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  •  » FYI Ford, Classic Mustang Tech Discussion
  •  » 8 inch crush sleeve or solid spacer ?

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    9/21/2016 8:29 AM  #1

    Alessandro
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    From: Modena -Italy
    Registered: 7/08/2016
    Posts: 707

    8 inch crush sleeve or solid spacer ?

    Hi , in these days i am checking rear end and third leaking member .
    As i got to rebuild and upgrade , does anybody have some tips about solid and spacer ?
    Is really an improvememt or another way to do the same thing ?
    Newer ring and pinion Need a break-in time or a second check after build ?
    Suggestions welcome

     

    9/21/2016 9:10 AM  #2

    Rudi
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    From: Stuck in the 50's Welland Ca
    Registered: 4/01/2013
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    Re: 8 inch crush sleeve or solid spacer ?

    When I put new gears in my 8" I used a solid spacer and shims. Although the "crush" spacer works fine it was developed by the manufacturers to speed up production line times.
    I also took it easy  for  a few hundred miles and gave the chunk" some cool down time on long runs.
     I also did a lube change after about a thousand miles just to ensure no "gold dust" was present.
     Your mileage may vary but I like to err on the safe side even if it costs a few bucks more.

    Good work ain't cheap, Cheap work ain't good!   Simple Man
     

    9/21/2016 9:24 AM  #3

    Alessandro
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    From: Modena -Italy
    Registered: 7/08/2016
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    Re: 8 inch crush sleeve or solid spacer ?

    I also took it easy  for  a few hundred miles and gave the chunk" some cool down time on long runs.

    Not easy translate ! What you means gave the chunk some cool down ?

       •Thread Starter
     

    9/21/2016 9:41 AM  #4

    Michael H.
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    From: Laurel, MS
    Registered: 4/01/2013
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    Re: 8 inch crush sleeve or solid spacer ?

    The Chunk = slang term for differential center section

    I believe he means that he gave the differential some time to cool down when driving for extended periods of time.

     

    9/21/2016 9:46 AM  #5

    Alessandro
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    From: Modena -Italy
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    Re: 8 inch crush sleeve or solid spacer ?

    Ok . now i got it  !

       •Thread Starter
     

    9/21/2016 9:50 AM  #6

    TKOPerformance
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    From: Newark, DE
    Registered: 12/15/2014
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    Re: 8 inch crush sleeve or solid spacer ?

    You know my stance on this, solid spacer all the way.  Crush sleeves are cheap and easy, which is why the car companies use them, though some Dana rears actually use solid spacers stock.  For a stock rebuild you will be fine with a crush sleeve, but for anything even remotely performance oriented I would never use anything but a solid spacer.  An old circle track car builder around here swore that the crush sleeve caused almost every failure in a Ford 9" he'd ever seen.  This guy was an old time German machinist who really knew his stuff, built the entire car in his shop, engine, chassis, etc.  There's a story that he showed some guys from Ford what was causing the failure.  He took a car with a crush sleeve out on the street and broke it, did the same thing with a car he's put a solid spacer in and it didn't break subjected to the exact same test.  Probably an urban legend, but his idea as to why the sleeve causes failures is valid. 

     

    9/21/2016 9:54 AM  #7

    Alessandro
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    From: Modena -Italy
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    Re: 8 inch crush sleeve or solid spacer ?

    Is this an easy find ?

       •Thread Starter
     

    9/21/2016 10:15 AM  #8

    DC
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    From: Marshall, MI
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    Re: 8 inch crush sleeve or solid spacer ?

    I prefer the solid spacer since it adds more rigidity to the pinion shaft too.

     

    9/21/2016 12:39 PM  #9

    Greg B
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    Re: 8 inch crush sleeve or solid spacer ?

    I also used solid spacers and shims on both my 8" and 9" rebuilds  Although both have 0 miles on them and I do not know the end results (and sometimes wonder if I will ever).   I dont think I would have done it any other way.  

    If multiple things can go wrong, the one that will go wrong will be the one that causes the most damage.
     

    9/21/2016 12:56 PM  #10

    Alessandro
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    From: Modena -Italy
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    Re: 8 inch crush sleeve or solid spacer ?

    Alessandro wrote:

    Is this an easy find ?

     
    Where i can find right spacer an shims ?   Or i Need to build it with lathe ?

       •Thread Starter
     

    9/21/2016 1:22 PM  #11

    Al Newman
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    Re: 8 inch crush sleeve or solid spacer ?

    Cannot argue that the solid spacer would be stronger, but the crush sleeve, especially in the 8" environment, will provide troublefree service unless you abuse the hell out of the car.  If you plan to do that, simply step up to a 9" with a four pinion carrier.  All Ford 8" carriers are two pinion ( single pin ), and therein lies their basic weakness, not the crush sleeve.  I have drag raced and road raced 8" rear ends for years with no problems.  The drag car used a mini spool, and the road race car had a trak lok carrier, both of which would be stressful on the sleeve.  I am not trying to discourage your using a solid spacer, but previous comments should not lead you to believe that crush spacers are inferior junk.  Just sayin.
    Best,
    Al

    Classic cars are full of surprises and almost none of them are good ones!
     

    9/21/2016 1:42 PM  #12

    Michael H.
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    From: Laurel, MS
    Registered: 4/01/2013
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    Re: 8 inch crush sleeve or solid spacer ?

    I would have sworn there was a guy that used to sell Ford 8" center sections on ebay that were 4 pinion for extra strength... but maybe my remember-er ain't working right.

     

    9/21/2016 2:38 PM  #13

    Alessandro
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    From: Modena -Italy
    Registered: 7/08/2016
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    Re: 8 inch crush sleeve or solid spacer ?

    Al Newman wrote:

    Cannot argue that the solid spacer would be stronger, but the crush sleeve, especially in the 8" environment, will provide troublefree service unless you abuse the hell out of the car.  If you plan to do that, simply step up to a 9" with a four pinion carrier.  All Ford 8" carriers are two pinion ( single pin ), and therein lies their basic weakness, not the crush sleeve.  I have drag raced and road raced 8" rear ends for years with no problems.  The drag car used a mini spool, and the road race car had a trak lok carrier, both of which would be stressful on the sleeve.  I am not trying to discourage your using a solid spacer, but previous comments should not lead you to believe that crush spacers are inferior junk.  Just sayin.
    Best,
    Al

     
    The 9 inch is a difficult yard find and expensive here in Italy.
    The solid spacer is a question cause i am rebuilding it and if is a sort of upgrade , i will do that . maybe i will choose only the easy one .!
    I am Doing for future hp if budget stand still  .

       •Thread Starter
     

    9/21/2016 3:29 PM  #14

    TKOPerformance
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    From: Newark, DE
    Registered: 12/15/2014
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    Re: 8 inch crush sleeve or solid spacer ?

    There are 4 pinion 8" carriers available.  The solid spacer gives the case a fighting chance.  The crush sleeve is responsible for the case breaking in the pinion pilot bearing bore.  The pinion bearings on the 8" and 9" are really too close together.  To give it more support Ford added that pilot bearing on the very end of the pinion.  The crush sleeve will oscillate and allow the pinion to move in an elliptical orbit, which will eventually side load the pilot bearing enough to cause the case to break right at the bearing bore.  I've seen quite a few failures in 9" cases from this.

    A solid spacer for the 8" rear should be available from several sources.  Try Randy's Ring and Pinion or Raytech. 

     

    9/21/2016 6:13 PM  #15

    jkordzi
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    From: Sequim, WA
    Registered: 12/28/2013
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    Re: 8 inch crush sleeve or solid spacer ?

    If you've just got a leak, from the axle seals, the pinion seal, or the the gasket between the axle housing and the "chunk," you don't have to rebuild the chunk - just replace the seal or gasket.  If you're going to rebuild anyway, I always use a solid spacer and shims.  I got my last one from Yukon gear (https://www.yukongear.com/).  The crush sleeve will work and millions of cars used it successfully, but it's a one shot deal - mess it up and you need a new crush sleeve.

    Cheap, Fast, Good:  Pick Any Two
     

    9/21/2016 10:44 PM  #16

    351MooseStang
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    From: Brookings, Oregon
    Registered: 4/03/2013
    Posts: 91

    Re: 8 inch crush sleeve or solid spacer ?

    I agree with the solid spacer, I've used the Ratech kit on a couple of 8" units without a problem.

     

    9/22/2016 7:33 AM  #17

    bad427cat
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    From: SW Virginia
    Registered: 1/02/2016
    Posts: 46

    Re: 8 inch crush sleeve or solid spacer ?

    This is where I buy my diff. parts, always worked for me.
    http://www.ebay.com/itm/8-Ford-Solid-Adjustable-Pinion-Spacer-w-Shims-Crush-Sleeve-8-Inch-Preload-/222103221563?vxp=mtr&hash=item33b662353b

    Why is there never enough time to do it right, but always time to do it over!
     

    9/22/2016 7:41 AM  #18

    Rudi
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    From: Stuck in the 50's Welland Ca
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    Re: 8 inch crush sleeve or solid spacer ?

    Other sources for spacers and shims; National Parts depot, around 15 bucks for the 8".   I got mine at  Currie Enterprises. 

    Good work ain't cheap, Cheap work ain't good!   Simple Man
     

    9/22/2016 8:09 AM  #19

    DC
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    From: Marshall, MI
    Registered: 4/01/2013
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    Re: 8 inch crush sleeve or solid spacer ?

    The solid spacer makes changing things like seals and gaskets easier since you don't have to replace the crush sleeve, just torque it up again. Remember leaks and other bad things usually happen right after work is done on it.

     

    9/22/2016 9:55 AM  #20

    Alessandro
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    From: Modena -Italy
    Registered: 7/08/2016
    Posts: 707

    Re: 8 inch crush sleeve or solid spacer ?

    Just few hours ago i  have placed an order for all the stuff  ! With currie spacer and shims too .
    Hope 3.80 will be the right choice  for my cruising .

       •Thread Starter
     

     

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