Daytona coupe rear axel

[DaytonaCoupeDean-o]

Yo ! Wow I picked up my kit 5 weeks ago, I can't get to far on the build because I'm waiting on spindles. so I set my sights on the rear. They say a rear end from a 87-93 stang would be best, but finding one with 5 lugs seems to be imposable. So my question is there a compilable axle? Maybe one a little newer so that I might be able to find one a junk yard. I purchased the complete kit so there is no doaner car.:(

[Carlos C]

None of the rear ends from the '87 - '93 Mustangs came with 5-lug axles. '94 and newer did, but the rear end is longer. You can use these, but you have to take precise measurements for back-spacing and offset, before you get wheels and tires, as they are different than with the Fox-body rear ends.

If you get the older rear end, you can buy 5-lug conversion axles. Even FFR sells these (or at least they did - their online parts catalog is not up-to-date). There are a few companies which make them (Moser, Currie, Strange, etc.). Just make sure you know which ones to order (28 or 31 splines). If you don't know which ones you need, take one of the old ones out, and count the number of splines at the inner end of the axle. Otherwise, you can go for the later rear ends.

The other difference is the gearing ratio between the two. The older ones came with 2.73 or 3.08 for manual cars, and up to 3.27 for automatics. Newer ones came with 3.27 or 3.55. For many people like me, this is a non-issue, since we'd replace them anyway with smaller ones.

You could get lucky and find an '87 to '93 rear end already converted to 5-lug. If that's the case, it might have also been upgraded with gears, and 31 splines (stronger). Trying to find these at a salvage yard will be almost impossible. Try Craigslist or e-Bay. Good luck.

Carlos

[STLMARSHALL]

My understanding is the housing is the same but the SN95 axles are 1/2" longer. If that is the case it will be no problem using the standard 10.5" Mustang replica rims. The rear of the coupe has plenty of room to use the wider rear end. At one time I had 1" bolt on spacers on my fox length axles and it never rubbed.

[Carlos C]

My understanding is the housing is the same but the SN95 axles are 1/2" longer. If that is the case it will be no problem using the standard 10.5" Mustang replica rims. The rear of the coupe has plenty of room to use the wider rear end. At one time I had 1" bolt on spacers on my fox length axles and it never rubbed.

The axels are not interchangeable. Not only did the axles increase in size, but so did the rear ends.

These are the specs for the Mustang's 8.8" rear end:

Between 1987 and 1993, the axles were 29.063" and the rear end was 59.25".
1994 to 1998, axles were 0.75" longer, and the rear end was 1.5" longer than Fox-body.
1999 to 2004, axles were another 3/4" longer, while the rear end grew another 1 1/2".

This means that the axles used on the last revision of the SN-95, were a full 3" longer than the ones used on the Fox-body. While narrow wheels and tires may not be an issue, wider counterparts will have clearance issues, if not matched properly with the rear end used. Even FFR warns about this on their site.

Carlos

[wallace18]

I used an 1989 Stang rear and bought Summit 5 lug axle kit. Works great.

31258

[wallace18]

I used an 1989 Stang rear and bought Summit 5 lug axle kit. Works great.

3125831259

[CHAZC5ZX]

I used A 98 GT axel as is in my car with the replica halibrand wheels and it is perfect.
Chaz...

[tirod]

IIRC the drivers side Ranger axles are the ones that convert it.

[Jeff Kleiner]

The axels are not interchangeable. Not only did the axles increase in size, but so did the rear ends.

These are the specs for the Mustang's 8.8" rear end:

Between 1987 and 1993, the axles were 29.063" and the rear end was 59.25".
1994 to 1998, axles were 0.75" longer, and the rear end was 1.5" longer than Fox-body.
1999 to 2004, axles were another 3/4" longer, while the rear end grew another 1 1/2".

This means that the axles used on the last revision of the SN-95, were a full 3" longer than the ones used on the Fox-body. While narrow wheels and tires may not be an issue, wider counterparts will have clearance issues, if not matched properly with the rear end used. Even FFR warns about this on their site.

Carlos


To clarify: the '94 through '98 axle HOUSING is the same width as the '93 and earlier Fox version however the axle SHAFTS are longer. All of the extra shaft length is outside of the housing to accomodate the ABS tone rings. The '99 and later rears have a wider housing and longer axle shafts and can only be brought to Fox width by cutting the housing and replacing the axle shafts. The '94-'98 rears are much simpler; without modifying the housing they can be brought to Fox width and retain their 5 lug disc brake configuration by swapping axle shafts and using caliper relocation brackets available from Richard Oben at North Racecars.

http://www.northracecars.com/Brakes.html

A standard width '94-'98 rear coupled with wide wheels & tires poses issues with the roadster but as Mike (STLMARSHALL) and Chaz mention above the Coupe is more forgiving due to the wider body and with proper wheel/tire selection will allow the '94-'98 rear to be used as is.

Jeff

[Timb]

I am using an 02 Donor rear with standard mustang width rims. Here is a pic right after I put it in with 355 tires
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TlV-zEg0i_w/UOoCsflgc-I/AAAAAAAAAQQ/OhFAb5dsXJc/s1600/IMG_6583.JPG
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uFDP1X2oBrI/Uxt-KfHm3UI/AAAAAAAAAVM/7bvx4wCDkuk/s1600/IMG_8110.JPG

[Carlos C]

To clarify: the '94 through '98 axle HOUSING is the same width as the '93 and earlier Fox version however the axle SHAFTS are longer. All of the extra shaft length is outside of the housing to accomodate the ABS tone rings. The '99 and later rears have a wider housing and longer axle shafts and can only be brought to Fox width by cutting the housing and replacing the axle shafts.

Jeff:

You're right. I had my information from Moser years ago, and I verified your statement today. The '94 - '98 housing is the same width as the Fox-body. The axles grew 3/4" due to the change to disc brakes from drums, and the addition of ABS. These axles, however, cannot be used with drum brakes. I know this because I have a set of each, the four and five-lug axles.

DaytonaCoupeDean-o:

Sorry for the wrong info. If you're planning to go the 5-lug route, just get yourself a rear end from a '94 - '98 Mustang. My previous statement still stands: if you go for a '99 - '04 rear end, be careful. Depending on the wheels you get, you may have fitment issues, if the offset and back-spacing is radically different on a wide wheel, from the tried-and-true dimensions.

Carlos

[CraigS]

I am not a coupe expert so bear w/ me a minute. I would plan on a 79-98 housing as a start. To me the overall goal is to be able to use the inexpensive 10.5x17 mustang wheels like these. Even if you plan on other wheels, these are readily available both new and used so it's nice to have a car they fit.
http://www.americanmuscle.com/dedibuwh.html
There are several different colors available in this style and 2-3 other styles available at the same price. On a roadster you absolutely need to end up w/ a Fox width for these to fit w/ 315 tires. The coupe is more forgiving as the fenders are wider. You might even need spacers to make these look correct on a coupe. The thing is, you can always make a slightly narrow axle wider, fairly inexpensively, w/ spacers and longer studs. If you end up w/ too wide an axle the fix is a lot more expensive.

[loeffler1]

Timb

Kinda looks like you're gonna have to lay down the law in that garage, you got no room to work!!! LOL

[Timb]

Haha fortunately I have an attached backroom that is all shop. with benches etc but I know that eventually I will have to convert it to a mother in law suite.