8.25 choices....

[BruceB83]

The carrier break for the 8.25 is 2.71 and higher, so you're good. Don't waste your time with the 8.8.

Lol...yeah, how is that a waste of time? I installed a much stronger axle, with the gear ratio I was seeking, disc brakes, limited slip, and relocated the shocks higher for less than what it costs to re-gear the C8.25. Oh, and in one day's worth of time. I'm failing to see your point.

 

[93gc40]

How is upgrading to a better axle a waste of time? I like my 8.25 but if i get the chance its going under the Jeep i'm getting tonight and mine is getting an 8.8!

Because the OP is not going to be wheeling it that hard. He is just looking for a little insurance for the 33's he wants to run. Why spend the cash and time on an 8.8 if your not going to use it. The 8.25 is a good axel, he would be fine leaving it at 27 spline, but 29 spline is good piece of mind.

 

[Ronbo]

Because I read his question and he didn't ask about axle swaps. Funny how that works.

 

[93gc40]

Ive got a 93 Xj on 33's that doesnt get wheeled hard.
Running open front and rear with 3.55's.... planning on going 4.56 and lunchbox type lockers.
Since most of the lockers are for 29 spline axles, and mine is 27 I was going to upgrade to 29 spline.
Question is, should I buy a stock 29 spline rear end($200) and outfit it, and possibly sell the stocker to recoup some or, should I buy aftermarket 29 spline axles ($250ish) and install them in my existing housing?

Since you need to get a 29 spline carrier ($250) anyway plus the shafts ($250), to convert yours. You might save a little cash if you could find a good 97+ 8.25 ($200), if you upgrade to better shafts ($250). IMO either route would work. If it were me I would be completly rebuiling the axel anyway when I did the gearing.

 

[BruceB83]

Because the OP is not going to be wheeling it that hard. He is just looking for a little insurance for the 33's he wants to run. Why spend the cash and time on an 8.8 if your not going to use it. The 8.25 is a good axel, he would be fine leaving it at 27 spline, but 29 spline is good piece of mind.

I put the 8.8 in for insurance as well. I'm on 32s, I'm easy on the skinny pedal but I do wheel it. He's going to spend more cash on the C8.25! I don't get the logic there? I'm not saying the C8.25 is not a good axle. He IS going to spend the time and money so why not the 8.8?

Because I read his question and he didn't ask about axle swaps. Funny how that works.

Apparently you didn't read my first post where I did answer his question and then mentioned the 8.8 as an option. Funny how that works, huh...

Since you need to get a 29 spline carrier ($250) anyway plus the shafts ($250), to convert yours. You might save a little cash if you could find a good 97+ 8.25 ($200), if you upgrade to better shafts ($250). IMO either route would work. If it were me I would be completly rebuiling the axel anyway when I did the gearing.

Ok. So $200 for the 97+ axle plus $250 for the better shafts. $450 into it before any other items including new bearings, seals, or gear oil and he's still left with drum brakes and an inferior axle to the 8.8. Not sure how far from Atlanta he is, but I'd even help him out and get him an 8.8 for $225 since I have no problems obtaining them where I live. So, tell me...how is that not a better route to go? How is that spending more time and money? $450 is more than $225 right?

 

[BruceB83]

I'm just trying to help him out. I was in close to the same boat as he is now except I do wheel mine hard at times. I was all set to go the 29-spline C8.25 route...I even had it sitting in my garage. Then, a friend of mine, who I guess was just being not helpful, made me realize it was cheaper and no more work to go the 8.8 route and you'd come out better at the end of it! Just because he may not NEED the 8.8 doesn't mean it's not worth putting under there. If it was more time and more money, then I would completely agree with the C8.25 route but it's not so I don't get why you wouldn't do it.

Being an experienced driver, on 32s, and not heavy on the gas...how worried do you think I'll be about snapping a rear axle shaft? Talk about insurance...what more could I want?

 

[Rmart30]

From the way ive added things up, Im open front and rears w/3.55's and have done everything i wanted to do.
As one poster said I want the peace of mind in having a little bit better set up. For my use with it (hunting transportation only) on trails/roads and 7 hiway miles to get there I could probably throw LB lockers in front and back and not have any problems w/3.55's and 27 spline axles.

Ive looked around here and been to the local pullapart at least once a week looking for a 8.8.
Regular JYs here average $350-450 for a 8.8 and they have all been open and no 4.10's.
Which dont help me really because I still have to buy a locker and I dont want 4.10's so im looking at gears for it also.

I can buy a 29 spline 8.25 for $200, 4.56 gearset and install kit $189, LB locker $225 for a total of $614.

Getting a 8.8 here (split the diff) $400. LB locker $269, $285 for gearset for a total of $954. And if Im not mistaken parking brake cables will have to be replaced or modified, & a different U joint,u bolts and the shock/ leaf perches etc cut off and replaced/welded and different brake lines.
I was guesstimating $1100-1200 by the time i got everything done with a 8.8.


I completely understand that the 8.8 is a better axle than the 8.25 and if i could come close to the same cost Id go that route. But Im looking as i see it a $500 difference between the two plus the added labor of perches welding etc.

If I was a serious wheeler Id do the 8.8 no doubt, but where I go most guys are running 28/29/30" tires on stock trucks and not breaking anything.

Now if someone has a 8.8 locked and w/4.56's with mounts and brakelines already done we might have to talk

 

[outlander]

Carrier I have to get anyway to go to the 4.56, also I thought the lockers did away with the spiders?


On the 8.8 posts. Only ones Ive found so far were 3.73's open. If I could find one for under $450 with 4.56's id get it.
With the bracket kit, gears locker etc at the low side its $500 more than sticking with the 8.25.

I have a good 29spline carrier here...pm me if you want it.

 

[BruceB83]

Rmart30...where in Alabama are you?

 

[BruceB83]

FYI - I don't really care which route you go...but within an hour and a half of Birmingham (figured that was a good central AL location to search from)...I found 23 Explorer 8.8s with disc brakes at junkyards for $150-250. And that was only searching by 3.55 ratio...there's still 3.73 and 4.10 to search by as well. Since you'll be re-gearing it doesn't matter what you get.

And your prices...they're a little off. The aussie locker is $40 cheaper for the 8.8 than the C8.25 and a re-gear generally runs $100 less for the 8.8 over the C8.25.

Again, don't care what you do, just showing you your options.

 

[FlexdXJ]

Because the OP is not going to be wheeling it that hard. He is just looking for a little insurance for the 33's he wants to run. Why spend the cash and time on an 8.8 if your not going to use it. The 8.25 is a good axel, he would be fine leaving it at 27 spline, but 29 spline is good piece of mind.

Because I read his question and he didn't ask about axle swaps. Funny how that works.

Since you need to get a 29 spline carrier ($250) anyway plus the shafts ($250), to convert yours. You might save a little cash if you could find a good 97+ 8.25 ($200), if you upgrade to better shafts ($250). IMO either route would work. If it were me I would be completly rebuiling the axel anyway when I did the gearing.

Are you serious? 200 bucks is what you can get an 8.8 for add 50 bucks for mounts and find someone with a welder! Then you have disks and a LS along with 31 spline shafts!

Ronbo- I realize that he didn't ask about swaps i was just suggesting what he could do!

 

[Rmart30]

FYI - I don't really care which route you go...but within an hour and a half of Birmingham (figured that was a good central AL location to search from)...I found 23 Explorer 8.8s with disc brakes at junkyards for $150-250. And that was only searching by 3.55 ratio...there's still 3.73 and 4.10 to search by as well. Since you'll be re-gearing it doesn't matter what you get.

And your prices...they're a little off. The aussie locker is $40 cheaper for the 8.8 than the C8.25 and a re-gear generally runs $100 less for the 8.8 over the C8.25.

Again, don't care what you do, just showing you your options.

I am located outside of Bham.... where are you doing your search? I got my prices from phone calls to the JY's.

Where are you getting the prices also for the locker and gears?

 

[BruceB83]

Go to car-parts.com for the axle. That's how I found mine. You'll see what I'm talking about man. For the locker, Aussie's website and the gears from experience.

 

[Rmart30]

heres the search results that came back for me . $247-810 and not showing any L/S

http://car-part.com/cgi-bin/search.cgi

 

[BruceB83]

It said invalid selection. Ok, search for 1998 Ford Explorer, 6 cyl, 3.55 ratio. I pulled 23 earlier.