I was told by the dealership it was a nine inch. From a mechanic no less. So now that i know i've got a 8.8, I'm curious what to look under at the salvage yard to get one. Is the 9.75 like the old 9" axles? I don't think but just to clarify it for me. Cause i've read the old nine inch is weak unless you put money into it.

Everyone seems to have the 5.4 lifted with big tires, how does the smaller axle hold up to it. Considering the money i'd put in a new axle would a built 8.8 handle 35's or 37's? I'm only in a reg. cab so it's not as much weight to bare on it like a crew cab. But some serious mud might be down the road.

I've posted in "Other Powertrain" and got only one answere but not enough info, not many people read into the forum so here i am.

Thanks for any insight you can give. I'm ready to mod the truck but would hate to have somthing break when it's avoidable.

 

I don't understand entirely what you're asking or what you're trying to do. Yes, you have the 8.8 and it's not the same as a nine inch nor is the 9.75. I don't see any reason to swap axles to go off-road but you may want to swap gears if you go with larger tires.

 

The reason why i'm asking is i've read alot on how the 8.8 is weak. I don't see many 4.6 F150's with lifts and big tires so i'm curious on how well they hold up.

Did'nt realy need you to tell me i have an 8.8, i'm lookin for diffrent info. Quote from my first post..."Considering the money i'd put in a new axle would a built 8.8 handle 35's or 37's?"

I know gears would help, but they won't help me from breaking anything......i searched but came up with nothing, anyone have any knowlegde in this area?

 

well....us 5.4L have 8.8 axles too....in the front....and 9.75's in the rear....do the 4.6L have 8.8's in front and reare or something??

i dont know why you would replace the axle...i offroad and no problems here.
same with josiah and plenty others.

 

etrevino103186 is running 37's on this truck with the 8.8 I believe.

 

I'm just looking for some real info here guys, I was hoping i could get some since this a forum so closely related to my truck. I've read the 8.8 is weak in the bronco forums and thats why they do alot of swaps so they don't have to deal with it breaking on the trail......But since my truck is some 20 years newer i thought maybe ford might'uv built them stronger since then. If not i'm ready to swap in a larger one so i don't waste money into gears,lockers,or girdle if it's going to be a waste.

 

It sounds like you want to make your truck in a trail worthy rig . . I think the rest of the truck will reach its max potential offroad before you break that rear end. I'd start with gears, locker, and a girdle like you said. I just don't know how easy of a swap it would be, I'm not sure if you would have to do any adjustments with tuning and what not.

 

Thanks for the reply thumper, i've read from your post's before and gotten alot of info from them. The only tuning i think i would need is a longer or shorter axle shaft. I have read from a post where someone swaped a 5.4 in and the 8.8 got chewed up from it, not sure on how it was treated but it got me thinking about it.

 

I know a lot of jeep guys that are running 36's and 37's on locked 31-spline 8.8's. Of course they have a 4.0, and I'm not sure of torque numbers on the 4.0 vs the 4.6, but the 4.0 is no dog...and these guys are beating their jeeps more than you probably ever would your truck.

 

Your right,I've read that too. The 8.8 out of an explorer is a great find when they want to upgrade since it's just the right size in length and you can find them in alot of salvage yards. But i'm not sure on how close the weight is between them.I use the bed for heavy loads every now and then to...being in florida i have to get sandbags every time we get a hurricane warning. Last time it actually made my truck sit level .....i was driven so slow i was worried i would break somthing.

 

The actual 8.8 diff has handled my 37's great, then again it's an open diff so there is not too much strain placed on the ring and pinion. I'd be more worried about those vacuum hubs going out like several of us have. Not to mention the Transfer case. I just got done swapping my tcase and hubs, expensive and don't want to have to go through that again, the upper bolts were painful to get to on the tcase where it mounts to the tranny.

 

Josiah, are you talking about your front end? I always thought you were packin a 5.4L, it looks like you've got a 9.75 from your pic..... I've seen that vid on youtube.com.......Man! Both your's and thumper's ride's are built just like i'm planning.

Never heard of the vacum hubs or the tcase being a problem, then again i don't read all the topics posted. Since i got this puny 4.6 i've tried to focus on power and strength of the drivetrain. Heck i just took off the stock exhaust, and man it sounds good with nothing holding it back . I'll probly go with Flows 1chamber later on. If i was to buy the lift tires and shocks, i might have enough money left over to have it installed. But I just keep thinking what if somthing breaks and i'm having to deal with it not on the road.

I want it strong but....am i going over board with it? Or should i just lift it and put the tires/gears on it?

 

i had 35s on my 8.8 98 f150 2wd. i also had 4.30 gears put in and still had the factory limited slip that kicked *** for what it was. i had the 4.6 in it as well and i beat the hell out of it with no problems. the truck also had about 170,000 miles on it when i traded it in. i dont think youll have any problems.

 

I once had a 450hp/500tq Mustang with a stock 8.8 and went down the drag strip numerous times. Nothing EVER broke. In fact, when I sold the car in 2003, after all that abuse the guy still drove the car around for another 2 years on that rear end before the car got stolen. The 8.8 is a good rear end, IMO. Just like the 5.0L engine that Ford used to make. Best engine ever produced by them, and they go and cancel it.

 

Having grown up around the drag strip and raced a few cobras i built myself, the 8.8 is a tough diff to beat. The 9 inchers are good, but hard to come by now and the 8.8 is the next best thing for cost vs. capability. It is cheap to build up and can take a hell of a pounding. If it could handle launching my old 10.5 sec. cobra down the track time after time I think you should be able to turn 37's without too many concerns. But keeping in mind nothing is indestructabe to a properly motivated driver..haha. Hope this helps you out.