- Brands - Ford ## Why The Ford 9-Inch Rear End Is Still America's Favorite Axle Decades After Ford Quit Making It All the horsepower in the world is useless if it can't be transferred to the pavement. Putting the power down is the axle's job, and for a rear-wheel-drive car, the simplest setup is the solid rear, which is essentially a stick with a bump in the middle that houses both a car's differential and axles in one unit. An independent rear, like it sounds, lets the two rear wheels move independently of each other. This is better for ride and handling, but independent rears are more…