89 B2 axle swap help

[scubacy]

Hello all, first time poster and glad I stumbled on this site. Just picked up an 89 bronco II and the rear differential is getting noisy, the plastic cover has leaks and the some damage to the spider gears. It is a stock 7.5 and rather than rebuilding, I've read the explorer 8.8 rear axles are a good match?

I'm not making this thing a rock crawler, just a nice daily driver with rear disc brakes. Are a lot of modifications needed for an 8.8 swap out? Would an early 90's explorer axle work for my 89?

Thanks

 

[mosskie]

From what I understand you'll need to move the spring perches up to the top of the Explorer 8.8 and welded, as well as the shock mounts welded on. The drive line will need to be modified too. There are some write ups at The Ranger Station on the swap if I remember right <_< . Other than that it is pretty much a bolt in. Good Luck /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

 

[BLADE262US]

The axle is not a bolt in you will need a set of spring perches I think summit had them for less than $20 a set also check ebay . What I did was to hang the assembly under the truck with the perches in place on top of the axle and the ubolts loose so I could move the axle . Now you need to center it up ( same distance from outer axle ****** to leaf spring ) Once you have it centered rotate the axle up I used a bottle jack till you get your pinion angle where you want it so there is no U joint bind then tighten the U bolts measure again then weld the perches to the axle tube . The perches will also be mounted farther outboard than the explorer ones and if I remember right the axle is 3 inches overall longer so 1.5 on each side barely noticable . That rear is a 31 spline 8.8 same as a half ton just narrowed . Mine held up to a 351W in a B2 no problems . The drive shaft did fly out a couple times but you can modify a full size bronco drive shaft to work and then no problems . /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

 

[scubacy]

Thanks for the information. I'm going to give it a try with the 8.8 and maybe if cash allows install a 3" lift with new leaf springs while I have it apart.

 

[BLADE262US]

The explorer springs will get you around 4 inches /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

 

[scubacy]

That's even better! Could save some money there... So explorer springs/coils and the rest of the drop brackets I could get from JamesDuff. I did like their double shock set-up in the rear for stability. Especially in the winter white knuckle rides to work, that little rig is squirrly!

The explorer springs will get you around 4 inches /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

 

[BLADE262US]

Only the rear springs work for that just to clarify and its because the explorer axle is mounted on top of the spring like a jeep so when you use explorer springs you get the extra arc and the axle being mounted under the spring with the perch height is where the lift comes from . I may have a set of 4 inch front springs and most of the drop brackets for your project Ill look . /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

 

[scubacy]

Awesome, I would love to take those off your hands - Do you make it to Alaska for fishing much? The freight alone would be worth at least a halibut trip.

I did finally find a 96 explorer rear axle with the 3.73 gears and as a bonus ($) it has limited slip and they are throwing in the springs for $410. So I think I'm going to pick those up this week. I found a great article on the ranger station about the explorer leafs helping the sag in the B2 - http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_libra...plorerLeafs.htm

I will try the springs with the new axle and it might work out to be a nice leveling kit at least.

Only the rear springs work for that just to clarify and its because the explorer axle is mounted on top of the spring like a jeep so when you use explorer springs you get the extra arc and the axle being mounted under the spring with the perch height is where the lift comes from . I may have a set of 4 inch front springs and most of the drop brackets for your project Ill look . /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

 

[scubacy]

Well my little project is almost done. Everything was looking good until I noticed the ******'s don't quite match-up (like you mentioned Blade) and the drive line will have to be lengthened about 1.25" So I'm thinking about having the gear shop replace the ****** on the pinion side with the larger 5" dia ****** while they re-tube it.

If I have the energy i will try and post some pics.

Only the rear springs work for that just to clarify and its because the explorer axle is mounted on top of the spring like a jeep so when you use explorer springs you get the extra arc and the axle being mounted under the spring with the perch height is where the lift comes from . I may have a set of 4 inch front springs and most of the drop brackets for your project Ill look . /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

 

[buckin bronco II]

I also have an 89 B2 and from what ive herd from asking around is that you can get a bastard plate from your lacal auto parts store that will allow you to bolt your stock drive shaft directly to the 8.8. and unless you you bolt the axel ontop of the leaf spring you shouldnt have a problem with the length of the drive shaft.

Hello all, first time poster and glad I stumbled on this site. Just picked up an 89 bronco II and the rear differential is getting noisy, the plastic cover has leaks and the some damage to the spider gears. It is a stock 7.5 and rather than rebuilding, I've read the explorer 8.8 rear axles are a good match?
I'm not making this thing a rock crawler, just a nice daily driver with rear disc brakes. Are a lot of modifications needed for an 8.8 swap out? Would an early 90's explorer axle work for my 89?

Thanks

 

[scubacy]

Yeah I thought there was something that could adapt the 5" pinion ****** to the 4" ****** off the yoke, options are limited up here unfortunately. it's tough getting just standard parts.

I pulled the driveline and had the local gear place make a new driveline with spicer parts that fit the new axle and added 1.25" to the driveline to compensate for the new Exploder springs. They are larger diameter u-joints and all greasable now which is nice.

I also have an 89 B2 and from what ive herd from asking around is that you can get a bastard plate from your lacal auto parts store that will allow you to bolt your stock drive shaft directly to the 8.8. and unless you you bolt the axel ontop of the leaf spring you shouldnt have a problem with the length of the drive shaft.

 

[BLADE262US]

Iused a full size bronco driveshaft in mine . I shortened it and then the ****** at the rear mated right up to the explorer rear and on the other end I ran into the problem I think your describing . What I did was the ****** lip fit into the driveshaft CV perfectly but the holes were off about 1/2 inch or so so I put the CV ****** in the mill and slotted the holes inboard 1/2 and then the thing fit perfectly . Dont worry about the strength the bolts only retain it they dont center it so its fine . Maybe Ill take a couple pics so you can see . After that I never had any rear driveline problems . Watched the stock one bounce down the road a couple times /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

 

[scubacy]

I like the new setup now but the new disk brakes in the rear aren't getting much pressure. I'm guessing I should get a replacement proportional valve - is this something any of you ran into?

Also, how does the B2 handle on the icy roads with the short wheelbase? /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

 

[scubacy]

Here's a pic of my new toy in it's usual position in the driveway.

The suspension was bone stock until I put the 8.8 rear from a 96 explorer and the leaf springs. It didn't go quite as high as I thought but it got rid of the dragging rear-end. It has a new problem now where it won't stay running but that's another thread...