Custom Rear Axle Build - Reckless Wrench Garage

This a completely custom ford 9-inch axle build for my Ford Ranger rock crawler. The beauty of a custom axle housing is you can design every part of the axle to fit the exact needs of your build. This is a great option for prerunners and rock crawlers.
Starting with a bare fabricated axle housing from Ruffstuff Specialties, it is cut for a 67-inch wheel mount surface width. The housing is reinforced with a truss and then unit-bearing cups from Spidertrax are added. This is a full float rear axle and Currie unit bearings are used. A lightweight brake package with Wilwood calipers and solid rotors is used. I fabricated the upper link suspension tabs from 3/16 plate steel and boxed them in with 1/8th plate steel.
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[@rockymtnredneck4888]

I’m watching YT *after* I’m done in the garage for the day, thank you very much!

[@RecklessWrenchGarage]

Well then you're doing it right 😂🍻

[@danieldodd2264]

Love the axle. Would love a cost breakdown and to know if you would change anything

[@MacsSpecialitiesMotorsports]

What a cool build 👍 Full float 35 9 is so sweet and beef🤘Well done sir!

[@jamesjaggers8262]

Awesome job. You and Kris both do great work. Keep it up. Stay Reckless!!

[@DangerzoneDuggar]

Someone I know gave me the nickname "fair weather fabricator", so I have to be true to that. I can't go out and work until it's warm 😂

[@RecklessWrenchGarage]

Cut the excuses!

[@blackbeard308]

BRO YOUR KILLN IT GEARHEADZ RULE 🇺🇸🇺🇲🇺🇸🇺🇲🇺🇸🕺💃 KEEP GRINDING

[@RecklessWrenchGarage]

Thanks man, I appreciate it

[@Lonits]

I love watching this channel. I have a 90 Ranger that I'm currently in the process of Axle swapping and this channel helps me with the motivation and tips I need to get it done. Thank you so much!

[@mattpeterson7074]

Sick looking axle. Can't wait to see it under the rig and rolling.

[@mutlygarage511]

Your definitely inspiring me to get my power wagon done. Keep up the awesome work and I’m glad you’re making vids again.

[@RecklessWrenchGarage]

Thank you! If I can help motivate 1 person to keep going on a project I am happy!

[@chewbaccadawookie4038]

I'm loving the Ford 9 Build. I'm running one from a 78 Bronco, but the Ruffstuff housing caught my eye. They sent me here and I saubbeed to your channel. Nice work. Lock your nuts!!! lol

[@elg1514]

Great video, excellent footage. Keep em coming.

[@RecklessWrenchGarage]

Thank you!

[@johnnyberlinn1663]

Looking great I love your content keep up the great work

[@RecklessWrenchGarage]

Thank you!

[@stevenkey8358]

I want to build a set of 609 axles for my TJ so bad. I want something different then the normal 1 ton TJ. I want the strength but not the weight. Since coming back to YT you've been killing with the videos man. Keep up the great work.

[@RecklessWrenchGarage]

Thank you I really appreciate that! The 9 inch is such a versatile axle it's hard to not want one in everything. Unlimited aftermarket support is nice. Only downside is the price compared to a junkyard axle

[@TwoFeatherChannel]

it's beautiful

[@RecklessWrenchGarage]

I am happy with how it turned out. Always practicing! Practice makes progress

[@DrHavok1]

holy hell those axle shafts are beefy!! nice!!.... i just messed my pants

[@curtisgiles9528]

Great video I’m currently researching building a similar set up

[@fun6243]

Why no jig? I thought you couldn't build a rear end without a jig cause ya gotta put some heat in. What do you know I don't? Just curious.

[@RecklessWrenchGarage]

This truss wraps around the axle tubes 180 degrees so the weld surface is top and bottom and not on one side of the tube essentially. The tubes being 3/8 thick and only welding small sections at time helps prevent warpage. Since this is a rear axle I do not have to factor in caster on the bearing cups so they are aligned with each other and burned in. In my mind if you're getting a 3/8 tube so hot it's warping when welding on a 1/8 truss, you should slow down. With all that said I am just an idiot on the Internet making videos, a professional fabricator and/or welder would be a better source to ask.

[@The2006200]

Nice axle build! What do you think about the full 9” axle roller kits from trail gear? Looks like a more affordable way to build a fab 9”. Are the pieces quality though?

[@FlawedOffroad]

Did you have to call me out at the end? lmao. pretty sweet axle

[@LScout800]

Asife from the new back end of the ranger, what else are ypur plans for it? I know you said something about moving the engine back for better weight bias and uptravel.

[@TheChicagOP]

jealous of those unit bearings, I destroyed a 14 bolt spindle and am still working on fixing that whole deal

[@RecklessWrenchGarage]

The quick change aspect of the unit bearings is very nice

[@loganstaal3162]

Resize your hydraulic handbrake calipers to a smaller, single piston unit, you’re either gonna have to have a lot of throw or a lot of bore on your master cylinder for that hand brake unit to take those, another channel did it, and proved that the factory smaller calipers are better for hydraulic handbrake. What channel is, doughnut, media, and it was on the 350 Z.

[@joecarmean1079]

I built custom 9” axles for my rock buggy last year. Curious to see what you’re going the use for inner axle seals. I used TG housings. They came with their fancy aluminum housing double seal. I’m not a fan. Have had leaking issues, from day 1.

[@RecklessWrenchGarage]

The ruffstuff housing came with a setup similar to TG seal housing and the Spidertrax seal housing

[@joecarmean1079]

@@RecklessWrenchGarage please feature them on your next video, or when it applies. I popped the actual seals out of the aluminum housing, and replaced them with Seal-It seals. Much better.

[@IHopeItsMilk]

@@joecarmean1079 that is what Ruffstuff uses

[@codymullins4523]

did u have to true your rear end after all the welding

[@TaylorFeist206]

That new housing looks beefy no doubt but I'm surprised you upgrade from your old 9" setup. Is the new one just stronger and able to run full float?

[@RecklessWrenchGarage]

The stock 9 inch housings have a tendency bend even with trusses and I wanted the strength of a full float setup. Plus this looks a lot better now

[@CrankAddict]

What did you use to drill those lightening holes in your brackets? I haven't seen one of those yet.

[@RecklessWrenchGarage]

I used a magnetic drill with an annular cutter. They cut like butter! A few videos back I made a fab table and talked more about the mag drill

[@CrankAddict]

@@RecklessWrenchGarage I must have missed that video. Going back...

[@TheMrhick92]

You could also do cutting brakes

[@RecklessWrenchGarage]

Yeah I might do that too

[@ryanmares692]

What stand are you using for the portable bandsaw? Thanks!

[@RecklessWrenchGarage]

This is a stand that someone made for me, it's not commercially available

[@adrianlaverick8040]

Does that ruffstuff housing have long enough tubes that one side could be cut down to make a front axle out of it with an offset drop?,

[@RecklessWrenchGarage]

Yeah it can be made into a front axle just as easy, I can't remember the exact length but the tubes are plenty long

[@adrianlaverick8040]

@RecklessWrenchGarage awesome thank you! Keep up the good work with the channel man!

[@DadFab]

Great job man, looks super solid. I’m building Trail Gear 9’s right now with all their accessories (wilwood brakes, hats, bearings, etc. What did you end up doing for brake lines on this?

[@The2006200]

I can’t find any info or reviews of the trail gear 9 kits on the internet. It’s like no one has ever installed one. How do you like it so far? Did you do front and rear?

[@DadFab]

@@The2006200I’m going to do a video of my build, because yeah it’s like no one else has ever built them. I love them. They’re BEEF, and you get to build them as wide or narrow as you want. All new parts no junk yard bs.

[@The2006200]

@@DadFab I would love to see your video! Did you use hi or low pinion center sections? The true high 9s look killer.

[@thereddirtescape]

What welder are you using

[@michaelnoyes4817]

Some of the welds look they are to cold

[@bradywilliams2666]

Glad I'm not the only one to notice that. Cold and looks to be concentrated on he brackets more then the housing.

[@ironmikedavenport8753]

Is there a parts list?

[@Jessersadler]

Nice. Yall disappeared for awhile. . . the other Chris still around?

[@MacsSpecialitiesMotorsports]

....

[@RecklessWrenchGarage]

Yes, Kris has been unavailable for the last 16 months. You’ll see more videos with him again in the near future.

[@MacsSpecialitiesMotorsports]

@@RecklessWrenchGarage good to know! Hope the best for the Ch(K)ris’

[@Jessersadler]

@@RecklessWrenchGarage sounds like a deployment.

[@RecklessWrenchGarage]

Something like that.

[@DependableAutoTruck]

how does a 9" compair to a dana 60

[@RecklessWrenchGarage]

There are pros and cons of each, but the 9 inch is lighter and just as strong as a Dana 60. Since this axle is 35 spline and full float this is stronger than a stock Dana 60. Plus a 9 inch has a dropout differential.

[@randumadventures]

What was the reasoning for building another rear axle? I thought your old one was built pretty good already

[@RecklessWrenchGarage]

I wanted full float axles and the factory housing was on borrowed time until it deforms with the higher speed stuff it sees now.

[@randumadventures]

@@RecklessWrenchGarage ah ok I can agree with all that

[@zakaroonetwork777]

I can see your tubes pulling as you weld on the truss.

[@MorganStOnge]

hey great video, just please don't wear gloves when using a bandsaw or drill press. speaking from experience. if a fiber from your glove gets caught it sucks your whole hand in.

[@beaumont9072]

What’s wrong with your old axle? How much for it?