a few questions about rear ends

[5POINT7]

Im lost with choosing a rear, Im not sure which is better a 9 or a 12 bolt. if I should get a spool, true trac, or locker?? which spline to go with, yoke size, etc. sorry for being a noob with this, but someone has to have some knowledge with this, The car is mostly going to be street and may see the strip a few times a year. what do you guys have/recommened.

[joelster]

I'll try to help you.

Strength of the unit is this:

Strongest to weakest:
Dana60, 9-inch, 12-bolt (with the 12-bolt being much further back). This will not be an issue with 99% of the people out there. 12-bolts are VERY strong compared to our stock rears but if you plan on single digit track times, I would look elsewhere.

Price:
They are all about the same. Expect to pay around $2400ish for a posi rear, and $2000 for a spooled rear irregardless of which unit.

Spool or no spool?
If your car is a dedicated track car, that enjoys the occasional cruise here and there, AND YOU KNOW FOR A FACT THAT YOU WON'T GET CAUGHT IN THE RAIN, then by all means get a spool. The weight savings alone is about 40lbs over a posi-equipped rear. It is stronger too.

Perks about each unit:
12-bolt, it keeps your car 100% GM, it is pretty popular, it sucks marginally more hp than your 10-bolt, it is the lightest of the 3.
Dana60, it is the strongest, comes with 35 spline axles standard, has the best pinion placement for hp loss, although the shear size of it makes it suck more hp than the 10-bolt.
9-inch, VERY POPULAR, can buy different center sections with different gear sets and swap gears in no time. Tons of options available for it with regards to axles, gear sets, etc..

Drawbacks to them:
12-bolt is the weakest. Some hard core guys can break them. There are options to make them stronger but they add to the price ie:bigger axles.
Dana60. It's heavy. Expect a posi S60 to weigh between 220-230lbs, a spooled one will only weigh 185 (I weighed mine ;)). You will need a new driveshaft.
9-inch, It's heavy as well. It "supposedly" sucks the most hp to turn it because of how low on the ring gear the pinion gear engages.

All 3 will suck more power than your stock 10-bolt, meaning if you ran 12.50's before, expect to run 12.60's or worse when you swap rears. All 3 will add considerable value to your car as well. All 3 are light years stronger than the stock 10-bolt. I know that my Dana60 needed a different driveshaft, I am not sure on the others though. Maybe someone else could chime in with the correct info about the 12-bolt and 9-inch, and whether or not they need new driveshafts as well.

I went with a S60 from Strange Engineering. I got a spool, aluminum rear cover, upgraded axles (35 spline s/t) and 1/2" wheel studs. With shipping I paid right around $2000. I know they are a few hundred more right now, I got mine when they first came out though. It bolted in without a single problem in about an hour and a half.

[popo8]

Have you thought about an 8.8"? Ive heard good things... especially if you plan on lowering your car.

[AChotrod]

S60 FTW!!!!!!!! Stock fitment including the TA, strongest you can buy and least amount of lost HP!!! I only lost 13rwhp with the swap. Plus its priced extremely competitive!!!! Yes you will need a new DS or can have your stocker shortened to fit.

[joelster]

Have you thought about an 8.8"? Ive heard good things... especially if you plan on lowering your car.

Who makes an 8.8 for our cars? I must be out of the loop or something.

[jakesz28]

A fabbed 9" is a good option. If you choose the midwest chassis fabbed 9" with an aluinum center and spool it weighs about the same as the 10 bolt. I dislike the moser 9" do to the weight.

With it being mainly a street car I would say you will be fetter off with a posi/limited slip rearend.

[5POINT7]

thanks joelster/everyone for your help. I was thinking of going with the dana60 before making this thread, I heard about some quality issues with the 12 bolts. anyways I drive my car maybe 2-3 times a week on nice days should i get a spool? if not which option would be best, detroit trutrac, or locker?

with the 8.8 rear, I believe you need to do some modifications to make it fit??

[dsmawd350]

while the HP loss might slow you down. being able to launch the shit out of the car on full slicks will actually make most people who change rears go faster

[joelster]

thanks joelster/everyone for your help. I was thinking of going with the dana60 before making this thread, I heard about some quality issues with the 12 bolts. anyways I drive my car maybe 2-3 times a week on nice days should i get a spool? if not which option would be best, detroit trutrac, or locker?

with the 8.8 rear, I believe you need to do some modifications to make it fit??

I don't know of any company that makes an 8.8 rear for our cars. You would need to fabricate some sort of torque arm mount to adapt a plain 8.8 to an f-bod.

As far as the spool question, as long as you know you won't get caught in the rain. My car has a spool and Hoosier Quick Time Pro's on it, which are basically slicks with 3 grooves cut in them. Honestly, in a slight drizzle it is ok, but a steady rain, and my car is deadly.....almost uncontrollable. It is as though the ass-end is on ice. The car will just slide out 2-3 feet with no warning whatsoever. I wouldn't even think of driving it over 20mph.

[5POINT7]

so I should just go with the trutrac option just to play it safe.

[popo8]

[QUOTE=joelster;96810]I don't know of any company that makes an 8.8 rear for our cars. You would need to fabricate some sort of torque arm mount to adapt a plain 8.8 to an f-bod.

QUOTE]


Thats not true... we had one delivered to the shop, and we installed it in an 02 TA.....

I just need to find out where it came from....

[5POINT7]

^^^ I heard of it being done, I posted earlier that you need to some modifications to it, here is some info that someone said about it.

------"The rear end is a Ford 8.8 unit that has been fabricated with 4th generation GM F-body mounting bracketry. The rear is the exact same width as a stock 10-bolt. The spring perches, shock mounts, and backing plate flanges are GM components. GM axle tubes were welded AND SLEEVED onto the Ford differential. A jig was used to ensure axle tube straitness. The idea was to have a strong rear to replace the 10 bolt without having to spend a ton of money.
Although this rear will bolt into any 4th gen Camaro/Firebird, it does NOT have a torque arm mount. As it sits, it is set similar to a 4-link. It does accept a stock-style F-body swaybar."-----

I dont know of anybody that sells them direct for f-body's, I doubt they do because of the mod work that is needed, if im wrong someone please correct me.

[popo8]

If I remember on Tuesday when I am at the garage, I will look up the bill for the guy with the TA, and see what the deal was with the rear he had delivered....

[96LT1355Z28]

http://ltxtech.com/forums/showthread.php?t=372&highlight=9inch

There's a lot of reading here but very informative. Everyone has their own reasons for their rear end choice, I reccomend you determine what the cars primary duty will be (track only, street/strip, street w/ limmited track, etc.) and pick the rear that fits your needs. Also consider what type of suspension you plan on using or if you already have aftermarket stuff will it transfer to the new rear? I'm a fan of the Fab 9's, AChotrods a fan of the S60, and so on, both are very stong and given their assigned duty work great! If you car sees the street I suggest a trutrac but that's me! I looked into the 8.8 option but I didn't want to do all the guenia pig fab work and it was just easier to buy a bolt in finished product. If someone makes a finished "bolt in" 8.8 that would be another good strong and track proven (in the Mustang) option for our cars. Deffinatly worth lookin into given the availabilty of 8.8's and parts.

PS Joelster, very nice post non bias, to the point, and accurate! There's several people not so much here, but on other sites, who would have jumped in and said "get this one, it's the best cause it's what I have". Thanks :peace2: