9" third member

GotWood

GotWood

Sayer of Fact
Joined
Jan 12, 2007
Location
Maiden, NC
I'm gonna weld the gears in my 9" but I've never had one apart. From what I understand they are very easy, but once again, I've never messed with one. I've taken apart many dana 35 style axles, pulling the c-clips and pulling the axles out etc...
What is the short of removing the third member and welding the gears?
 
4 bolts on each side hole the shafts in with the bearings, drive shaft, 3/8 bolts around the third member. rubber mallet sometimes their a little stubborn.
 
I installed a mini spool in my third member and it was much easier and less time consuming than welding the spider gears. The mini spool was only around $50, and it is very solid. When you take the third member out you will have to take the carrier out, so just mark where it is at now and reinstall accordingly. Make sure you pull the axle shafts out first.
 
I just pulled the shafts and center section out of the 9" that is sitting in my garage in preparation for building a set of axles for the Grand Cherokee. I found that I had to go and borrow an axle puller from Advance. It is a slide hammer that bolts up to the wheel studs. I found this website to be very helpful:
http://www.ford-trucks.com/article/idx/9/065/article/Ford_9_Inch_R
 
Ebay might be the answer......

I hate to ruin good parts for the future by welding them, try a full spool for $80-100 from ebay, or do a mini like the other guy said......
 
I'll break it down. Done it twice, mini spool and a full spool. Did the mini the night before a run.

1. Jack up the truck.
2. Remove the wheels
3. Remove the Drums
4. Remove the shafts. You an turn the drums around and put the lugs back on and use that as a slide hammer. Be sure to have something for the axle grease to drain into.
5. Remove the driveshaft
6. Remove the bolts holding the 3rd on.
7. Lift out the 3rd. It isn't easy to get out. Fits very tightly. Again it will need to drain. After you crack it open, it will leak.
8. Your going to have to support the 3rd on something. Two cinderblocks works. That should give you and idea on size.
9. Give the ring gear a push forward and backward. Get a feel for how tight it is on the pinion. This is the backlash. I didn't set it by a gauge either time. But it's still going.
10. Now take off the bearing caps. Remember what sides they came off of. That is pretty important. There are some other parts in there that you need to remember how they came off.
11. You now have the ring gear off. I would take it off, to keep from dinging or chipping it.
12a. If you go with a fullspool(I would.) Just bolt that ring gear on. put on some new bearings and reverse the install

12b. You are going to have to seperate the two halfs to get to the spiders, to weld or put in a mini spool.

13. It's getting fuzzy here, but you have to take out the spiders and then put in the minispool.

14. Reverse the install.


If you go far enough to weld you need to just put in a full spool. Lots stronger.
 
id go mini spool but just so u know their is a light duty mini spool thats mainly used in dirt track racing, and a heavy one thats for drag racing. that is what u need. i have them both light is 24.99 and hd is 32.99 and id also suggest a hardend pin thats about $20 bucks i will give a lifetime warranty with the hd if used with hardend pin just pm if u need help
 
If the axle won't come out, put the tire/wheel back on, lay under the vehicle, and kick the back side of the tire. That is what I had to do when taking mine out for the first time.
 
drkelly said:
If the axle won't come out, put the tire/wheel back on, lay under the vehicle, and kick the back side of the tire. That is what I had to do when taking mine out for the first time.
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Just make sure it is very sturdy on jackstands or whatever before you try this one.
 
BigBody79 said:
You an turn the drums around and put the lugs back on and use that as a slide hammer.
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Thats the ticket!
Eastern said:
I installed a mini spool in my third member and it was much easier and less time consuming than welding the spider gears. The mini spool was only around $50, and it is very solid.
Click to expand...
Don't ruin a good pig, get a mini spool!
 
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