Hi,this is my first post and i have what may be a well beaten question with a twist. After reading most of the first forty pages i know that the 5 lug axles wont just swap over to the 4 lug because they (5 lug) use bigger bearings. In what way are they bigger? Are the axle shafts bigger around, and if so couldn't they be put in a lathe and turned down to the four lug diameter? What's the consensus on welding the 4 lug holes and redrilling with the 5 lug pattern? Thanks for your time.
Although I doubt anyone has tried, I'd bet the axle diameter is the same for both 4 and 5 lug. Probably the only difference is the outside diameter of the bearing. You could probably press the smaller bearing on the 5 lug axle and install it. Then you would have to redrill the brake drums or just install a brake set up from the 5 lug car.
Won't work.Bolt pattern on the axle housing that holds the axle/backing plates is different,so even if you did get the right bearings it won't bolt in.
i was thinking of taking the 8.8 from my 91 mustang and using it.my idea was to to cut the housing ends of of the mav rear end and triming the 8.8 to the same width as the factory one,weld the caps on and use the stock mav axles.any opinions on this?also i think i have a 7.5 rear because the rear has a diff cover.
That would not be an issue because you would use the 4 lug retaining plate. If you can trust NAPA's websight, I looked at the specs for rear wheel bearings for both the 4 and 5 lug axles, According to them, the ID of both bearings are identical.
AS far as using Maverick axles in an 8.8 rear, it wont work. The C clips hold the spider gears in place. You could just shorten the 8.8 and get a new set of axles made, but then you still would have to redrill the drum. An 8.8 is real easy to shorten. http://mmb.maverick.to/showthread.php?t=35505&highlight=poor+mans
From that thread I started a few years ago, they are different. Axle thickness at bearing 5 lug = 1.3780 4 lug = 1.3386
Then you could turn the 5 lug axles down to the 4 lug specs, redrill the drums, and bolt it all together.
i just found out last night that mine is a 69.5,can i still use the parts off that or am i better off to find the parts from an 8"?
If you have one with the rear cover instead of the removable 8" carrier rear - plan on swapping out the whole thing. Save the shock mounting plates from the old axle - you will need it as the newer axles have staggered shocks.
Never thought about that,but what about the backing plates?Why go to 5-lug & keep the dinky little 4-lug brakes?
i am just gonna narrow my 8.8 to stock mav specs and use that,it should be cheaper than messin with my 7.5 or hunting down an 8".plus my 8.8 has new 4.11's and a complete rebuild with under a hundred mile on it.
Are 8" rears that tough to find out there?You can pick'em up all day long around here for about 150-200.You'll have more than that in the 8.8,'specially after getting new axles.Yea,you can get your old axles resplined,but it'll kill the heat treat on them,making them weaker.
i can't find any round here,i found 2 that had been at the junkyard today and only managed to salvage the heater control lever knob things.plus under a month ago i put a bunch of money in my 8.8 so whats the difference between buyin an 8" or a pair of 5 lug axles for the 8.8.the labor to narrow it is free.
