axle swap

[Famwgn]

Well I'm seriously considering an 8.8 swap and had a few questions. How hard is it to set it up correctly ie. Driveline angles, bbrake lines? Any suggestions on a shop or welder to weld it up?

 

[Johnnie Walker]

If you can, mock it up and get the perches/UBE's, whatever you're using, where you want them and weld them up. Then you don't have to deal with shims or anything to get your angles correct.

 

[blondejoncherokee]

1. grind all the random mounts off the 8.8.
2. get 8.8 under rig with perches on and u bolts , plates, leaves, etc bolted up. bolt up driveshaft, dial in the rear DS angle.
3.then weld up the perches the best you can, and also mock up your shock mounts and get those dialed with some mounts on the tubes welded up.
4.then pull it off and burn it in real good. then throw it back under there

Last time I did one it was an all day thing, actually, it was the day we left for the annual reno run last year.
but that included shortening a DS, balancing it, new u joints, driving around trying to find the right flange for the 8.8 to XJ DS, grinding and cutting off all old mounts, accidentally breaking a hard break line, going and getting more hardline, flaring it, etc. realizing the calipers where no good, getting new calipers on the spot, new rotors, and then driving around trying to find a second soft line for the driver side. all the random BS, then test driving the setup, etc.
if you use a double shear lower shock mount remember if its not aligned for the right angle as the stock upper mounts the shock may not go back on. (if you use the stock upper mounts) so i just bolted the mount to the shock, pulled the 5100 down into place, tacked it in, then unbolted shock and burned it in like crazy.

 

[Forceful Llama]

One stop shop for all the stuff it looks like.
http://www.knowwhere2jeep.com/know-...rd-8-8-install-kit-for-97-01-cherokee-xj.html

I'm on the fence on doing this myself and getting it geared at the same time. I may go the ruffstuff route with perches.

 

[blondejoncherokee]

Oh ya, we used the RS swap kit. Dan really needs to add the darn 1310 pinion flange to the kit to make it a more of a one stop shop....

 

[MikeMc]

One stop shop for all the stuff it looks like.
http://www.knowwhere2jeep.com/know-...rd-8-8-install-kit-for-97-01-cherokee-xj.html

I'm on the fence on doing this myself and getting it geared at the same time. I may go the ruffstuff route with perches.

97-01 years only?

 

[dustybob]

X2 on that 1310 adapter.

 

[dustybob]

Shot in the dark but I'm guessing the only reason they say only 97-01 is for the ebrake cables?

 

[dustybob]

Ironrock has a pretty sweet kit as well that comes with a truss. But I really do like ruff stuffs kit and diff cover.

 

[GordoSmasho]

I know alot of people like the adapter but i went with a new 1310 yoke so I can easily swap front to rear shafts with a SYE.

Here is what i picked up
http://eastcoastgearsupply.com/i-5767542-ford-8-8-forged-1310-u-bolt-yoke.html

 

[blondejoncherokee]

gordon youre a wise man, i didnt know those existed.
we actually bought a 1310 adapter and put it on a spare DS for a trial spare.
then we bought a 1310 to 1330 u joint, and put that on the DS on the rig, and used the 1330 flange that was already on the 8.8. so he has 2 shafts ready to bolt in, and it was relativly cheap, like 30$ for the conversion joint, 35$ for the flange, the shafts we already had lying around, everyone always gives away stock shafts...

 

[dustybob]

Dang I didn't know about those either. Better save my pennies!

 

[16vvincent]

Shot in the dark but I'm guessing the only reason they say only 97-01 is for the ebrake cables?

The main reason for using the later Explorer 8.8 (97-01) is not for the cables, but for the rear disc brake setup.

 

[dustybob]

97-01 years only?

I know the later 8.8s with disc brakes, I have one in mine. But this kit he was talking about says to swap into 97-01 XJs... Why not all of them... Why only the late model...

 

[Forceful Llama]

Probably has to do do with ebrake configuration on the 97 and up xj. It's different than the 96 and down.

 

[Johnnie Walker]

Re: Re: axle swap

Probably has to do do with ebrake configuration on the 97 and up xj. It's different than the 96 and down.

This. 96down has equal length cables. 97up has long and short as they go into a "box" on the driver side and then go forward

 

[16vvincent]

This. 96down has equal length cables. 97up has long and short as they go into a "box" on the driver side and then go forward

"Ahhhh! I see", said the blind man.

 

[Famwgn]

Thanks for the info guys.