Wondering if anyone here is actually running the Explorer 8.8 in their bump. I'd like to know exactly how much narrower it is compared to a 9" in our trucks and any other pro's and con's.

TIA

 

Pros:

• 3.27 or 3.55 gears. Sometimes with Trac-Lok
• They're cheap cuz there are millions of them on the road. Lots in the JY.

Cons:

• Incompatible wheel lug pattern (unless going IFS or CV swap).
• Not a bolt-on. gotta relocate leaf spring pads
• Integral carrier.. requires gear set-up inside the axle.. either up in the air or on your back..... I can change the rear gear carrier of a 9-inch gear in about 30 minutes... alone. Try that with an 8.8!
• Not as good aftermarket support than the ubiquitous 9-inch.

Please drive through....

 

I don't have an Explorer rear end under my '69 F100 but, I do have a '96 Explorer rear end sitting in my shop.

Explorer 8.8" rear ends from 1995-2001 had solid axle housings, 31-spline axles and disc brakes as standard equipment.

Explorer rear ends prior to 1995 had drum brakes. Explorers after 2001 were IRS.

Some ratios were 3.08 and 3.27. More common ratios in the '95-2001 models were 3.55, 3.73 and 4.10:1. Some but not all had Traction-Lok differentials. --the '96 Explorer rear end I have has 3.55:1 gears but doesn't have a Traction-Lok differential although, adding a Traction-Lok wouldn't be too difficult.

Explorer rear end ratio codes.

Ford 7.5 & 8.8 Inch Axle Tag & Door Codes

 

Hmm, I will most likely go the CV route.
The 8.8 is a tri-angulated 4 bar. Spring perches go away.
This will be a street truck so once gears are selected, they are there to stay.
I'm a mustang guy, and this rearend is very well supported aftermarket wise.

 

Ah I see... you're gonna turn an F100 into a big Mustang pickup.

 

Yes. Not into mudding.

 

I memory serves me correct the Exploder rear diff is off center to accommodate the drive shaft coming from the transfer case. And the 3:73 traction loc is pretty common I found one at pick n pull $159 plus tax and small core charge. I'm going with the wider 98-02 Crown vic in my 68 build.

 

What kind of repercussions should someone expect from the rear track width being narrower than the front?

 

...also, I would still like to know how much narrower the 8.8 is compared to a 9".

 

Which 9? They came in different widths. Or do you mean the 9 that came in these trucks?

 

To get a 9-inch rear end that's the correct width to match the track width of a CV front suspension, you need to locate an '80-'83 Ford F100 with the 5-on-4.5" lug pattern.

You'll have to move the leaf spring perches but, the rear end is the right (wider) width and has the same lug pattern spacing as the lug spacing on the CV front rotors. It will also have 31-spline axles. --plus, it's a Ford 9-inch.

I don't know for sure but there's a good chance the CV 8.8" MAY have 28-spline axles.