Rear Axle - Ford 8.8
Well after much grinding and a bit of welding we have all the brackets tacked in place and ready for a test fit. We'll be test fitting them and finish welding the axle tonight. I'd say the rear axle will have a total of about 6-7 hours in it. A cutting torch or plasma cutter would have saved about 2 hours of removing the original ford brackets.Tips:
- Clean both sides of the axles tube all the way around. It makes for a nice clean tube to work off of and you don't have to pick up the grinder every 5 min to clean the spot you need.
- A second hand helps hold the bracket in place while you tack it. Ask a friend.
- Good solid tacks are necessary if you want to test fit. Enough so they don't crack off when you bolt them up.
- For the rear kit I ordered: TJ Ford 8.8 Axle Brackets from Iron Rock. Very nice and precise brackets. They even come with helpful instructions.
- Try and have you original axle nearby to verify measurements and to quell any second thoughts about where to put your brackets.
- Some of the brackets need a little bit of beveling at their edges to fit snug for welding good beads (not absolutely necessary though).
Donor Vehicle:1998 Ford Explorer V8 4x4Gear Ratio:3.73Bolt Pattern:5x4.5"Width:59.75"The axle came from a local junkyard for $250.
More good info on these axles here.