Basically with a complete car, any of the intermediates(Fairlane, Cyclone, Ranchero etc) plus V8 Falcon from '68-'71 and Mustang/Cougar from '68-'73, have components that fit... There are differences between '69 & '70 but as long as you know what year, parts are no problem... I have brakes from '69 Torino GT on mine...
any 60s mustang or falcon 8" or 9" will bolt on to the maverick leaf springs. the 65-66 mustang rear is only 1/4" wider on each side than the maverick and actually this allows for more common wheel backspacing to fit. usually a 8" wheel on a maverick will need a 3.75" backspace where when using a mustang diff you can get a 4" backspace. also you can mail order the mustang direct fit 9"s from all the custom diff building company's. lastly i think is the late 50s ranch wagons that had a 9" that was the same width as the maverick rear, but those are impossible to find.
The 57-59 Ford's had a 9 that bolts right up too. All the leaf spring Fords used the same 43" perch to perch measurement for the springs, the difference it watch is the overall width of the housing. The 50's housing also had better ratios than the later ones. (like 3.70's) If you enjoy the "hunt" donors are the way to go, if you want "easy" then you're gonna have to pay for what you want.
