Ford 8.8 rearend Durability and Strength

[Beat95YJ]

So we are playing with a 1996 Ford F-150 4WD. It is designed to spend most of its life in the desert playing with suspension components. It is not (as of yet) a hardcore prerunner, but it will see some whoops, jumping and general tomfoolery.

It may be time to get gears as the truck is incredibly slow currently. How strong is the 8.8 that is in it? I am more worried about bending than I am it failing due to horsepower. Will I be able to utilize this axle for a year or two, or do I need to find a 9" before I spend any energy upgrading the 8.8 on this thing? Thoughts?

[Racing Ron]

They have been succesfully run for many years in Stock Full - add a truss and 9" housing ends(Drew/Goat1 or Currie Ent.); spool or Detroit Locker (Reider Racing ); Good gears (Precision Gear ); and Uber Cool Custom axles (Alloy USA ) and you're good to go!!






And I might know a guy who knows a guy who met a stripper who's old roomate used to race and met a guy that could help you with all that.

[TRD]

Originally Posted by Racing Ron

And I might know a guy who knows a guy who met a stripper who's old roomate used to race and met a guy that could help you with all that.

Is his name Ron

[Beat95YJ]

Originally Posted by Racing Ron

They have been succesfully run for many years in Stock Full - add a truss and 9" housing ends(Drew/Goat1 or Currie Ent.); spool or Detroit Locker (Reider Racing ); Good gears (Precision Gear ); and Uber Cool Custom axles (Alloy USA ) and you're good to go!!

Thanks for the assist. I wanted to be sure that with a truss the housing was worth investing in the Reider Racing/Precision Gear/Alloy USA parts before I looked for them. No sense in investing energy and resources into the housing if it was going to be substandard when completed.

I will discuss with Drew B this weekend at the Hammers.

Originally Posted by Racing Ron

And I might know a guy who knows a guy who met a stripper who's old roomate used to race and met a guy that could help you with all that

Sounds like a guy I knew that once told me I needed an axle sponsor. Also a guy that could use a tecate.

[Racing Ron]

Originally Posted by Beat95YJ

So we are playing with a 1996 Ford F-150 4WD. It is designed to spend most of its life in the desert playing with suspension components. It is not (as of yet) a hardcore prerunner, but it will see some whoops, jumping and general tomfoolery.

It may be time to get gears as the truck is incredibly slow currently. How strong is the 8.8 that is in it? I am more worried about bending than I am it failing due to horsepower. Will I be able to utilize this axle for a year or two, or do I need to find a 9" before I spend any energy upgrading the 8.8 on this thing? Thoughts?

I bet we could turn that beauty into one of these

Of course a different shock co. hood decal

[Beat95YJ]

I like it. The color even works for me.

We will be putting seats, harnesses and a cage in it shortly. I still think it would need more than that to get where yours was.

[Beat95YJ]

Question,

What is the reason for changing the housing ends? I notice that parts are available for these in 28, 31 and 33 spline. I am assuming the truck uses 31 spline stock. It the different end to fit the larger shaft or is the factory 8.8 bearing crappy?

[Racing Ron]

Originally Posted by Beat95YJ

Question,

What is the reason for changing the housing ends? I notice that parts are available for these in 28, 31 and 33 spline. I am assuming the truck uses 31 spline stock. It the different end to fit the larger shaft or is the factory 8.8 bearing crappy?

While we do make our NEW Grande 88 Kit - 31 spline Chromo shafts for the 8.8 which are super strong - for your intended purpose and likely remote testing locations - the switch to 9" ends facilitate a 9" axle and bearing - not only better load capacity, but an axle you could find, make, scrounge from most any wrecking yard in the US and Mexico in an emergency. It also makes brake upgrades real simple.

I doubt you will ever break one - but with your driving history you may bend one

JK

Also a guy that could use a tecate.

So right you are...I'm probably heading to Primm for the desert race this weekend - or maybe I'll just suprise you guys in JV bumming a Tecate

[braxton357]

Originally Posted by Beat95YJ

Question,

What is the reason for changing the housing ends? I notice that parts are available for these in 28, 31 and 33 spline. I am assuming the truck uses 31 spline stock. It the different end to fit the larger shaft or is the factory 8.8 bearing crappy?

It's because the 8.8 is a c-clip axle. Reason there are so many c-clip eliminator kits--aka big bearing 9" housing ends--is because nhra rules don't allow cars running faster than 10.99 to have c-clip rearends. As you know, break a c clip axle--lose your tire. Plus, there are more choices for everything 9".

[TotalImmortal]

IMO....i would not waste any money in the 8.8

find a 9" and put your money in that. if you are going to be building the 8.8, why not just go 9"?

[mad_boi]

Originally Posted by Racing Ron

While we do make our NEW Grande 88 Kit - 31 spline Chromo shafts for the 8.8 which are super strong - for your intended purpose and likely remote testing locations - the switch to 9" ends facilitate a 9" axle and bearing - not only better load capacity, but an axle you could find, make, scrounge from most any wrecking yard in the US and Mexico in an emergency. It also makes brake upgrades real simple.

I doubt you will ever break one - but with your driving history you may bend one

JK

It should be noted that the 88 kit will only work in Explorer axle housings, Ranger 8.8's are 28 spline and have a narrower housing. Full sized 8.8's well, obviously have a wider housing but you could cut it down fit the Grande 88 kit.

[Racing Ron]

Originally Posted by TotalImmortal

IMO....i would not waste any money in the 8.8

find a 9" and put your money in that. if you are going to be building the 8.8, why not just go 9"?

My thoughts, may be presuming...are he wanted to keep it legal for stock full if the build goes that way. Otherwise, I agree build the 9 (if the budget allows).

[Racing Ron]

Originally Posted by mad_boi

It should be noted that the 88 kit will only work in Explorer axle housings, Ranger 8.8's are 28 spline and have a narrower housing. Full sized 8.8's well, obviously have a wider housing but you could cut it down fit the Grande 88 kit.

We do make a semi-top secret full size version of the Grande 88 Kit for the F-150's...limited quantities

[mad_boi]

Ooooh la la...I may know a few people interested in this

[Stic-o]

I'd be interested in the Grande 88 kit for the 150. I talked to "another company" about there Super88 and they said they had no plans to make a full width 88 kit

[Jeffh555]

I forgot to give it to TuRD, but I've got a couple stock 9" third members you can have, if you decide to go 9"... I've got a feeling you will.

[TRD]

Oh and to answer the 8.8 question.

I spun the tubes in the center section and broke the yoke. And I didnt even go too big!

I found a new reason to build a 4x4 pre-runner. 50% more chance of being able to drive it home!

ps. Thanks for the help Jeff!

Pss. DILLIGAF!

[Beat95YJ]

Yes, so our 8.8 is dead. We are looking to replace it with a 9".

[Butler]

Frank, I've got a junkyard by me with an easy dozen 9"s in it for under a hundred bucks.Let me know.

[Jeffh555]

The break, the resulting drivelike break, and the fix.

[Beat95YJ]

Well it is here and on the rack. Both tubes are twisted, the drivers side is coming out and the thing is rather v shaped.

I am doing some on-line investigating, and the F-150 had a 9" from 78-86. Is any of these years more or less desireable? I have read that there is early and late big bearing. Does this matter?

I know a little about 10 and 12 bolts, a little more about 60's and a bit about 44's. 9" are all new to me.

I have heard that the trucks always have the nodular center, true/not true?

[Butler]

ARe there any external indicators of shaft and bearing size or does it have to be torn apart to see?

[Curious1]

Originally Posted by Beat95YJ

I know a little about 10 and 12 bolts, a little more about 60's and a bit about 44's. 9" are all new to me.....

Don't lie! You were just here a couple of weekends ago. You know all about 9"! (I couldn't help it, it was there!)

Your friends Jessie and Ian did a show all about different rearends this weekend. If only you would have seen that, you would know everything!

BTW, any pics of the speed bump TuRD hit to break that thing? And tell us the truth was it just driver error?!

[Jeffh555]

Originally Posted by Curious1

any pics of the speed bump TuRD hit to break that thing?

Yes

[christyle]

i heard he was trying to brakestand in front of the highschool when it happened...