Looking for some ideas about my axle

[Slimline]

Hello everyone, maybe I fail at searching, but I could not bring up any results. (Also could not post in axle/tire sections :S)

Ok, so my issue is, I am debating whether I should swap out my axle or build up my current one. I have a 96 f150 reg cab short box 4x4 with a 6 inch superlift. I am adding a 3 inch body lift and want to run 37 inch irok radials. I know the TTB is crap, but I plan to stick with it. I want to regear it with 4.88's to try and bring it back to stock gearing with the tires.

My truck has the 8.8 inch 10 bolt rear end. I am wondering if investing in gears and a locker is worthy for this setup, or if the axle will just fail miserably. Is the 8.8 capable? Should I try and find a 9 inch? I would like to keep the same bolt pattern at least so I can reuse my 15x10's. I have read a lot in other forums and it seems hit and miss about this axle, so I figured this would be the best place to get some information.


Thanks, Rob

[Nine5one50]

Good luck with running a 9" on a 96 ford...as it will physically bolt up fine, the VSS or whatever you guys call it, is mounted in the 8.8..basicially your speedometer will not work, nor will the tranny shift. There are ways to relocate it, but do a search and youll see some info.

TTB= crap. with 37's you are about at the limit according to all the bronco guys out there. thats up to you.

Your best bet for the rear..10.25 swap. They are cheap, strong, and bolt in without any major mods.

[Slimline]

hmm the 10.25 eh. Would that bolt up nice too? What about the bolt pattern? I would prefer not to have to buy 2 different bolt patterns. Will 37's give me front axle issues with a locker? If they break I coils get the chrome ally? Shafts... This buildup is starting to make me nervous. Seems this style just is not meant to be modded :S

[Nine5one50]

Originally Posted by Slimline

hmm the 10.25 eh. Would that bolt up nice too? What about the bolt pattern? I would prefer not to have to buy 2 different bolt patterns. Will 37's give me front axle issues with a locker? If they break I coils get the chrome ally? Shafts... This buildup is starting to make me nervous. Seems this style just is not meant to be modded :S

the 10.25's can be picked up for next to nothing. Every junkyard around me has about 5-10 of them floating around all for under 200. They are 8 lug though..you can convert the front to 8 lug..but its not worth it.

the 8.8/ttb 44 will be alright with 37's depending on how hard/environment you run them in. Mud...well ive seen 40's on the factory setups and they not tear up...rocks...good luck.

If it was me..I'd go get a junk f350, pull the front end d60/all suspension, and swap in the 10.25. Craigslist/ebay has them cheap all the time. For about 500-1000 you can get a truck, then the rest just depends on your skills to mount up the front end.

More than likely down the road you will want to swap in stronger axles..you might as well do it now.

[Nine5one50]

here are some links that will help you out...sorry its mostly the fsb forums..

Rear axle info:
http://www.fullsizebronco.com/forum/...ad.php?t=18841

SAS info/TTB info/anything front end on a ford info...entire forum deditated to front axles:
http://www.fullsizebronco.com/forum/...splay.php?f=29


By reading a few threads/searching here or on FSB you can find what you need.

[KyleQ]

Don't waste your money building up the D44/8.8 - did that and I regret it. I got good reliability with JBG chromoly outers and grinding the shafts for full circle snap rings for the front - never had an issue with the rear.

[Slimline]

Thanks a ton guys, that is some very usefull information. The 10.25 sounds about perfect I think, however I just bought and installed this lift in february. I really dont want to SAS the truck and totally negate the money I have already invested. I am by no means an extreme offroader, but I do pound the truck pretty good when I leave the hardpack.

nine5one, you were saying there is a conversion for 5-to-8 lug for the front end, is it really pricey. I completely understand skimping on parts is going to build me a weak truck, but I do have a budget, and just bought a ring for the girl. Thanks again for all the information, I will read through all those links when I get home. I glanced at a few of the SAS threads, and it seems awfully costly to switch it all up.

[Danger_Ranger18]

can you put a pos d50 from a f250 in the front if you make some buckets for the coils? im rather unfamiliar with the ttb as i buy all my junk with a sfa, but i would think finding a junked f250 would be an easy way to get strong(er) axles on the cheap if the d50 is possible to switch from leafs to coils... maybe im way the hell off tho

[Nine5one50]

Originally Posted by Slimline

Thanks a ton guys, that is some very usefull information. The 10.25 sounds about perfect I think, however I just bought and installed this lift in february. I really dont want to SAS the truck and totally negate the money I have already invested. I am by no means an extreme offroader, but I do pound the truck pretty good when I leave the hardpack.

nine5one, you were saying there is a conversion for 5-to-8 lug for the front end, is it really pricey. I completely understand skimping on parts is going to build me a weak truck, but I do have a budget, and just bought a ring for the girl. Thanks again for all the information, I will read through all those links when I get home. I glanced at a few of the SAS threads, and it seems awfully costly to switch it all up.

I completely understand the ttb lift thing, thats the main reason I got a cheap 3" body lift while I stock up on the parts do do my d60 leafspring SAS.

As far as the 8 lug conversion, I havent really looked up on it, i saw some random posts on fullsize bronco about it. You'll have to do a little searching there.

The sas isnt bad, it just depends if you have a donor truck available to you, the axle and springs are cheap enough, but all the little parts will nickle and dime you to death.

[Nine5one50]

Originally Posted by Danger_Ranger18

can you put a pos d50 from a f250 in the front if you make some buckets for the coils? im rather unfamiliar with the ttb as i buy all my junk with a sfa, but i would think finding a junked f250 would be an easy way to get strong(er) axles on the cheap if the d50 is possible to switch from leafs to coils... maybe im way the hell off tho

the D50 isnt much stronger than the 44...not worth it $$$ wise.

[Danger_Ranger18]

well i was thinkin about having the same bolt pattern
10.25 semi float out of a later f150 maybe for keeping the 5 lug?

[4x4junkie]

Originally Posted by Slimline

Hello everyone, maybe I fail at searching, but I could not bring up any results. (Also could not post in axle/tire sections :S)

Ok, so my issue is, I am debating whether I should swap out my axle or build up my current one. I have a 96 f150 reg cab short box 4x4 with a 6 inch superlift. I am adding a 3 inch body lift and want to run 37 inch irok radials. I know the TTB is crap, but I plan to stick with it. I want to regear it with 4.88's to try and bring it back to stock gearing with the tires.

My truck has the 8.8 inch 10 bolt rear end. I am wondering if investing in gears and a locker is worthy for this setup, or if the axle will just fail miserably. Is the 8.8 capable? Should I try and find a 9 inch? I would like to keep the same bolt pattern at least so I can reuse my 15x10's. I have read a lot in other forums and it seems hit and miss about this axle, so I figured this would be the best place to get some information.


Thanks, Rob

TTB isn't bad at all if you get to know it. It IS a Dana44 though, and 37" tires is putting it right to it's limits for reliability. A common upgrade on that is to swap out the center shaft & u-joint with one from a D50, and run the Spicer 5-760X u-joints on the outers.
Superlift also is not the greatest lift either (weak brackets that tend to crack the frame). You might want to reinforce it in some spots.

The 8.8 has issues with weak carriers and a tendency for the tubes to spin the centersection. Welding the tubes to the chunk, and swapping in a Detroit Locker or other full-carrier locker will turn it into a pretty decent axle. 37s shouldn't be an issue on it unless you're thinking of throwing a bunch of HP at it.

Something to keep in mind though... if you're thinking you want to run 37s now, in a year or two, you'll be wanting 39s, then maybe 42s. If you go ahead with the swap to a D60/10.25", you'll be all set for it, might be worth just getting it out of the way now (most you might need right away is maybe a 35-spl stub upgrade on the 60).

[Slimline]

Hey guys first and foremost I am really impressed with the community here. Everyone is so helpful. The SAS is tempting I admit, but is just not feasible right now. Maybe I can look into reinforcing my 8.8... My neighbor has a 10.25 he can sell me cheap and another axle out of a f350. If I do the 10.25 I think I would like to convert my ttb to 8 lug. 37's sounds to be the max, I hope I can stay comfortable with em lol. I'll update more when I get on my comp, this is hard on my phone lol. Thanks again I really am contemplating everyones suggestions.

[Slimline]

Oh, and I just wanted to add I do not plan on boosting my hp much. Maybe just some heads and a chip.

[CTeunuch]

id say your best bet, if you havent bought the 37's already, is to stick with the 6inch kit and some 35's, then gear the front but leave it open, and gear the back with a l/s or locker. otherwise you're throwing money away, because like the other guys said, you'll want to build it bigger later. i have a 96 f150 now, with a 4 inch, 33's, 4.10s and l/s's front and rear, and i break front axleshafts in the rocks, which probably wouldn't happen if it was still open. i've only had the lift a few years, and i already want to go bigger, so id recommend just being patient and saving up for a one ton sas.
and also, the d50 will not bolt in, the arms are different lengths, and you can't use parts from it for an 8lug swap.

[82F100SWB]

If you want 37's, definatley leave that front end open, I've seen 33's and a locker spit out axles left and right in mud. Heck, I broke axles left and right with my 6.9 tow pig(44HD TTB) in the winter with stock sized tires and an open diff.
Like the others have said, save your money for a SAS.

[4XFORD]

Originally Posted by Danger_Ranger18

can you put a pos d50 from a f250 in the front if you make some buckets for the coils?

Nope, not bolt in anyway. The beams and axles are shorter on the F-250 leaf sprung d44ttb and d50ttb so the pivot spacing is narrower. Could be done but........

Here's a link to convert Ford 5 lug TTB to chevy 8 lug disc:

http://www.off-road.com/trucks4x4/ar....jsp?id=198393

[onetonoj]

in my own opinion niether of those axles are worth putting any time or money into, i've been down that road and had 38's on my bronco with the stock axles and it snaped the 44 shafts like twigs my truck now has one tons and I have not regreted any time or money i put in the axles but like always it depends on the budget and how hard you actually plan on wheeling the truck

[f250rollinon37s]

its all on how you drive.

if you wheel light, aka mud, light trails then a 8.8 and the ttb 44 will be fine. if you throttle it and bounce it off things, rocks, trees, other rigs - then no they will snap like twigs -

if you wheel light and street drive alot, id get a full case locker or LS ( truetrac ) - not a lunch box locker. put on a simple truss and a traction bar. this is required as i have seen a few crack the case and wheel hop will kill shit.
then leave the front open, brace the ttb itself - and it will live with 36-37s


if you beat it go with the 10.25 and a locker, and at least a hp44 8 lug in the front with cromos - i think you can swap to 8 lug in the front ttb by changing everything from the knucles out to an early hd ttb44 - but you will have diffrent calipers, and possible brake lines - and if you have 4 wheel abs then you will loose the front speed sensors