• Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-

96 -98 8.8 Too Big?

  • Thread starter Thread starter CarMichael Angelo
  • Start date Start date Aug 12, 2013

CarMichael Angelo

my rearend will smell so minty fresh,
15 Year Member
Nov 29, 1999
10,641
8,909
234
Birmingham, al
Aug 12, 2013
#1
  • Aug 12, 2013
  • #1
Iread the stickies,...the brake upgrade how to's make a reference to using a 95 rear end,..but make no mention why i shouldn't use one of the years that follow.
I assume that they are wider,.....How much wider?

It's really all mute,...I'll probabaly end up cutting the housing down to allow a 10.5 wheel to fit in the wheel tubs,...but I'd thought I'd ask first.
 

Chuckman

GTFO you fat, heavy bastard
15 Year Member
Oct 21, 2005
1,604
1,002
173
st. louis, mo
Aug 12, 2013
#2
  • Aug 12, 2013
  • #2
96-98 is the same as 94/95, so 3/4" wider per side than a stock fox (axles only, the housing and tubes are the same). 99-04 is i think another 1.5" wider than that (with a wider housing for the same axle flange to tube flange dimension). the earlier sn stuff is fine to use as long as you use the right offset wheels (even the normal sn wheels can work, just have to watch fender clearance)
 

stangboy

Founding Member
Aug 31, 1999
3,932
469
194
New Orleans, LA
Aug 12, 2013
#3
  • Aug 12, 2013
  • #3
madmike1157 said:
Iread the stickies,...the brake upgrade how to's make a reference to using a 95 rear end,..but make no mention why i shouldn't use one of the years that follow.
I assume that they are wider,.....How much wider?

It's really all mute,...I'll probabaly end up cutting the housing down to allow a 10.5 wheel to fit in the wheel tubs,...but I'd thought I'd ask first.
Click to expand...
I don't think the housing is what needs to be cut to fit 10.5s. You just need minitubs or a nice heavy mall/mallot for those inner fender wells. Is this for the Farmont build? I'm pretty sure the rear fender wells are just like our fox wells maybe narrower. Just my $.02...I know your knowledge and skill level FAR surpass mine so you probably know something I don't know.
 

CarMichael Angelo

my rearend will smell so minty fresh,
15 Year Member
Nov 29, 1999
10,641
8,909
234
Birmingham, al
Aug 12, 2013
#4
  • Aug 12, 2013
  • #4
stangboy said:
I don't think the housing is what needs to be cut to fit 10.5s. You just need minitubs or a nice heavy mall/mallot for those inner fender wells. Is this for the Farmont build? I'm pretty sure the rear fender wells are just like our fox wells maybe narrower. Just my $.02...I know your knowledge and skill level FAR surpass mine so you probably know something I don't know.
Click to expand...

Yes, the tires are for my Monty. The rear wheel tubs on a Fairmont are huge, but if the rear is too long,.. the tire will be too far outboard regardless. I will not bash the inner wheel lips to make a tire fit,....I would rather cut the inner tubs completely out,...mini tub them,... narrow the housing, lop the ends off, and replace them w/ the small bearing 9" ends I have, before I beat the wheel tubs once with a hammer.
 

stangboy

Founding Member
Aug 31, 1999
3,932
469
194
New Orleans, LA
Aug 12, 2013
#5
  • Aug 12, 2013
  • #5
Is the Farmont narrower than a fox mustang? I would think that if the wheel wells are already huge then you shouldn't have a clearance issue with the fox length axles in that SN95 rearend. The only problem then would be that the caliper mounting bracket and all the rear disc stuff won't spaced correctly but I'm not 100% about that. I haven't tackled my 5-lug conversion yet.
 

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
43,231
17,918
224
Massachusetts
Aug 13, 2013
#6
  • Aug 13, 2013
  • #6
madmike1157 said:
Iread the stickies,...the brake upgrade how to's make a reference to using a 95 rear end,..but make no mention why i shouldn't use one of the years that follow.
I assume that they are wider,.....How much wider?

It's really all mute,...I'll probabaly end up cutting the housing down to allow a 10.5 wheel to fit in the wheel tubs,...but I'd thought I'd ask first.
Click to expand...


94-98 Rear 8.8 axle is all the same. Only difference is the brake lines. 94-95 are more easily adaptable then 96-98 lines which used 4-channel ABS and ran along the body.

The axles push the wheel mounting plane out 3/4" each side, but there are methods/parts/kits that can allow the use of 5-lug original lenght axles giving you the same offset as a stock drum brake 8.8 rear.
 

SVT32VDOHC

waiting for the next hack atta
Founding Member
Nov 22, 2001
3,501
28
119
Motor City
Aug 14, 2013
#7
  • Aug 14, 2013
  • #7
Just use the stock 94-98 axle assy, and buy your 10.5" wheels with a 45mm offset.
 

CarMichael Angelo

my rearend will smell so minty fresh,
15 Year Member
Nov 29, 1999
10,641
8,909
234
Birmingham, al
Aug 14, 2013
#8
  • Aug 14, 2013
  • #8
stangboy said:
Is the Farmont narrower than a fox mustang? I would think that if the wheel wells are already huge then you shouldn't have a clearance issue with the fox length axles in that SN95 rearend. The only problem then would be that the caliper mounting bracket and all the rear disc stuff won't spaced correctly but I'm not 100% about that. I haven't tackled my 5-lug conversion yet.
Click to expand...

Can't readily find outside body dimensions on a Fairmont. I only know that the distance to the frame rail from the inner quarter panel will easily accomodate a 12" wide tire, once all that stock stuff is cut outta there.

SVT32VDOHC said:
Just use the stock 94-98 axle assy, and buy your 10.5" wheels with a 45mm offset.
Click to expand...
The wheels are 6.85" B/S'd which I get, but w/ a 28mm offset (whatever the hell that's supposed to mean). It really doesn't matter,...I will cut the rear down and have the axles shortened if need be. If it's the housing that's the same (from what I'm reading above) and the axles are longer,...then I'll look at just changing them instead. I plan on getting the 96 rear as part of the engine/trans/rear deal,..so I will take it as it comes, and worry about what I have to do after to make it fit.
 
Reactions: stangboy

88LX5.Oh

15 Year Member
Dec 30, 2011
1,442
204
94
Arkansas
Aug 14, 2013
#9
  • Aug 14, 2013
  • #9
I have a '96 (IIRC) rear end under my car and just used fox length axles and did a bracket flip. Like someone said above, 94-98 housings are all the same. The axles I pulled outta the '96 rear were 3/4 of an inch longer due to the reluctor wheel on them for the ABS
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

R
Axle Research
  • rice_man
  • Mar 16, 2023
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • 2
Replies
22
Views
5K
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- Mar 27, 2023
General karthief
Place to Avoid: Jamison Auto Group in Gulfport, MS
  • D Durden
  • Oct 20, 2025
  • 1965 - 1973 Classic Mustangs -General/Talk-
  • 2 3
Replies
45
Views
2K
1965 - 1973 Classic Mustangs -General/Talk- Feb 4, 2026
nickyb
98 GT PI Swapped Engine Fires, Dies Immediately NOT PATS
  • MMccPerformance
  • Dec 2, 2023
  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech
Replies
3
Views
2K
SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech Dec 20, 2023
Yel2002GTAuto
Y
SN Mustang Magnum T56 swap
  • revhead347
  • May 24, 2024
  • 1994 - 1995 Specific Tech
Replies
15
Views
6K
1994 - 1995 Specific Tech Jun 28, 2026
GearHeadGuy
J
Electrical No crank no dash no nothing, troubleshooting leads to more questions
  • Jojam99
  • Jun 2, 2022
  • 1994 - 1995 Specific Tech
Replies
1
Views
3K
1994 - 1995 Specific Tech Jun 2, 2022
Jojam99
J
Share:
Bluesky Email Share Link
  • Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
Menu
Log in

Register

  • Forums
  • What's new
  • Media
  • Resources
  • Contact
  • Sponsor
X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?

X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?