7 1/4 rear end axles

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ChrisRom

ChrisRom

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Can you help me please with a question.
I have a 65 Dart with 7 1/4 rear end and small drum brakes and small bolt pattern lugs. The front is converted to disk brakes and large bolt pattern.
The car came with a spare rear end (also 7 1/4) with larger brakes and LBP. Don't know the year but the center section seems shot (water got into it). The axles are good.
Can I change only the axle shafts along with the drum back plates and the pressure plates (what keeps the axle bolted to the housing). It seems these pressure plates on the old axle have 4 bolts, and the new one has 5 bolts.
I am thinking on putting new bearings on the new axles and at the same time change the pressure plates - use the 4 bolts plates from the existing axle to fit the old housing.
Is that possible, is there a difference in length, any other obstacles?

Thank you,
 
Really, rusted parts amounts to ring and pinion and the spiders. Not hard to find. Bearings are easy to locate. Surface rust is nothing on those gears,unless there is pitting.
 
Or just rebuild the large bolt pattern one you have if it's for an A body. I am not positive but I think the ring and pinion are the same the housing and the diff case and axles are different.
 
Thank you.

I was just looking for an easy way out, just swap some axles and press in couple of bearings.

Don't know if rebuilding the spare axle is justifiable. Maybe I'll just go and get a 8.25 wrangler axle for couple hundred bucks and pay somebody to relocate the perches. But again - need new shock plates, shorten the driveshaft - that's a $500 deal.... Thinking out loud.
 
Why not take the guts out of your SBP rear end and transfer them to the BBP rear end?
It seems like all you want is the BBP rear end with the bigger brakes etc. so that you have the same bolt pattern front and rear.
The axles themselves are not interchangeable, unfortunately.
The problem is, that the cases might not be machined identically between the housings so that the pattern on the ring and pinion are the same.
Before you disassemble your good small bolt rear end, check the gear pattern and the back lash, and if it isn't close in the BBP rear housing, then shim it to be the same.
There should be enough parts between the two to make it happen.
Good luck, and let us know how you make out.
 
I may be able to get a 8 1/4 rear end. Do you guys know if the back plates and 10" drum brakes will fit from the 7 1/4 to the 8 1/4 housing? The axle I found does not have the drum brakes.
 
ChrisRom said:
I may be able to get a 8 1/4 rear end. Do you guys know if the back plates and 10" drum brakes will fit from the 7 1/4 to the 8 1/4 housing? The axle I found does not have the drum brakes.
Click to expand...
Some do. I swapped 8-3/8 from a pickup and it took all the 7.25 parts. 8-3/8 and 8.25 are pretty much the same.
 
ChrisRom said:
I may be able to get a 8 1/4 rear end. Do you guys know if the back plates and 10" drum brakes will fit from the 7 1/4 to the 8 1/4 housing? The axle I found does not have the drum brakes.
Click to expand...
The brakes and backing plates are the same between the A-Body BBP 7 1/4 rear end and the BBP 8 1/4 rear end.
Also, the driveshaft will have to be shortened and the u bolts and shock plates will need to be changed if you change from a 7 1/4 to a 8 1/4 rear end. The axle tubes are bigger.
The 8 1/4 is a good rear end, and will save you a lot of headaches in the future if you plan to upgrade the car in the future power wise..........
 
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