Ford 9" 3rd member: which vendor?

[Shimmy]

stock 302 with 3 speed manual, stock gears and 35s. I'm entertaining 4.30 gears... this is a street bronco.

I called a few local shops and they all want ~$5k for a ring and pinion swap if I bring the bronco in. That seems a little ridiculous to me so I'm considering a 3rd member from WH, Toms, Currie, or Moser. Any reasons why one place is better than another? Looks like i can get a ready to drop in member for $1900-$2200 from any of them. It just seems like the most economical way to go: buy a drop in member and install it myself. Am I missing anything?

 

[nhg2112]

Those drop in pumpkins aren’t a bad deal. If you really want to save money you can just rebuild it yourself. Tons of videos/books and it’s not an overwhelming job - just need a few specialty tools.

 

[Broncobowsher]

Now the question is what are your plans for the shafts? Are you going to keep the 28 spline? 35" tires are a lot for those little 28 spline axles. Have you pulled an axle and checked it for wear? You might need axles regardless. 31 spline is easier to find differentials. It is the better of the stock spline counts, and all that was used in later model 9" axles as well.

As for the $5k price, how many new parts are involved? Does that include the front axle as well? Being a 4WD there are 2 sets of gears that need to be replaced. Is the shop quoting the whole job. Another reason for a high quote is the can of worms that might be in that axle. How many new parts are really going to be needed? It is also a way of saying I don't want to do the job, but with enough money, I might take it on.

The 9" is a very friendly 3rd member for a home build. Screw adjusters on the carrier bearings, no messing with shims. And pinion depth is shims, but they are not in the middle of the pinion setup. You can get the pinion preload correct, never touch it again and play with pinion depth all you want. The bad part is the front axle will be a lot more work and needs to be done as well. The great tip is to drive it with the new rear axle gearing first. Can't use 4WD with that much mis-match, but you can get a feel if you like the new ratio before investing in the front axle. If you don't like the new rear axle ratio, you now know it is a fairly easy change to something else. Once you like the rear axle ratio, get the front done to match.

 

[Shimmy]

Now the question is what are your plans for the shafts? Are you going to keep the 28 spline? 35" tires are a lot for those little 28 spline axles. Have you pulled an axle and checked it for wear? You might need axles regardless. 31 spline is easier to find differentials. It is the better of the stock spline counts, and all that was used in later model 9" axles as well.

As for the $5k price, how many new parts are involved? Does that include the front axle as well? Being a 4WD there are 2 sets of gears that need to be replaced. Is the shop quoting the whole job. Another reason for a high quote is the can of worms that might be in that axle. How many new parts are really going to be needed? It is also a way of saying I don't want to do the job, but with enough money, I might take it on.

The 9" is a very friendly 3rd member for a home build. Screw adjusters on the carrier bearings, no messing with shims. And pinion depth is shims, but they are not in the middle of the pinion setup. You can get the pinion preload correct, never touch it again and play with pinion depth all you want. The bad part is the front axle will be a lot more work and needs to be done as well. The great tip is to drive it with the new rear axle gearing first. Can't use 4WD with that much mis-match, but you can get a feel if you like the new ratio before investing in the front axle. If you don't like the new rear axle ratio, you now know it is a fairly easy change to something else. Once you like the rear axle ratio, get the front done to match.

Since my bronco is a street rig, i was going to stick with the 28 spline. I didn't see a need for 31 spline, but i should probably check the axles regardless like you suggested.

The $5k is for the rear only. I was somewhat shocked, but not entirely. Labor rates in WA are ridiculous. I asked three shops and was quote between $4k-$5k. that would be all inclusive of parts that needed replacing. I didn't ask for details.

I've heard the 9" is a friendly home mechanic job, but i'm just not up for it at the moment. I figured i'd pay for one of these "ready to go" members and spend a morning putting it in before the babies wake up. haha!

 

[m_m70]

I've heard the 9" is a friendly home mechanic job, but i'm just not up for it at the moment. I figured i'd pay for one of these "ready to go" members and spend a morning putting it in before the babies wake up. haha!

Yup......I would check the shafts when out and replace the axle bearings while at it if they never been done or if you don't have the info on the last change.

Easy quick job! Easy sell of your old member to recoup some beer money (or formula)

 

[nvrstuk]

So you would never, ever engage 4wd after you swapped the rear diff gears is what you're telling us??? EVER??


5K is ridiculously high. Buy the 3rd member from one of the Bronco vendors and UPGRADE the axles, that is a MUST DO! 50 yr old 28 spline axles were decent WHEN NEW for 27" tall tires. They were never intended to handle the torque of 35" tires. Huge load.

Buy the 31 spline axles so you get NEW brgs to go with your new upgrade. Nothng like having a old worn out brg let loose and then your axle comes out and your back corner of your Bronco drops to the ground at 60mph. Very common to roll over when this happens and it does happen oftern.

Do the right thing, upgrade to 31 spline axles with NEW brgs and seals.

Do it yourself and you've paid for the new brgs and 31 spline axles.

Best of luck.

I live in E. Wa.

 

[Shimmy]

So you would never, ever engage 4wd after you swapped the rear diff gears is what you're telling us??? EVER??


5K is ridiculously high. Buy the 3rd member from one of the Bronco vendors and UPGRADE the axles, that is a MUST DO! 50 yr old 28 spline axles were decent WHEN NEW for 27" tall tires. They were never intended to handle the torque of 35" tires. Huge load.

Buy the 31 spline axles so you get NEW brgs to go with your new upgrade. Nothng like having a old worn out brg let loose and then your axle comes out and your back corner of your Bronco drops to the ground at 60mph. Very common to roll over when this happens and it does happen oftern.

Do the right thing, upgrade to 31 spline axles with NEW brgs and seals.

Do it yourself and you've paid for the new brgs and 31 spline axles.

Best of luck.

I live in E. Wa.

haha, no i'm saying i was gonna start with the rear first and pricing for that was coming in high. i'll eventually do the front but no rush since it's a street rig.

it's common to lose a bearing going 60mph and roll over?!! sheesh! now i'm paranoid! wouldn't i somewhat know if the bearings were going out?

any recommendations on axle brands?

do 4.30s make the most sense with everything else stock or 4.11 more streetable?

 

[Yeller]

4.30 would be my pick with a 3 speed.

As for vendors its hard to beat WH for complete package. As for particular brands, there is a lot to choose from, anyone that is reputable and warrantee's what they sell will be just fine.

For $5k you can purchase a complete, brand new rear axle assembly that is bolt in ready..... Crazy..... 9" is one of the easiest and least expensive to rebuild.

 

[m_m70]

do 4.30s make the most sense with everything else stock or 4.11 more streetable?

I run 33's with the stock three speed with 4.11's and it gets me around pretty good. Got a great deal on a third member that had 4.56 gears that I really didn't need but the price was right so I bought it. So I swapped that in to see if I liked it and was very happy with the results. Fun around town and not bad on the freeway ~3k at 65. I did swap back to the 4.11's just cause I use 4WD a lot in the winter and haven't upgraded the front D30 yet (going with a 44 once I find one).
Since then I've been thinking of going with a manual OD and if I do that route I'll probably go with 4.88's.
So to give my opinion on your question , I think you'd be happy with 35's and 4.56 gears with the stock 3 speed.

it's common to lose a bearing going 60mph and roll over?!! sheesh! now i'm paranoid! wouldn't i somewhat know if the bearings were going out?

Not necessarily. I run headers with straight dual exhaust, somewhat quiet mufflers (compared to flowmaster 40's or glass packs) and 90% of the time fully topless. I can't really hear much on the freeway. Not sure I'd notice a rear bearing going out. But I'm extremely diligent on my maintenance so never paranoid. I put a lot more miles on my truck than most and understand the importance of maintaining it.

 

[jamesroney]

Since my bronco is a street rig, i was going to stick with the 28 spline. I didn't see a need for 31 spline, but i should probably check the axles regardless like you suggested.

The $5k is for the rear only. I was somewhat shocked, but not entirely. Labor rates in WA are ridiculous. I asked three shops and was quote between $4k-$5k. that would be all inclusive of parts that needed replacing. I didn't ask for details.

I've heard the 9" is a friendly home mechanic job, but i'm just not up for it at the moment. I figured i'd pay for one of these "ready to go" members and spend a morning putting it in before the babies wake up. haha!

On my worst day...I could swap your rear gears in a 9 inch carrier in under 1 hour.

If your bearings were good, and the housing were clean, and I was keeping the 28 spline axles and stock carrier...I could probably do the swap without even touching the seal. But even if I needed a new seal and crush sleeve, I'll bet I could do the gear swap in 30 minutes on the bench.

I fully understand that most shops don't want to take that kind of job. But $5K is absurd. The whole reason for using the VERY robust Ford 9 inch is so that you don't have to buy exotic components.

If you lived in the SF Bay Area, and you brought me a clean housing and a good R&P ...I would do that gear swap for $100. (Maybe that's why I've done over a hundred of them???) You need to keep shopping.

 

[69_Sport]

Quick Performance, Ames, Iowa. 9 inch specialist.

 

[hossbronco]

$5K is an insane amount of money for a gear swap. You can get a new specialty high pinion 3rd member with an ARB locker for less than that.

 

[Shimmy]

labor rates are crazy right now. indy shops in my area are $150-200. dealerships $200-220

 

[Yeller]

labor rates are crazy right now. indy shops in my area are $150-200. dealerships $200-220

True but even on the high end that would be about 18 hours. For a pro shop, BS, and that’s coming from someone that fully understands labor and the job at hand, with all the tools and equipment 8 hours is a jab

 

[barnsbronco]

Quick Performance, Ames, Iowa. 9 inch specialist.

Agree with this. Just got a complete third member delivered from Quick Performance yesterday. Strange nodular case and 35 spline Detroit. I ordered axle shafts from Wild Horses and will be around 2K into the setup. They are very busy now so there was a pretty long wait time but the cost savings was worth it to me

Sent from my moto z4 using Tapatalk

 

[nvrstuk]

Yes, be absolutely paranoid about the rear axle brgs.

I have seen a half dozen EB's that ROLLED not just dropped down onto their fender but rolled due to axles breaking or the axles walking out of the housing due to brg failure.

I don't know of anybody that can hear a brg going out at speed but with the radio off and going around a corner in a parking lot you should normally hear the brg.

Another sign is oil leakage on housing where the axle comes out.


My buddy bought 4 rolled Broncos all due to brg failure. We know because I helped strip them with him back in the 80's.


I lost 5 brgs over 46 yrs onn9" rears but I could only hear 2 of them. One due to loud engine even in a parking lot but the others were on a 6,300 mile trip.

Do it right, I'm sure you will. New axles can come loaded so you'll be good...unless the previous owner has spun a few brgs in the housing.

Good luck

 

[Shimmy]

thanks ya'll for the input and suggestions! looks like i have more sites to visit for 3rd members and i'll be sure to just upgrade to 31 spline axles and new bearings.

 

[SteveL]

Isn't Randy's r&p up in the northeast? I've always had good service from them

 

[TDubya]

Are all of the 9" 31 spline axles set up for the SET 20 bearings? I see that most of the vendors sell the 28 spline axles assembled with stock style bearings, but 31 spline come unassembled and don't specify which bearings are included

 

[rjrobin2002]

thanks ya'll for the input and suggestions! looks like i have more sites to visit for 3rd members and i'll be sure to just upgrade to 31 spline axles and new bearings.

Pull it and send it to JamesRooney above that said he will do it for $100 labor.