In slippery road conditions, an open differential sends the torque to the wheel with the least amount of resistance and therefore traction is limited. You have probably experienced the single-wheel burnout. The easiest way to check if you have a limited-slip differential and if it is still somewhat functioning is to jack the rear wheels […]

In 1983 the Ford 8.8-inch axle first appeared in a Ford Ranger truck, but since then, the 8.8 has been most commonly installed in the Mustang. Of course, you want your Mustang to perform at its best and have maximum longevity. Therefore, if you’re building 700-hp street car or 10-second quarter-mile car, you’re either going […]

I could not review the history and identification of these axles without talking about the Ford part numbering system. The Ford part numbering system is well organized and structured as compared to some other original equipment manufacturers’ systems that just utilize the “next number in sequence” philosophy. Ford part numbers typically have three components: the […]

While the majority of this book focuses on rear-wheel-drive applications, there are also four wheel-drive applications of the Ford 8.8-inch and 9-inch axles. When used in these applications the axles are very similar to a rear axle except they have a different wheel end arrangement that allows for the steering knuckles to be mounted. When these […]