| 8.8 Ford in a Jeep TJ |
| visitors @ 8 April 2001 |
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| This axle was removed from a 1996 Ford Explorer, complete with disc brakes, calipers, rotors, dust shields & E-brake cables, 3.73 gears and a Trac-Loc differential. This is a great swap because the 8.8 is about the same width and is the same bolt pattern as the Dana 35C. already had disc brakes and correct gears for this swap. |
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| Pictured below are the 8.8 at start, new style ARB Air-Locker, 11 brackets and 2 adjustable upper control arms purchased from Rubicon Express, Spicer yoke adaptor, and 2 fabricated emergency brake cable brackets. (Rubicon Express don't sell brackets for an 8.8, these are designed for a Dana 44 which has slightly smaller diameter tubes, also TJ already had adjustable lower control arms and an adjustable rear Track bar. |
| below: brackets were made to use factory TJ emergency brake cables with 8.8 calipers |
| 1st the brackets were removed from the housing (right) and the tubes ground smooth. then the paint removed to prepare for welding on the new brackets (below) |
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| Right side brackets installed: all brackets had to be modified slightly due to 8.8 tube diameter being larger than a Dana 44. After triple checking all angles, measurements and locations, brackets were Mig welded to the tubes. Drivers side is the same except for an additional bracket for the track bar. |
| below are the Dana 35C being removed and the 8.8 being installed. |
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| left: pattern after Air-Locker installed. (copper tube is for locker operation) |
| right: initial 8.8 installation and test fit. factory swaybar contacted larger differetial. so some material had to be removed from the housing for better clearance. (pictured below right) |
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| a very small amount needed to be ground off caliper to make extra clearance for factory alluminum wheels. (actually they didn't contact, but if new brake pads were installed it would have been to close) |
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| Before/After pictures: rear wheel well is about 5/8" higher after, mostly due to larger diameter axle tubes. |
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| E-Mail Ray (TJ's owner) |