Flexible 9-Inch
Through it all, there is no axle assembly that gives you as many options for gears, lockers, brakes and axles, as the Ford 9-inch - what I call 'the incredible flexible 9”.by Albert Vandervelde
Axle swapping is a big part of building your ultimate off-road machine. It's great to start out in a down-sized rig of a 1500 series truck, but if you like the hard stuff, it will be quickly apparent that your stock axles will not be up to the job. This doesn’t always mean stepping up to one-tonne running gear, there are many products on the market that can beef up almost any axle. “Super” axle kits add larger shafts and special U-joints, or stronger, smaller axles - even complete new axle assemblies.
Through it all, there is no axle assembly that gives you as many options for gears, lockers, brakes and axles, as the Ford 9-inch - what I call 'the incredible flexible 9”. The 9-inch has been out of factory Ford production since 1982, when Ford replaced it with the Ford 8.8, which is still in use today.
In a future build, we will be sliding a Currie built 9-inch under one of our projects. We also have a four-wheel independent rig being built close at hand using Currie IFS center sections. The delivery of a Yukon Gear third, with 4.10 gears and a spool, took place last year. I had a chance to follow through the build of the second third member at Randy’s Ring & Pinion in Everett, and had the staff pull an array of in-stock 9-inch parts for this section.
Randy's builds and ships complete third members to customers all over the world, and, for the front of this IFS project, the third was built with 4.10 gears to match the rear, an all new cast steel Yukon Gear third member section, a Grizzly Locker, a 1350 drive-shaft yoke, and their billet anodized pinion support, in Yukon purple.
If you need 9-inch parts, or want to discus your axle needs for other assemblies, give Randy’s - or one of their Canadian dealers - a call, they are there to help guide you through all the choices.
Randy’s Ring and Pinion contact info:
1-888-905-5044
1-866-631-0196
Main company web site.