I was just wondering how far I can push my 8.8", im doing a SAS on my 98 ranger right now and im trying to decide if I should swap the rear too or if the 8.8 will be ok for now. I will be going /w 35s or 36s, 4.88s... I am prolly going to but a detroit up front and run the rear open, I was thinking about welding but then I read some other posts and found out about the weak carrier and I dont think I have enough money for detroits in front and back.

I haven't broken any of mine yet. I did problems with the pinion shaft in my LS but even though the holes were ovaled and the clearances were way out it never broke on me after three years of hard use, including long distance highway trips.

I don't think it is a good idea to have the front locked and the rear open. I ran a front ARB with rear LS for a few years and I was never quite sure how well the LS was working. Once I got my rear ARB in I tried a few things that I had always been able to do without the front locker, but I tried them with both diffs open. Well I promptly got stuck or had troubles. If you have a rear LS a front locker will make a big difference. If you can only have a locker in one axle I'd say put it in the rear.

I have read a lot of posts about weak carriers in the 8.8, however, I am running the same 8.8, with 5:13 gears, and a Loc-right no-slip locker that has been there for two years now......I don't exactly drive gracefully, and its still there, even with a luchbox style locker.....guess i'll just keep crossing my fingers.....

Brian--

You can split a LS carrier on 31's with a manual tranny on the street. I know of three that went this way. The LS carrier is much weaker just because of the material removed for the clutch packs.

I babied the 8.8 while I had it, but still wound up with the crush sleeve collapsing, taking out the R&P. The cheap Korean bearings Ford uses probably didn't help matters any.

I would think that a lunchbox would be easier on it that welding, tho.

Well I shattered the limited slip so I put in a auburn pro posi, then I ended up twisting the whole rear axel up and bending the drivers side axel shaft. So Im going with a 9" to replace it, it was a WEAK axel!

I pound on my truck and have never had a problem....

4.56 gears and a noslip.

Originally posted by The Mud Puppy
Well I shattered the limited slip so I put in a auburn pro posi, then I ended up twisting the whole rear axel up and bending the drivers side axel shaft. So Im going with a 9" to replace it, it was a WEAK axel!

LOL... and you think the 9" is any better? What rig is this in?

Unless you're going custom housing and nodular center, 9" vs. 8.8" is 6 of one, half dozen of the other.

Originally posted by sclemons


LOL... and you think the 9" is any better? What rig is this in?

Unless you're going custom housing and nodular center, 9" vs. 8.8" is 6 of one, half dozen of the other.

And you think that they are both weak??? What are you running, Rockwells?????
My 8.8 also has the L/S carrier around the lunchbox locker:flipoff2: , never had a problem.....ever.

Maybe all the stories you heard were guys that try to set up their own r&p, and didn't know how....
Just my .02.......

Brian--

Never had a problem with the 8.8" except with the old style ARBs. The newest version has held up for over a year of some pretty extreme abuse. At least as extreme as a 4.0L can dish out.

The 8.8s with Detroits seem to hold up very well. Several of the guy on my website have been running them for years with no problems and they all wheel hard.

You'll be just fine ;)

Originally posted by Retard
I was just wondering how far I can push my 8.8", im doing a SAS on my 98 ranger right now and im trying to decide if I should swap the rear too or if the 8.8 will be ok for now. I will be going /w 35s or 36s, 4.88s... I am prolly going to but a detroit up front and run the rear open, I was thinking about welding but then I read some other posts and found out about the weak carrier and I dont think I have enough money for detroits in front and back.

Originally posted by 1uglyranger


And you think that they are both weak??? What are you running, Rockwells?????
My 8.8 also has the L/S carrier around the lunchbox locker:flipoff2: , never had a problem.....ever.

Maybe all the stories you heard were guys that try to set up their own r&p, and didn't know how....
Just my .02.......

Brian--

What does your Ranger weigh? 3500#? Only 35% of which is over the back tires? :rolleyes:

It's a strong enough axle for a light truck. But it's no better or worse than a 9".

My Bronco weighs 5500#. Which is why I run a FF 10.25. :flipoff2:

And come on... do you really think I would bring up guys who botched gear setups as examples of why it's a POS? These were all stock trucks, stock FORD setups on the STREET. :flipoff2:

Yes limited slip carriers are weak...
http://www.explorer4x4.com/busted.jpg

The second pinion with the 5 broken teeth broke when the 1st generation ARB let go.

I broke my 8.8 under my 95 Bronco running through the mud. It was an axle wrap issue. I pushed the spring perches into the axle housing. I was running 38.5x14.50 SXs with 4.56 gears. I tried to repair the axle by welding, but it cracked again. At this point in time, I got smart and replaced it with a 10.25" and put some ladder bars on to reduce the axle wrap. When I pulled the axle off, I realized just how much beating the semifloating 8.8 took from the 38.5s. The axle shafts were pretty much shot (splines almost gone). The full floater in there now handles the abuse much better.

-Matt

I think if your 8.8 handled a bronco on 38s.. then I will be fine in my ranger on 35's..

Originally posted by Retard
I think if your 8.8 handled a bronco on 38s.. then I will be fine in my ranger on 35's..

I would think so.... Be sure to weld a piece of steel between the ears on the axle perch... that will reduce the probability of axle wrap pushing them into the housing.

-Matt

I have 91 F1shitty and pound the crap out of my 8.8 busted the spiders all up what was left I welded with a Mig, spiders to the carrier and pin. pound the crap out of it some more and have an LS carrier never broke it again yet it take all sorts of pounding it crawls, baja, should have died a long time ago. So Im doin it a favor puttin a bullet in it and lettin it die!!!!!!!:mad2: :mad2: :nuke: :nuke:

Go with a 7.5 Rear end, those are the best...oh yeah and I'll sell you one, real cheap...

Originally posted by Prerunner
Go with a 7.5 Rear end, those are the best...oh yeah and I'll sell you one, real cheap...


Um no thanks :)

Rear bearing failed (120K miles) on fullsize bronco and it galled the shaft.

not really a failure, more of a maintence item left too long once it started to howl...

i have a 8.8 with 4.10 in my 90 f-150 on 40 hawgs and it does fine with the 4 speed granny, how hard woudl it be to swap a 10.25 into the rear?

Originally posted by HONDA_ForePlay
i have a 8.8 with 4.10 in my 90 f-150 on 40 hawgs and it does fine with the 4 speed granny, how hard woudl it be to swap a 10.25 into the rear?

You just said that the 8.8 works fine, why swap?????

But if ya want, the swap is as easy as any other axle swap, weld on some perches, and shock mounts.......call it a day.

Originally posted by 1uglyranger


You just said that the 8.8 works fine, why swap?????

But if ya want, the swap is as easy as any other axle swap, weld on some perches, and shock mounts.......call it a day.


It's even easier than that. You don't need to move the perches or shock mounts (at least I didn't have to). The only thing you need is a new driveshaft end that can handle the 1 ton U-joint. Other than that, it bolted right up!

-Matt

It's even easier than that. You don't need to move the perches or shock mounts (at least I didn't have to). The only thing you need is a new driveshaft end that can handle the 1 ton U-joint. Other than that, it bolted right up!

did you notice any differences, in the 10.25 and what did you swap it into and what was ti from,