01LimitedXJ

Quote:

Originally Posted by mike

everyone is talking about having to cut and weld new spring plates, what i was considering was pulling one out of a ranger. and as far as the d44 having more aftermarket suport, ha, you must have never been around mustangs. the 88 is found in most mustangs and some 4x4 rangers. and to answer another ? yes they are bad about spinning tubes, but a couple good welds and that fixes that. IMO the 8.8 would be easier to find, around here, and cheaper to build, around here. Oh and a good angle grinder you can cut the pads and brackets off and the welding shops around here charge about 45 to 50 bucks to weld them back on, not bad IMO, plus i have an 88 laying in the back yard.

Here is an excerpt from the Ranger Station:

1) 1986-up "Incomplete vehicles" also known as "Chassis Cabs" were frequently equipped with 8.8" 28-spline axles, the '86-88 examples are distinctive as they are the only 8.8" Ranger rears that have no provisions for a RABS sensor.

2) 1990 & up 4.0-liter Rangers. These are ALWAYS equipped with the 8.8-inch 28-spline rear axle.

3) 1998-up 4x4 supercab Rangers regardless of powerplant are frequently equipped with 8.8" axles

4) FX4 Rangers 99-current come equipped with an 8.8 rear and 31-spline axles with either 4.10 or 4.56 axle ratios.

Swapping in an 8.8-inch 28-spline Ranger axle for the original 7.5-inch axle provides (according to Ford) a 35% increase in strength. But this strength increase refers to the greater strength of the gears and carrier bearings (Pinion bearings, axle bearings and axle shafts are exactly the same) there is NO increase in weight capacity If you are looking for greater strength for loads created by severe offroad driving or towing you'll want to go to the next step, the Explorer axle.

The rear axles on all Ford Explorers are also 8.8's, however there are some differences... The 8.8-inch Explorer axle use 31-spline axle shaft. Increasing from a 28-spline to a 31-spline axle allegedly increases strength of the axle shaft by 34%, however I'll go by the capacity ratings of the axle assemblies provided by the manufacturer. Ford Rates the Ranger axle at 2750lbs and the Explorer axle at 3200lbs this is a 16% increase in strength, which admittedly may be as conservative
as the estimate of axle strength. The Important thing about the Explorer axle assembly vis-a-vie it's strength is not the axles that are larger at the splines but that these axles are larger in diameter at the outer bearing journal AND the larger diameter bearings used.


My last vehicle was a 2000 Explorer, and i used to frequent to explorer/ranger forums quite often

dabeast727

d60s are as strong as their reputation, that is with aftermarket shafts. d44s though are rated for 35" tires... hell i can run 35s on my 8.25 29 spline! thats why im not a big fan of d44s, and an 8.8 is about equivilant to a 44. it is a half ton axle

okcjeeper

for me I think finding a 29 spline 8.25 will work just fine..strong enough for anything I'll throw at it. Easy to install and there are plenty of gears, axle and lockers out for it..

vbxjeeper

They came in some f 150s also, does that make them 3/4 ton axles?

BlueXJ

I'm no Ford expert but thought the F150 was a half ton truck and the F250 was the 3/4 ton with the F350 as the 1 ton version.

mike

you are right.

redrustbucket91

Im trying to do my 8.8 swap on the cheap side. I have people that can weld for me and im up for the task. Does anyone know of any cheap complete 8.8 swap kits?

1990cherokee

Same boat as you so is there. anyone out there can answer this question?

mike

wow this came back after a year.

AWOL

Someplace I have a couple sites that have 8.8 install kits. They are around 150-200 dollar range but come with heavy duty spring perches and shock mounts and other stuff. The only thing they dont take care of is parking brake cables. It's my understanding that you can snag them from a Grand Cherokee.. As soon as i find tthe link ill put it up.

Jeep450r

I don't know why the manufacturer would rate their axle at "Explorer axle at 3200lbs". Warn completed a test and concluded that the axle shafts strength is 6500 lbs/ft while the D35 is 4000-4300, and the D44 is 4600-5000.

Worried about spinning the tubes in the housing? Just weld the axle tube to the housing...

I say go for it.

1990cherokee

yah i am gonna do the swap, just gotta find the axle and then figure out the measurements. other than that i am not too worried bout this swap. Oh and glad i can point some bump in a year old thread, didnt even see the date haha. i found this thread while searching google.

mike

look around a different mustangs clubs, i know you are prob. wanting an explorer rearend but if you can't find one the mustang one are pretty stout, all you have to do is change out the axles with ranger ones.
i know people will say this is not as strong,but i'm in a mustang club and have seen these cars come off the line with a 200 shot and not break so why would i think a stock 4.0 would even touch it. Just my 2 cents i wouldn't have a problem running a stock mustang 8.8.

01LimitedXJ

just get perches somewhere else...no need to buy a kit. shock mounts can be as easy as a large bolt welded to the axle tube, or traditional ones ranging in the 20-30 dollar range. brake lines...i used two passenger side (i think) soft lines for an explorer. for the middle i used the hard lines from a dana 35, and the cherokee's stock T block fitting. for the vent i ran clear tubing up into the xj (no worries about water crossings now). parking brake cables from a zj will work...u may have to move the parking brake block/connection thingy to the center (in the trans tunnel would work)

'95 and up explorers are 31 spline with disk brakes. these are the ones to go for. the 8.8 is a very popular swap...not just in xj's but a lot of wranglers and other vehicles. its a tough axle, and will hold up to a lot of abuse. stock it can easily handle 35's locked.

im running one with a 'lincoln' locker on 33's...soon to be 35's. my buddy has one in his stroked 4.6l mj on 35's with a welded rear as well...and it stands up to his crazy driving on the street and offroad.

Jeep450r

Ive seen them successfully run on 37's with upgraded shafts.

As far as a kit with perches, u-bolts, and shock brackets... id say this is the way to go. Unless you have the fab skills to fab your own.