Truss or not to Truss

[Polarcub]

Well I know that we have covered quite a bit about the various rear ends and I just acquired a Sterling 10.5 that will be going into the Bronco. I would like to know opinions on whether or not to truss the thing. As beefy as it is I am leaning towards not trussing it but I didnt think I would kill the 8.8 as fast as I did either so I would appreciate your opinion on the matter.

[philofab]

The tubes on a sterling are 3.5x.250 and don't really need trussing. I've seen more broken carriers than broken housings if that tells you anything.

[Polarcub]

The tubes on a sterling are 3.5x.250 and don't really need trussing. I've seen more broken carriers than broken housings if that tells you anything.

That was my thinking as well I just dont want to F this one up in a year and be back at the same spot I am in now.

[johncharlesb]

The tubes on a sterling are 3.5x.250 and don't really need trussing. I've seen more broken carriers than broken housings if that tells you anything.

That was my thinking as well I just dont want to F this one up in a year and be back at the same spot I am in now.

That is interesting that the Sterling is much more dependable than the 3.25x.250 8.8. Is it that the tube is shorter, or pressed into the housing better, or just a better housing? That is only a 7% difference in circumference.

[BDKW1]

Beat on those hard and the tubes pull out of the center section.

[philofab]

I have 200k on my crew cab's sterling, 70k+ with 35" and 37" tires. There may be more tube pressed in to the center, Im not sure.

[Polarcub]

Just by eyeball the housing extends further than the 8.8 and it looks like my issues are at the wheels I cant tell if its bending at the tube/housing area or the ends. It appears that its at the ends but I cant tell by eyeball.

[magic carpet XLT]

when last i checked, 8.8 rears use .188" thick tubes. i wouldn't be surprised if the sterling used more than .250"; 14 bolts, D70s, and some D60s mostly use .5" tubes

if you can find someone, I would just Tig weld the tubes to the housing and call it good.

[johncharlesb]

when last i checked, 8.8 rears use .188" thick tubes. i wouldn't be surprised if the sterling used more than .250"; 14 bolts, D70s, and some D60s mostly use .5" tubes

if you can find someone, I would just Tig weld the tubes to the housing and call it good.

I see the 8.8 referenced frequently as .250 for trucks and .188 with Explorers. There is an old FSB archive where a Bronco 8.8 was cut and measured at .188. I went back and looked it up again and could not find anything definitive either way on Pirate, DR, TRS, GreatLakes4x4, etc. They all source the same material saying .250 for some and .188 for others.