8.8 opinions

[Andy Jones]

I've been looking into running my 8.8 in the Bronco for the long run.. i heard Currie will extend the axle housing and do a disc conversion for around 1500.00... What are your guys opinions on using the 8.8 over a 9" for a prerunner?

[ChaseTruck754]

If you're gonna dump that much into it - why not go 9"????

[Andy Jones]

Because the rear i want if i go that route is 2500.00+ not including the vss relocate thing! With the 8.8 with currie's wand over it seems like i can save some dough!!? I'm just trying to see what some options are. I've done the Built Schreiner 9" Rears on my old Prerunners and they seem to work for the price. i just really never got the chance to beat the crap out of them..!

[philofab]

I think I would go the Yikes route and get a 9.75 or 10.25 that has a VSS and just add 9" axles and new tubes. It will only cost you $100-$250 more than your 8.8.

[Deleted Account]

what gears are you going to run? i might have something for you.. its 4.88 though

[Andy Jones]

I'm thinking 4.56.. The Bronco will have 37" baja's on it.

[yikes]

4.88's with those for sure.

[tcm glx]

4.88's with those for sure.

x2!!

And if your going 37s.... build a 9", cause the 8.8 is not going to be happy with 130-140 lbs of wheel and tire combo.

[Nick]

cause the 8.8 is not going to be happy with 130-140 lbs of wheel and tire combo.

Neither will the front 44!

[hobbyturnedobsession]

Stick with 35s

[Andy Jones]

Stick with 35s

35's look silly with 17" wheels and fiberglass fenders and bed sides!

[tcm glx]

Stick with 35s

35's look silly with 17" wheels and fiberglass fenders and bed sides!

So do 37s, with 17s broken on the trail... jajaja

[Andy Jones]

Im gonna just save the cash and build a 9".

[Nick]

Im gonna just save the cash and build a 9".

Better save some more to beef up that front end.

[tcm glx]

Im gonna just save the cash and build a 9".

For sure.... the 9" is a better option if your going to do 37s! I will tell you, Chris let me borrow his 35" projects for rollers while I had my Alcoas polished, and it was easily a 20-30lbs difference per tire between the projects on 8 hole alcoas and my all terrains on the alcoas.... I an only imagine a 17" wheel with 37s.

Not saying dont do it, or trying to come across negative... just saying build it to handle the weight!

[Andy Jones]

I had 17" wheels with general race Grabbers... they weren't light ! I've been rolling around with some trailready beadlocks and 35" ribbed baja's. and they're way lighter then the grabbers i had.

And the plan for beefing up the Front will be either The New Threat Hub when its available.. or save the coin for the Blitz hubs. The Bronco will be around the Family for the Long haul!. So i might as well start getting what i can!!

[philofab]

My 37" Toyos weigh 126lb on a aluminum wheel.

The Goodyear, Yokohama, and other weigh less.

[AussieRod]

I WAS going to beef up the 8.8, but after pricing out the work, parts, etc, I was looking at $2,000+. So, today I picked up a large housing 9" 3.50:1 LSD for $500. Seals, gaskets, brgs, etc $200, and I think I will be ahead.

[economig]

what gears are you going to run? i might have something for you.. its 4.88 though

What do you have? Is it a 9"+? Or an 8.8? I'm trying to find "Something," junkyard, straight out of a rig or otherwise... Trying to keep my options open and budget down

[mesquito_creek]

I did a complete rebuild and extendo 8.8 with a upper brace for about ~1200.

New 4:88s on a spool with all new seals/rebuild kit
Lengthen the axle tubes and install Grand Torino big bearing ends
New Currie 31 spline 9 inch style axles/endbearings and retainer plates at 36 driver side/33 passenger side for a total of 71.25 wms/wms
all new brake components complete on the stock drums
IronRock offroad upper style 8.8 brace from their YJ dana/8.8 conversion
new perches
Dino brake in gear oil and orange rtv.
Steel braided extended brake line and bent one new driverside brake hardline.

retaining the VSS you wont be able to run a spool so that will drive your cost up if you go with a locker of some sort.
Your cost differntial is any solution versus mine is to run VSS and disk brakes, but that needs to be addressed with a 9 also.

Mine is a dedicated pre- runner not a daily driver, but it see's the highway and lots of dirt... I am running bfg ta 35s on outlaw wheels. I have 300 highway miles and a couple hundred baja dirt miles. I think most here would say I am about on the edge of what you can pull off with a 8.8. I also would be happy if it held up to 10K miles in terms of what I would expect the life cycle to be on it... But so far so good and the improvement in the handling by correcting the geometry of the track width to match the front is night and day and I wonder if that in itself will offset the longterm durability ...