Rear end strength question:
 

Is there any irrefutable evidence that proves that an 8.8" Ford rear end is any stronger, or weaker, than a 10-bolt Chevy rear, in its strongest permutation?

Any personal experience to that end???

Any solid information will be appreciated!!!

Re: Rear end strength question:
 

Bill a 12 bolt chevy is 8.75....the ford is 8.8....you can get anything for an 8.8 also...just like a 12 bolt.

Re: Rear end strength question:
 

i will ad this the ring and pinions are pretty strong in an 8.8 .but the problem is with the tiny axle tubes . i can't tell how many bent 8.8 housing i have worked on . not that the 10 bolt is that much better , but it at least has a 3" tube and you can change to beefier tube if it became a problem.

Re: Rear end strength question:
 

Thanks Greg. I was interested in a comparison between a 10-bolt Chevy and an 8.8" Ford.... I know, the 12-bolt is stronger than the 10, but I wondered how much, if any, stronger the 8.8" was than the Chevy 10-bolt.

Thanks for the info!

Re: Rear end strength question:
 

And, thank YOU, Mark; I was mainly interested in the differential and its gears, but if those small tubes are that problematical, that would surely be a part of the issue of rear end longivity!

I never thought of that.... I appreciate your having brought it up!

Re: Rear end strength question:
 

Gear wise 12blt.,8.5 10blt.,and 8.8 are all real close especially w/aftermarket parts.
Pro gears are biggest difference in strength of those rears I believe other than axle tubes being smaller on 8.8
Mike Taylor3601

Re: Rear end strength question:
 

Bill,
in an article a few years back in the Dragster,
Evan Smith told about his axle tube breaking off
from the centersection on his -93 Mustang Stocker.
It was an 8.8 axle.

Re: Rear end strength question:
 

That was after how many years of Evan beating on it? & that's a stick car too. in short the 8.8 is a good strong rear end....I wouldn't take it over a 9" if I was narrowing one BUT if your going to using it in a stocker or a 10.00 or slower car I'd say you would have no or atleast very little trouble.

Re: Rear end strength question:
 

It's valuable information, for sure, to know about the small axle tubes in the 8.8, and the problems they cause, but I was basically just interested in the answer to the question about the relative strength of the 10-bolt Chevy's ring and pinion and carrier assembly as regards torque-handling capabilitiy as compared with an 8.8" Ford.

Nobody seems to have an answer for that, so it's probably just a stupid question with no real, available, accurate answer.

Thanks for all the comments; I do appreciate the good info!!!

Re: Rear end strength question:
 

it's not a stupid question. it's just a matter of opinion. the 10 bolt comes in quite a few configurations. a 7.5 junk 8.2 slightly better,the bop style, and the 8.5, if your gonna use a 10 bolt the 8.5 is the only choice. but with the aftermarket parts availble both the 8.8 and 8.5 are decent rears. i would choose the 10 bolt only because it will be easier to swap into other cars because of it's 3" tubes, most brackets and perches are set up for 3"tubes not the 2.750 of the 8.8. i hope that amswers your question