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
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.
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
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/
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?
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.
Quote from: Mavaholic on 2015-06-17 16:58
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