I am about to buy a ford 8.8. There are two that I am looking at...

The first is from a 1994 Ford Explorer, it is an 8.8" with 3.73 gears and the factory limited slip. It has the 31 spline axle shafts, and has drum brakes. This one is said to have the 5x4.5 bolt pattern is this true? It is $150.

The second is from a 1995 F150 it has all new brakes, bearings, seals, new Yukon 4.56 gears, and Lok-Rite locker. I believe this has a 5x5.5 bolt pattern am I correct? How big of a deal is an adapter to the jeep pattern? This one is $400.

Which would you get?

I believe that Explorer's with disc breaks are the ones with 31 spline axles... and yes, small Ford trucks have 5x4.5 wheel bolt patterns.

The F150, I believe has 5x5.5 but am unsure... running adapters would be the same as running a wheel spacer, which is something I myself would prefer not to do.

the 8.8 can have drums and still be 31 spline.

of course you want disc brakes though.

the f150 one will be wider also, i beleive

thanks for the info i am not going with the f150 axle due to the lug pattern and width. but i think im going to go with the one for $150 becuase its well $150

what else will i need to put the axle into my tj? does anyplace make new spring perches and shock mounts or should i just try to reuse old ones or make them?

M.O.R.E. make new brackets for this type of swap, there are a few others out there as well.

If I was installing an 8.8, I wouldn't let the presence or absense of disk brakes be much of an influence on which 8.8 I selected. Rear drums are actually very effective for normal braking tasks and a TJ with drums in the rear really has essentially the same braking performance it would have if you were to convert that same TJ to rear disk brakes. Of course disk brakes are easier to work on but to me, that's their only real benefit when talking about rear axle brakes.

8.8s are narrower too.. so if you get adapters.. 1.25'' 5x5.5 to 5.45 and then 1'' wheel spacers for the front will pretty much make the width equal..

i believe a 8.8 is half an inch shorter.. 1/4 on each side

in that case i should be buying an 8.8 from a guy i know. it has 3.08 gears (but that means i wouldn't have to regear the front) and it is 31 spine with drum brakes. price is $50

Jerry is right. Even the drums on the 8.8 provide a substantial assistance in stopping power from the D35's drum brakes. And with no other mods needed. I've seen them and built them both ways and either way you are still getting a better axle.

Bigjeep, are you sure that 8.8's come with 3.08? I've only seen them in 3.73 or 4.11.

And as far as the bracket kits go, I have installed M.O.R.E's on an 8.8 and it is a very nice setup. However I just saw in CRAWL the other day that www.mad4wd.com has a rear bracket kit for TJ's at $225. You will also need either a flange adapter for your driveshaft or a ujoint style yoke for the pinion. I myself prefer the flange style as I think they are stronger.