shell valley rear axle question.

[TCR_BRIAN]

There seems to be a lot of confusion about Ford Rear Axle/Differential Assemblies here. I have worked on countless Ford Mustangs from 1965-2003 models....I have NEVER seen a Ford 8" or Ford 9" WITHOUT a SEALED Bearing....The FORD 7.5" and Ford 8.8" seen on any 79-2003 model has a tapered roller bearing and race inside the housing with the seal on the outer most part of the housing, 8.8" and 7.5" can be converted to a SEALED bearing for racing commonly known as C-Clip eliminators....Rear ends can be identified by 8" and 9" having a drop out Center Section or 7.5" and 8.8" having a differential cover held on the back by 10 bolts....like a GM 10 or 12 bolt rear....On a Ford 8" or Ford 9" the bearing is pressed on the axle and is sealed, and is tight to the housing, bearing does not spin in housing thats why there is no race etc....seal is driven into axle tube housing and prevents gear oil from getting around the bearing causing it to spin...there is also a paper gasket that goes behind the splash shield to axle housing tube....8" Ford housings are similiar to a 9" by having a drop out center section, but have completely different components, housing doesn't have bump on back for ring gear clearence, (Except for early 9" housing had no bump either, 50's-early60's etc..) and center section looks more oval than round like a 9"...came in Early Mustangs/Falcons etc with 289, except 289 hi-po models and big blocks which came with 9" rears, unless a dealer installed it.....
It is impossible to confuse the 8" or 9" with a 8.8" or 7.5", the 8.8" and 7.5" are like a GM 10 or 12 bolt rear, never to be confused with a 9"..........
www.teamcracing.com

Brian