Shortened Rear Diff

[Raven Rider]

I'm going to try to get the rear end shorten this summer while it is too hot to drive my RW for a while.  I found this site on the web does this look like the bearings and seals I need.  Here in the site  https://mibearings.com/catalog-page-26

Wheel Bearings, Seals, and Hub Assemblies
LOCATION            NOTES                                           PART NUMBER (MFG)    QTY PER VEHICLE
Front Inner     SEAL,                                                           417.61000               2  this
Front Outer    Bearing and Race Set, C-TEK Standard           410.91002E               2
Front Outer    Bearing and Race Set, Premium                           410.91002               2  this
Rear               SEAL, 2 3/8" dia Seal, exc 9" Heavy Duty Rear Axle    417.65011               2  this assuming I have a small bearing housing
Rear               SEAL, 3.15" dia Bearing, 9" Heavy Duty Rear Axle    417.64001               2
All said and done I might look for an Explorer 8.8 with disk brakes

[RICH MUISE]

Jerry, I know the wagons had differentials with larger brakes, so it makes me wonder if those correspond to the heavy duty axels/larger bearings.?? Someone here will have that answer.

[canadian_ranchero]

check the size of the bolts that hold the backing plates on.if they are 3/8[9/16 socket]the diff is the small bearing.if the bolts are 1/2 inch[3/4 socket]the diff is the big bearing

[Mavaholic]

I shortened a 8.8 out of a lincoln town car for my RW. Besides having disc brakes, it has the brackets for a sway bar. If your interested, here is a link on how to shorten it yourself.

http://mmb.maverick.to/resources/poor-mans-guide-to-shortening-a-rear.86/

[Raven Rider]

Mav nice write up on shortening the rear diff.  I think I can do everything but the final weld I would feel safer getting a pro to weld it and by doing that I would not have to defend my ugly welds.  What ratio Rear End did you get?

[Mavaholic]

Not real sure what the ratio was. I got the whole car so I put the 4.6, AODE, and the rear in my wagon.

[canadian_ranchero]

Not real sure what the ratio was. I got the whole car so I put the 4.6, AODE, and the rear in my wagon.

most were 3.08 ratio