Rear axles...

Topic: Rear axles... (Read 2692 times) previous topic - next topic

Rear axles...

July 14, 2007, 04:51:28 PM

OK, so Matt (seek) came over today for the rear out of my White Sport. My car is an 87 Sport with code "M" on the door tag. Which is 2.73 locking according to Eric. The rear is definitely open. We pulled the cover (OE Ford grease that's 20 years old smells GREAT :hick: ) and it had NO trac-loc unit at all. The rear is the original and the tag was still on the cover. It did have the 10" vented drums and a TC swaybar (and TC rear springs, even have the same part # and green sticker).

So we sauntered over to Matt's car and jacked it up. His 88 Sport is also an "M" code. He has the 9" rear drums and it is indeed a trac-loc.

So what gives? Both of these cars have their original rears, the tags and codes all match, yet right there in front of our eyes was an open rear.

So I gave it to him cheaper and took a shower and a nap. It's hot :(

Rear axles...

Reply #1 – July 14, 2007, 07:24:06 PM

The vented drums are the 9" ones. The 10" ones are smooth. My guess would be that somebody over the past 20 years swapped the rear, either the whole housing or just the differential. It would go a long way toward explaining how your 87 Sport had an 8.8" rear when all the other 87's had 7.5" rears...

Does Matt's 88 have the 8.8"? Only some of those did (and according to Ford, none did, but we know that's incorrect). I've always figured Ford tossed the 8.8" rears into the last few 88 Sports because they were left over from the XR7's, which "officially" had them.

Rear axles...

Reply #2 – July 14, 2007, 07:48:56 PM

my 88 sport has the m code rear. 2.73 limited slip 8.8 w/ 10" drums.

Rear axles...

Reply #3 – July 15, 2007, 04:24:08 AM

Ford is full of $#!t. The "m" code 2.73 trac-loc turned out to be a 7.5" OPEN rear with 9" brakes. What a pile of trash! The tag was still on the cover and matched all the door code info too. All this with TC springs and swaybars.

Stupid Friday assemblers!!!!

Rear axles...

Reply #4 – July 15, 2007, 04:50:18 AM

maybe the axle was changed and the original tag was switched over?

Rear axles...

Reply #5 – July 15, 2007, 04:58:29 AM

Axle was just as "worn" as the rest of the car. It's a 2-owner car with full receipt records. Nobody would replace that flismy tag on a different rear. Whoever bought this car new got SCAMMED. It seems the axle code means nothing in these cars.

Rear axles...

Reply #6 – July 15, 2007, 08:05:24 AM

My axle code is acurate on the XR7, 3.08 locking. Hey since mine is an '88 with the 10" drums and quad shocks, is it supose to have the 8.8"? It kind of looks like it is an 8.8" diff but I haven't jacked the car up yet to check and see.

Rear axles...

Reply #7 – July 15, 2007, 03:45:57 PM

Your XR-7 should have the 8.8, yes

Rear axles...

Reply #8 – July 15, 2007, 04:49:52 PM

I've NEVER seen a wrong axle code on a Ford rear... And I've seen more than a few over the years... IF it's wrong, it came from the differential assembly plant tagged incorrectly... All the final assembly plant(Lorain in our case) does is put the car together...

Rear axles...

Reply #9 – July 15, 2007, 06:03:17 PM

Ive got axle code "M". If I smoke em, I do smoke EM. Both. :D Similarly, it's a freakin' dog off the line so it's gotta have the 2.73 :D

You know screw it, someone told me a good shop near me would change my gears for like $250. Im gonna pony up dammit, I want like 3.45s. Sick of havin' nuttin til 3k rpm. /sorry end threadjack-rant

Rear axles...

Reply #10 – July 15, 2007, 07:06:49 PM

Sucker says M all over it. It's definitely the original rear, and definitely never been a trac-loc unit.

Rear axles...

Reply #11 – July 15, 2007, 08:28:08 PM

Ok, here is a pic of my diff and the tag. Looks like its an 8.8" to me.

Rear axles...

Reply #12 – July 15, 2007, 09:37:49 PM

That's an 8.8

Rear axles...

Reply #13 – July 15, 2007, 10:43:36 PM

One tag is the VIN, one gives me "7465B" on one line, then "27 75 .." on the other (can't read the last digits). Its definitely a 7.5 with 9" drums (drums are in good shape, shoes are toast), no traction lock, it had single shocks (my 7.5 has the quad bracket like I think they're all supposed to), and I think standard wear for the 130k miles.

On another note, I can't use this (except maybe the gear and pinion, but new ones are only ~$200 so whatever). Trunk hauling doesn't seem like it'll work so I have to leave it up here until whatever happens to it, happens. BTW Michael, the control arms bolts weren't all that bad actually, just a few hits with a hammer. You'd better give me a discount on my next purchase! :p

Rear axles...

Reply #14 – July 15, 2007, 11:42:58 PM

Stupid bolts :hick:

Shoot me a list of what you want/need. I'd try the gears because yours howl like CRAZY and the "thunk" in them doesn't sound good.