So here's the problem, I have the 99+ SN95 brakes on the front, but just want to get my car back together. Gas in the truck is killing me.
Can I use 99+ mustang rear axles in the 87' 7.5 rear with 5 lug drum brakes? or, do I have to use the 94-98 mustang rear axles, or areostar/ranger axles for the correct offset?
You're probably SOL with the wider 86-88 7.5 housing.
The 99+ axles are too long and the bearing surface on the 94-98 ones might be in the wrong spot to work properly. The Ranger axles will be too short, period.
So, then what axles would work with drum brakes? I don't really want to have to get disk brakes, or another rear.
The 94-98 axles have about 1.1" of bearing surface overlap with the wide housing axles. I can't remember off of the top of my head how wide the bearings+seal are. If it would work, it would be very close. Also, if the 94-98 axles were in a salty climate - the area outside the original seal location is probably rusted and definitely unusable in the wide housing. Might want to check the axle spreadsheet in Jim Miller's thread (http://"http://foxtbirdcougarforums.com/showthread.php?t=13253") for other options.
I guess I should have test fit the '94'-98 axle in my wide housing when I put the 99+ axles.
Since i can't find any axles that would work, would you guys just suggest that I find another rear end out of a 94-04 mustang, or a mark VII for 5 lug, or convert a turbo coupe rear end?
If I got a turbo coupe rear, what axles would I need to get?
Look at the 3 stickied threads at the start of this section and the link that Jeremy posted......this has been gone over and over and over.....
Here's a hint. The TC rear housing is the same width as the Mustang housings (79-98). The 94-98 Mustang axles are the same length as the Tbird/Cougar ones.