9" rear end axle options
 

I've got a problem!!!!

I picked up my axle and disk brakes separately and the two aren't fitting!!!!

The axle is out of a van or truck I believe. I've already had it shortened (new bearings, seal, etc.).

The brakes are off of a '78 Lincoln Versailles. New vented rotors, jet hot coated, etc.

The problem is that the flange OD and pilot diameter of the axle shaft do not fit the rotors. The flange is 7" on one side (old resplined axle), and 6-5/8" on the other (new Moser axle). The pilot diameter for both is 2-7/8.

The rotors have a 3-1/16 pilot and the ID is 6-3/8". From what I can tell by putting everything together as much as I can, the rotor axial position will be OK if I could get it seated down on the axle.

One option is to have the axle OD turned down (mask the bearings???) and make a .06 wide "pilot" ring to make up the difference in diameters. I'm nervous about how that will stay on. Or weld the pilot up and re-turn to the right size - what about weakening the axle with the weld?

Next option is to find out if there are some aftermarket or used axles out there and swap them with the axles I have. I'd need the 6-1/4 OD, 3-1/16 pilot, 31 tooth axle (one 30-1/4" long, one 26" long). The best intel I can get is that all the Versailles axles were 28 tooth.

Any guru's out there that can fill me in?

Not sure how to rectify your problem, but another option is to get rid of the Versailles brakes. They suck...IMHO. I know, I have them. Have about $600 invested to bring them up to mediocre performance. Order a Wilwood kit for $600 or so. They have kits to fit both small and big bearing 9 inch fords.

zip - Moser axles are only case-hardened. If you try to machine down the axle you will destroy it. I just went through the heartache of watching my axle turn to jelly when we tried to machine a little of the bearing retainer lip of my Moser axle.

I sent Moser an email explaining that I realised that tampering with the axle is not desirable, but I was simply trying to move the bearing about .200" towards the wheel mounting flange. I needed to find out what hardness was required for the axle before I took it off to be hardened at a local facility.

THEY WOULDN'T TELL ME !!!!!!! :mad:

I threw the pair of axles in a corner and ordered a set of Strange Engineering axles. Similar price, and I had the option of case hardened or through hardened. While I was at it, I bought a new Strange racing gear case, pinion, pinion support, slip yoke, universals, gears, spool, billet caps, etc. Moser missed out on a fair bit of money from me after their unwillingness to help...

I still have the stuffed axle in the garage. I'll dig it out and take a pic to show you what they look like when they go through the heat-treat if you're interested.

I had this problem!

Ended up turning the axels to fit and then worked the caliper anchors to fit the 11" rotors I used.

I had to mill new bosses for the T-nuts as the flange I had was 2", not 2 3/8".

It can be done. The bad part is you have the bearing retainer and seal in place. It is recommended that you cut the bearing from the axel and then press on new ones after you turn the axel down.

Mine were 31 spline as well. Ended up taking .125 off the axel to fit the rotors.

Note: The critical part is getting rotors that have the correct spacing between the caliper anchors and rotor face. I used 1/16".

Hope this helps.

I think I've decided to make the pilot spacer and turn down the od of the flange. Hopefully, everything will work out and put the caliper and rotor in the same spot....

Trularin:
I haven't had to deal with any axle flange problems. I've had the axles bolted up with the caliper mounting bracket on and everything fits fine. Perhaps that's because the shop I had shorten the axle switched the flanges to the "big" ford style with the larger t-bolts to fit the end plate that the caliper mount bolts to.

750HP:
Are you sure the whole thing is case hardened? I would expect just the spline to be induction hardened - that's all that really needs to be hard. I kind of found the same "cold shoulder" when I tried to get Moser to tell me if the axle I'm looking for truly exists. "We'd be glad to make you a set for $295..."

Thanks for the feedback on Strange - they're a lot closer to home also. I think if my rework plan doesn't go right, I'll contact them.

If anyone does know of a 3.06 pilot dia, 6.25 OD, 31t spline axle shaft, let me know...