I have a 8 3/4 housing that was cut down 3" per side about 25 years ago. (when I was young and foolish) It was never used but I planned to get a new set of axles cut down for it from Moser and put this in my Valiant. I had the original set of axles cut down as well but am not going to use them because I want the big bolt pattern.
The long and short of it is that I put these axles in just to be sure that everything was Ok, and then I would have my new set of axles cut down to match these. Well, I run the axle bearing adjuster clear in and I still have free play. Not even close. It appears to me that the one side of the housing is longer than the other by about 1/4", maybe a little more. Don't ask me how I did that, because 25 years is a long time and really don't remember.
So my question is this. There is a stud on the face of the housing straight in line with the axle tube on each side. Can I measure out from that stud to the end of the axle housing on both ends and know which one is too long. That is how I was measuring but I just wanted to make sure that was a good point to measure from.
For the record I already lined up another housing to send out to Moser with my axles, so I know they will be correct. I just hate to discard this housing if I can repair what I have done.

This one qualifies to allow me into the "how can I be so dumb" club! Or maybe the " I know I must have done it, but I don't remember how" club!

Rick

Rick,

I would put the axles in the housing wihtout the 3rd member and measure the distance between the ends of the axle shafts. See how that compares to the length of the floating block in the differential to see how much longer your axle shaft or shafts need to be.

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Joshua

Another option for you is to redrill the stud pattern on those axles to 4.5" and put green bearings on them so no adjusters are needed.

In any case, I would measure distance, as Josh mentioned.

Lou

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Home of Slant6-powered fun machines since 1988

I already picked up another housing and I am getting the axles and housing done by Moser. I'll be happier knowing it is right. I'll work on straightening out the other housing later.

Thanks,

Rick

The man is on a mission!

Lou

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Home of Slant6-powered fun machines since 1988

yep. this is how i set up the fabricated 8 3/4 i made in school. the CARRIER is centered between the HOUSING ends. pinion offset is prebuilt into the carrier. this is how they were able to use the same length axles left and right. go pull the ones out of a 7 1/4 and you can switch them same as an 8 3/4

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1975 Plymouth Duster,225/6 2bbl. and duels, 904, 7 1/4
1986 Dodge Charger Shelby, 2.2 Turbo I, A525

Stupid remark maybe, but are you sure the axles are the same length?
Olaf :shrug:

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Aspenized

Yep,

The axles are exactly the same. After measuring a known good axle housing from one of the pumpkin studs out to the end of the housing and finding that the measurement is exactly the same on both sides; I then measured the one I shortened. It is just 1/4" long on the one side. With a little math I was able to determine the the other side is the correct length. So sometime in the future I will have the long side shortened to match and all should be well.


Rick