Some info on my 8.8 swap

NorCalChris

NorCalChris

NAXJA Forum User
Location
Central Coast, Ca
I think I've made up my mind on what Ill be using to get me to my desired lift height and travel.

I'm swapping in a 8.8 w/disc's out of a 99 explorer. I've decided on using TnT ubolt eliminators, HD Offroad Engineering shackle relocator brackets, my RC 2in lift shackles.
Ubolt eliminators= 1.500
Relocators = 0.750 (roughly)
Shackles = 2.000
8.8 = 0.625
-------------------------
Est. lift height = 4.875
or = 4 7/8
I'll be using RE 5.5 coils up front. So Im hoping to use my stock leafs. If I need to rebuild them using various thin leaves to get a slightly thicker pack I will.​

What do y'all think about this?​
 
how do you figure the 8.8 at .625"?

The tube diameter is 3 1/4, vs 3" on a 8.25
only half of the difference is above the centerline, so only about .125 of lift gained

If you were upgrading from a 44 with 2 3/4" tubes that would be a 1/2" difference with only half above the centerline for .250" of lift
 
Good catch. I don't know where I found that figure. I thought it was somewhere on the interweb. So I went and measured the d35 under the xj and it is 2.50. Then measured the 8.8 and it is 3.250.

8.8 3.250
d35 -2.500
---------------
= .750
divide that by 2
= .375
or 3/8

So let me correct my list.

Ubolt eliminators= 1.500
Relocators = 0.750 (roughly)
Shackles = 2.000
8.8 = 0.375
-------------------------
Est. lift height = 4.625
or = 4 5/8

This now puts me where I will most likley need to rebuild my stock pack with some thin leafs to gain some more lift. I still think I will be able to get my desired travel out of this set up.
 
Not to be a party pooper, but according to the TNT Customs site, the u-bolt eliminators only add 1/2" of lift.

And I would be afraid of the leaf pack being way too soft. Im not sure why i think that though. Is the factory shackle angle ~45*?

And out of curiosity, what is your desired travel?
 
id set it up then go buy springs to match front,

i have a set of RK 5.5 tj springs up front and in the rear i have the 8.8, relocation brackets, 1.5" shackles, 1"tall spring pads and new 5.5 RE leafs

so measure, all setups are different
 
Jeep450r said:
Not to be a party pooper, but according to the TNT Customs site, the u-bolt eliminators only add 1/2" of lift.

And I would be afraid of the leaf pack being way too soft. Im not sure why i think that though. Is the factory shackle angle ~45*?

And out of curiosity, what is your desired travel?
Click to expand...
Oh geeze, dont tell me I read something else wrong too.

XJ longhouse said:
id set it up then go buy springs to match front,

i have a set of RK 5.5 tj springs up front and in the rear i have the 8.8, relocation brackets, 1.5" shackles, 1"tall spring pads and new 5.5 RE leafs

so measure, all setups are different
Click to expand...
Yea I will be measuring when All is done, thats why I dont have leafs built yet.
 
On there site under options it lists 3.25 in axle as 1.5inch UBE's. What is this refering to?
After going back I see different options for the axles. Im sure it is the lift size, but with it being that large I was concernd about axle wrap. Considering changing this to .5 UBE's.
 
Last edited:
You may be right. I originally thought that was the amount they move the axle back, but I think you are right. It specifically says that their 1/2" UBE's add 1/2", so maybe its safe to assume that their 1.5" UBE's add 1.5"? Dunno.... might be worth a quick call or google search. Sorry for any confusion lol
 
NorCalChris said:
Est. lift height = 4.875
or = 4 7/8​
Click to expand...

​

well which is it going to be, 4.875 or 4 7/8??? :huh:

j/k :gee:

keep it simple. buy my rear leafs for $125 & be done with the rear.
better yet, if your heep is '96 & older, buy my jcr gas tank skid with built in shackle drop boxes & be done with the rear.
it's just that simple. :clap:
 
knucklehead 61 said:
[/LEFT]

well which is it going to be, 4.875 or 4 7/8??? :huh:

j/k :gee:

keep it simple. buy my rear leafs for $125 & be done with the rear.
better yet, if your heep is '96 & older, buy my jcr gas tank skid with built in shackle drop boxes & be done with the rear.
it's just that simple. :clap:
Click to expand...

Haha. Good one. I have a gas skid and commited to a set of hd brackets.
 
NorCalChris said:
Good catch. I don't know where I found that figure. I thought it was somewhere on the interweb. So I went and measured the d35 under the xj and it is 2.50. Then measured the 8.8 and it is 3.250.

8.8 3.250
d35 -2.500
---------------
= .750
divide that by 2
= .375
or 3/8

So let me correct my list.

Ubolt eliminators= 1.500
Relocators = 0.750 (roughly)
Shackles = 1.5000
8.8 = 0.375
-------------------------
Est. lift height = 4.625
or = 4 5/8

This now puts me where I will most likley need to rebuild my stock pack with some thin leafs to gain some more lift. I still think I will be able to get my desired travel out of this set up.
Click to expand...

with the better shackle angle and the shackle move forward i dont expect the 2" shackle to give a full 2". id say youll get around 1.5". thats just a guess though. imagine 90 degree angle vs 45 degree angle moved forward
so youre at about 4" give or take. id say throw a stock main leaf with the eyes cut off in your stock pack and also put a second of the smallest leaf in there in the bottom of the pack and call it done.
prob get some free stock XJ packs and itll be a little stiffer than the stock pack, but not as stiff a new aal.
 
Unless they've changed things, T&T UBE's came in .5, 1.0 and 1.5 inch versions. I put the 1.0" type on my axle when I built it and haven't had any issues with it after about 2 years of use on my daily driver/trail rig. Anyway, good luck on the 8.8.
 
I would never run u bolt eliminators. There is no tangible benefit, and the extra welding required WILL move the tubes on a .188 wall 8.8 tube.

That is a solution to a non-problem.
 
Silly me, I lost even more by running 5/8" u-bolts!
 
What "extra" welding is required for u-bolt elim. vs regular perches? Aren't they basically welded the same?
 
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