The Artec Backbone Truss gives the Ford 9-inch what it has always lacked: full-length tube reinforcement. The 9-inch is a favorite for its gearing and strength, but its housings take a beating at speed and under heavy loads, and bent tubes follow. This one-piece truss is formed from 10-gauge steel into a distinctive spine shape that runs the entire length of the axle, so it adds a lot of stiffness for very little weight. Its low profile hugs the housing and stays out of the way of links, shocks, and bed floors, which makes it an easy fit on everything from prerunners to trail rigs.
Features
- 10-gauge (.130") mild steel, precision CNC cut and formed
- Fits Ford 9" housings with 3.0" and larger axle tubes
- One-piece spine design spans the full length of the axle
- Geometry-driven stiffness keeps unsprung weight low
- Low profile packages cleanly around links, shocks, and floors
- Center section area trims to fit both fabricated and stamped housings
- Made in the USA
Measure your tube diameter — 3.0" or larger is required — and expect to trim the center area to match your fabricated or stamped housing. This is a weld-on part best installed on a stripped axle, and the bare steel wants paint or powder coat when the welding is done. If your 9-inch runs 3.5" tubes and you also need an upper-link platform, look at the Ford 9 Inch Rear Top Truss instead. Browse more housing bracing in axle reinforcements or see the full Artec Industries lineup.
Ford 9 Inch Backbone Axle Truss FAQs
What housings and tube sizes does the Backbone Truss fit?
It fits Ford 9-inch housings with 3.0" and larger axle tubes, and it works on both fabricated and stamped housings. The center section area is designed to be trimmed to match your specific housing, which is what lets one truss cover nearly any 9-inch out there.
How is this different from a top truss with link mounts?
The Backbone is pure reinforcement — a full-length spine that stiffens the tubes for high-speed and heavy-load durability without adding much weight. It does not provide a flat upper-link platform. If you need reinforcement plus link mounting on 3.5" tubes, Artec's Ford 9" Rear Top Truss is the better match.
What does installation involve?
It is a weld-on part, so plan on trimming the center area to your housing, tacking, and stitch welding with the axle stripped — ideally on a bench where you can control heat and keep the housing straight. The truss ships as bare steel, so prep and paint or powder coat it once welding is complete.
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