Rear Ends

April 20, 2009, 02:48:49 AM

Is there a rear end code chart anywhere? I'm trying to figure out what rear ends are in the two cars. I wan't to know if the parts car v8 had a different rear than the original v6 car. The v8 has quad shocks, so I'm thinking it might have had the heavy duty suspension.

Speaking of which, are the quad shocks still availible anywhere? Are they worth it?

Rear Ends

Reply #1 – April 20, 2009, 10:23:45 AM

I think Eric has a chart on coolcats.

Rear Ends

Reply #2 – April 20, 2009, 11:28:43 AM

If it had quad shocks it was probably a Sport (if T-Bird) or XR7 (if Cougar). Both would have the heavy duty (sport) suspension, but another indicator would be the rear drums. If they're finned they're the standard 9" variety. If they're smooth they're the heavy-duty 10" variety.

Coolcats does indeed have a rear-end chart here: http://www.coolcats.net/tech/general/axleinfo.html

This will tell you the gears and whether it's locking or not, but not whether it has HD suspension or not. The simple way to tell whether it's got HD suspension is by the presence of HD suspension components (quad shocks, 10" drums, rear sway bar). Note that quad shocks are not necessary to have the HD suspension - my 88 base V8 T-Bird had 10" drums and rear sway bar but no quad shocks. I would bet that the opposite does not hold true though - I'd imagine if you have quad shocks you would have the other HD suspension components.

Rear Ends

Reply #3 – April 20, 2009, 04:47:32 PM

My Sport came with a 7.5 TL rear with 2.73 gears,quad shocks,and thicker sway bar.

Rear Ends

Reply #4 – April 21, 2009, 02:03:35 AM

So did mine, as well as the smooth 10" drum brakes...which I'm going to swap those brakes onto the Stang 8.8 rear with 3.55 gearing and also T/L.