Ford 8.8

[Mopar&vettedude]

So after finding out I have the 7.25 rear instead of the 8.25 (though it Looks like one), im going to go with a ford 8.8 out of the 95 and later explorers. Is there anything that needs to be done suspension and drive line wise that I need to tackle to make it fit with ease?

 

[Opticon77]

The width looks to line up within an inch but I can't imagine you'll get that lucky with the spring perch position.

How To Narrow a Ford Explorer 8.8 Rear Axle: Part 4 - Perches & Accessories

And while this video isn't specific to our cars, it points out a potential solution for the U joint problem...



Ford 8.8 swap?

 

[Mopar&vettedude]

Could I just get away with readjusting the perches?

 

[Oldiron440]

Aren't they on top of the axle housing? It's been a few years since I did mine.

 

[Mopar&vettedude]

No looks like its a under perch set up like our cars.

 

[Oldiron440]

It's not likely that the pinion angle will be correct for the mopar.

 

[Duke5A]

It looks like the axle is about 4" wider than F/J/M axles. You're going to have to cut it down and put on new spring pads. What I would do is find one from a 95+ Explorer to get the disc brakes and take it in to an axle shop along with your old one. Tell them to set it up to the same dimension and angle as the old 7.25". Be sure to have them take the thickness of the caliper bracket into account.

If you plan on doing an ISO delete at the same time you'll need slightly different spring pads.

Don't get discouraged, this is pretty standard stuff and having an axle cut down isn't that pricey.

 

[Opticon77]

I thought the track was 59" wide vs our 58.5"-59.5".

 

[Duke5A]

I thought the track was 59" wide vs our 58.5"-59.5".

Flange to flange on our cars is 54.340". I thought the 59" measurement on the 8.8 was flange to flange.

 

[Oldiron440]

The popular fix for the 8.8 is to cut 2 7/8 off the long end and use another short axle in that side. If you look on Utube there are plenty of videos doing this. Now what I did because I live 80 miles from Ames Iowa I took my housing to Quick Performance and had them narrow the housing and put 9" ends on it, they also welded the tubes to the center and provided me with new axles. What this did was eliminate the need for a C clip in the center section and gave me a fully prepped assembly.
All for $700 and there work was beautiful. I addressed the yoke with a Strange 1350 yoke and spacer kit, no crush sleeve, rebuilt the Locker diff as Ford calls it with a carbon fiber clutch kit. I actually narrowed my axle 5" for my little Ford, all in I have about a grand in it.

 

[Mopar&vettedude]

I had a feeling that was probably going to happen, that's why I havent picked up the rear end yet. The shop should able to find the correct spring perches right? And the 1350 yoke is that for the driveshaft end to acommidate for the ford flange on the axle?

 

[Oldiron440]

Summit has the yoke and I like the spring perches from Calvert Suspension.
HD Perch (Pair) - $39.00 : The Leader In Leaf Spring Innovation, - Calvert Racing
The 8.8 has 3.25 axle tubes.

 

[Oldiron440]

Strange and Moser Engineering have the yoke.
I used a shim and spacer kit to replace the crush sleeve from Quick Performance, they should have a yoke also.
Ford 8.8 (8.8" Ford)

 

[Mopar&vettedude]

Ok . cool. So all I would need to do is grab another short axle from another explorer and pick up these parts and i should be good to go.

 

[Oldiron440]

Yep
There are videos on utube on this if you haven't looked.

 

[8T2TOP]

For ALL that hassle,I'm sure you could aquire a 8.25 for $150 then it would fit CORRECTLY and parts are plenty and cheap..

 

[Oldiron440]

I'm just curious about how much power you have? Do you need an axle that can stand up to 500 or more horsepower?

 

[Opticon77]

Note that a ring/pinion set and a limited slip for a 8.25" already puts you over $700 in parts alone. Where most 8.8s already come with 3.73 gears and a TracLok differential along with holding twice the power.

 

[8T2TOP]

Then get a 8.25 from a jeep with discs,posi,plethora of gears...
But,hey Go nuts..

 

[Mopar&vettedude]

Its more of a over build of the car. In case i do put a 500+ horse motor in the car down the road. No sense in making it difficult for myself later on. And what jeeps?