what 8.8 to buy?

[sik4wheeler]

Is there any difference in the Ford 8.8 rearends. I found one out of a 91 Exploder for fifty dollars. It has drums and is stock. Would it be a good buy. Any options bad or good on these things?

[mtroy]

I would look at the threads on Jeeps Unlimited, TJ section. They have a FAQ on 8.8s that is pretty extensive.

However, most folks who want an 8.8 want the disc versions, especially since it helps if you ever break a c-clip axle. Not perfect, but better.

You want to make sure the axle shafts are 31 spline as well...so check the JU thread.

[Yota Tony]

http://www.jedi.com/obiwan/jeep/ford88.html
All Explorer axles 91-01 are 31 spline. 95 and up had disks.

[sik4wheeler]

Are they C-clip or bolt in style? Or Do they come either or?

[mtroy]

c-clip

[prostock3]

I have a 31 spline disc brake w/ 4.56 gears, new seals, and locker for sale its set up for a TJ $1000 in mich

[sik4wheeler]

Do all 8.8 have a 5 x 4.5" bolt pattern? The guy told me it was a 5x5.5"

[DevinB]

Yes, all have the 5x4.5". Either he doesn't know what he's talking about or he's trying to sell you an F150 8.8. I'm pretty sure those are 5x5.5".

[Rat_ranger]

f-150 8.8 is 5x5.5. if it is an explorer axle it will be set up for spring under have 31spline shafts and be fairly easy to upgrade to disk brakes with junkyard parts. they are all c-clip and for $50 bucks you got a good deal.

[mingoglia]

I hear the '91's have plastic diff covers on them. Regardless, even the later ones are very very thin almost tuna can thickness metal.

I did this to mine from a '98 on my shakedown run:




Luckily even though it actually hit my ring gear there wasn't any physical damage. Part of this could be because the metal is so darn soft.

I ended up going with this from Crane:



BTW, I'm Mike and this is my first post..... so, Hey, good to be here...

Mike

[admar2]

hold out for one out of a later model explorer. the disc brakes are a big plus. you'll spend more if you get one with drums and then cobble together the disc parts.

plus one from a 91 is likely to have a shit-ton of miles on it.

got mine out of a 01 exploder with less than 60k miles on it for $200. complete.

[sik4wheeler]

Thank y'all for the good info.

[kris1351]

Mine came from a '96 Exploder 4x4 so it had discs and 4.10 gears from Ford. I am told some of the later models had the 4.10s in the 4x4 version and some had 3.73s. Definately worth looking for though.

[BCYJ]

Mine came from a 91, i only paid $200 canadian for it which is the going rate for them in my area, I went with drum because it was cheaper and in our area you only really go with a disc if your big into mud.

I don't really think that my 4 banger will have enough poop to blow up an 8.8's c-clips, and if it does i do carry spare shafts. With mine, I didn't really care what kinda klicks were on it, it gets cleaned up, re-geared and I even rebuilt the L/S tighter, so for the most part its brand new. So I think for $50 you got a really good deal.

PS if your going to blow big money on a fancy diff cover, get one with a built in oil drain plug, I hate removing my diff cover to replace the oil.

[mingoglia]

Originally Posted by BCYJ

.....
PS if your going to blow big money on a fancy diff cover, get one with a built in oil drain plug, I hate removing my diff cover to replace the oil.

Or you can do what I did and use one of these The worst part of changing the fluid is scraping the old RTV off. This solves that problem. Yeh a drain plug would be even easier but it's one more thing to break off as in order to get all the oil out it would have to be too low.

[Stonefly]

Originally Posted by admar2

hold out for one out of a later model explorer. the disc brakes are a big plus. you'll spend more if you get one with drums and then cobble together the disc parts.

X2
Got mine out of a 97 with low miles, for $120. Keep shopping!

[sik4wheeler]

hey stonefly where did you get yours from. I am up in Granite bay area often so it would be sweet to pick one up for cheap if i'm in the area.

[Stonefly]

sik,

PM sent

[Bone Down]

summit also sales c clip eliminator kits, for added piece of mind, if you are going to tear into this to replace and repair items, it might be a good time to consider tossing a set in.

[CreepyCrawler]

try this web site .. http://car-part.com/

[Dhorn33]

I bought mine out of a 98 with 4.10's for $79 complete with all the brake hardware. I have never heard the C clip being an issue - especially with the disk brake version. I actually preferred to get mine without the limited slip so I could install an Aussie locker.

[huit-huit]

I got mine for 50 with 4.10s. Dont get one with a LSD.if you do you will be paying a huge amount for a locker

[prostock3]

i got one for a TJ ready be bolted in for $1450 4.56 gears, and locker its for sale for $850

[butch6924]

Originally Posted by Bone Down

summit also sales c clip eliminator kits, for added piece of mind, if you are going to tear into this to replace and repair items, it might be a good time to consider tossing a set in.

Those c-clip eliminators aren't the best idea for a 4x4. They're designed to keep the axle in if it snaps, but, they're not designed to handle the kind of stress that the shafts will take on a 4x4. Basically, they're designed for mustangs and such that run them on the strip so that if the car snaps a shaft, it won't crash. I'd hate to loose a shaft because my c-clip eliminator failed. How often has anyone heard of a c-clip failing?

Besides all of that, on a disc brake 8.8 you've got calipers to perform the function. Let's be honest, can anyone cite a personal experience with an 8.8 shaft snapping? I'm sure they can but when you weigh that against how many 8.8 are going under Jeeps lately, I think you'll find the statistic pretty nill.