Ford 8.8 & lift at same time.

[Dave Stark]

So i'm swapping in my 8.8 & installing a lift at the same time. I want to keep it spring under & get about 3" out of it. I know that the tubes are larger diameter which will drop me about 1/2'' from the D35, then the new spring plates are about 1/2'' taller then the factory ones for a 1" loss before i even get started. Hell Creek offers 3" & 4.5" rear lift springs, so at this point i'm thinking the 4.5" may be my best option.

 

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

 

Here are some pics for everyone's enjoyment:

 

 

 

 

 

[Pete M]

makes sense to me. :thumbsup:

[shark]

those are some beefy looking shock mounts. what gears will you have in that 8.8?

[Dave Stark]

It has 4.10 gears with limited slip.

[MrFreeze5]

What is the measurement between the spring perch and the shock tab if you don't mind? I am setting up my 8.8 brackets this weekend and having that measurement to start with would save me a roll in the dirt. Are you going to try to adapt the exploder sway bar?

[shark]

It has 4.10 gears with limited slip.

exactly what i plan to run. did you get one with the discs? what year did it come off of?

[Pete M]

95-01 will have disks and available 4.10s

[Dave Stark]

What is the measurement between the spring perch and the shock tab if you don't mind? I am setting up my 8.8 brackets this weekend and having that measurement to start with would save me a roll in the dirt. Are you going to try to adapt the exploder sway bar?

 

I was considering trying to mount the Explorer sway bar, but i'm not sure of the benefits for doing so. This will be a DD vehicle so i want it to be safe. Also, i'm not sure if it will interfere with the shocks when everything is together, so i may play with it some more later.

 

The measurement i got on mine from the inside edge of the perch to the inside edge of the shock mount is two inches. Here are some pics to better illustrate:

 

 

Here are the measurements from the inside edge of the brake mount to the outside edge of the perch: 4 1/2" on both sides.

 

 

 

 

It has 4.10 gears with limited slip.

 

 

 

exactly what i plan to run. did you get one with the discs? what year did it come off of?

 

Mine came from a '97 Explorer with 110k miles. The Explorer 8.8 is the Axle of choice because they ALL have 31 spline shafts, it is possible to find the 31 spline in some Rangers, but it only came in the higher end models & it really isn't worth the trouble looking for the proverbial needle in the haystack...

 

:D

[MrFreeze5]

Awesome! Thanks! Those measurements help me a lot. I just put my order in for new shocks and U-bolts, so hopefully I will be ready to install next week!

[Dave Stark]

The other thing i forgot to add is that the spring plate spacing center hole to center hole is 42". I can't remember if that was posted somewhere else, but there you go...

 

 

:waving:

[Dave Stark]

I was doing some research today & found this:

 

http://www.nwjeepn.com/Axleswap4.html

 

I seems that the passenger side of the of the pumpkin did not have a relief cut for oil to return from tube when some of these axles were manufactured, so i went to the garage & sure enough:

 

Passenger side:

 

Drivers side:

 

I guess i'll be getting out the grinding wheel before i reassemble this one. Definitely something to check for if you have yours apart...