Full-size Bronco Rears

[JYates141]

95 Bronco 351 Windsor. I plan on adding a 4"/3.5" Rough Country Lift. New leafs on the back as well as nitro shocks. Is nitro recommended or worth it? Also, I would like to put 34's or 35's on the truck. I would like to replace the rear with a stronger one to prevent problems down the road, as the current rear has 162k on it and has some seepage. Any recommendations?

 

[Miss Kitten]

with the VSS being on that rear diff your only other option for a rear diff upgrade is the sterling 10.25 which is a 3/4 ton diff. however the sterling is 8 lug. so you'll either have to do an outter knuckle out 8 lug conversion on the ttb or replace the front diff as well.

the other option you can look at though is getting rid of the E4OD and replacing it with a ZF 5 speed manual. then you can easily upgrade to a 9" without concern with the VSS and the tranny

i'm apparently an annomoly in the bronco department with how well my truck held up, but i ran 37" tires for over 2 years and never had issues with my 8.8

 

[JYates141]

Ok thanks for the pointers. I think I may just stick with the 8.8 until it gives, as this is my third car and is strictly used for wheeling : )

I just picked this Bronco up about a week ago. I have also noticed a slight "ping" when im starting from a standstill. As soon as I let off the brake and move up to 2-3 mph, it does this little knock. Maybe the rear? It seems that this is a frequent problem, but I also get a "shimmy" when the rpm's are low and Im trying to accelerate. It sends a heavy vibration throughout the truck but is fine when i punch it and the trans downshifts. It happens at all speeds when the rpms are low and im accelerating, except first.

 

[Bronc76]

Ok thanks for the pointers. I think I may just stick with the 8.8 until it gives, as this is my third car and is strictly used for wheeling : )
I just picked this Bronco up about a week ago. I have also noticed a slight "ping" when im starting from a standstill. As soon as I let off the brake and move up to 2-3 mph, it does this little knock. Maybe the rear? It seems that this is a frequent problem, but I also get a "shimmy" when the rpm's are low and Im trying to accelerate. It sends a heavy vibration throughout the truck but is fine when i punch it and the trans downshifts. It happens at all speeds when the rpms are low and im accelerating, except first.

JY141- the slight ping or knock could be coming from the rear wheel bearings

 

[WPW Bronco]

The need for Nitro shocks is a personal decision. If you are in a more temperate environment, fluid shocks would be sufficient, whereas if you are in a climate that sees more cold temperatures or put your suspension through a large amount of cycling during use, the nitro shocks are well worth the extra few dollars. As far as your 8.8's, as long as you are not going any larger than 38's; with a little bit of work, the 8.8's will stand toe-to-toe with a 9". Buy putting a locker in the rear-end, replacing the stock axle-shafts with a decent set of chrome-moly cryo-hardened shafts, adding an after-market bearing kit to the outer end of the shafts, and gearing the axle correctly for the tire-size you wanna run, that axle will stand up to almost anything you wanna run your rig through.

 

[shift1313]

yup. the 8.8 isnt bad but you can't abuse it. its fine for road use and if you dont get your rig in a bind off road.

 

[black beauty]

i agree with miss kitten, if you have the means ditch the E40Dead on arrival and get a zf5. this is by far the best thing i did to my truck