Blown Diff
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Blown Diff
Have a 87 Bronco 302 w/8.8 3.55 limited slip rear thats blown a Diff bearing and ring/pinion gears are sheared and not sure how much more damage there is. With everything that needs to be replaced and whatever else I may find,(I'd do the work) would it make better $$$ sense to just buy a used rear end and bolt it up, or should I rebuild?? Any opinions/experience would be most appreciated. Thanx
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 9,182
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From: Gateway to the West
Blown Diff
Depending upon the extent of the damage, as long as the casing is salvagable, I would think rebuilding your current axle would be the way to go if you are wanting to make certain you have new, good quality components. If you are concerned about down time for the truck, "used" may be better just for the time factor of simply swapping axles over rebuilding as well. Ideally, you might consider swapping in a boneyard unit for the time being and, provided the housing/casing of yours is salvagable, rebuilding yours at your leisure with exactly what you want in it as far as gears, LS, locker, etc.
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 2,195
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From: San Antonio, Texas
Blown Diff
Well, personally, I would rebuild it, but if it's a daily driver, you could buy a junkyard axle real cheap or try the classifieds.
You could stick a new axle under your truck, then rebuild the old one and replace it when the used one goes out.
Good luck bro.
You could stick a new axle under your truck, then rebuild the old one and replace it when the used one goes out.
Good luck bro.
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2002
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From: Memphis, TN
Blown Diff
I've always just swapped to another used one, until my most recent time. I've bought good used axles as cheap as $70 in the U-Pull-It yards in Shreveport, LA, but this time I had a friend (pro) rebuild a trashed axle for me after I had the housing powdercoated (just for the heck of it). You can see it in my signature link.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2001
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From: Running Springs CA
Blown Diff
If you can find a used one, do it. I could not find the correct one and it cost me $1200 to rebuild because everything inside was shot. If you just need R/P gears, bearings, seals and LS clutch plates, the bill shoud be about half that. I needed a new carrier, including internal gears and axle shafts. From the looks of the fluid, it had been submerged and the fluid never changed.
Jim
Jim
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Blown Diff
if you got the money i would upgrade... i blew 4 or 5 rears on my 8.8 rear same gear ratio. i chose to go with a dana 60 and upgraded to 4.11 gears.
my 2 cents... john
ps. in a posi lock rear is it better to use synthec oil?
my 2 cents... john
ps. in a posi lock rear is it better to use synthec oil?
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Blown Diff
buckinbronco'95,
You say you've blown 4 to 5 rearends? That's a lot.....is there anything different you do like towing or something that contributes to that many probs? I was wondering, cause it does worry me to think it could even happen one more time to me....I've got a non-ABS L/S rearend from a 85 Bronco now (same gearing) and it seems to work just fine. I'm kinda takein it easy on my truck lately though....like not down shifting on my Auto trans like before and no jack rabbit starts or takein it above 75 mph. I still don't know what caused the last rearend to blow a bearing in the first place....maybe driving habits?....maybe just bad luck?......who knows. As for upgrading the gearing......someday I might, depends on what size tires I end up running....33's or 35's....don't know yet but I have seen the Auburn High performance Diffs and would definatly considering installing that....ahh but I need to find another Job and get back on my feet for now....thanks for the reply, really appreciate it.
You say you've blown 4 to 5 rearends? That's a lot.....is there anything different you do like towing or something that contributes to that many probs? I was wondering, cause it does worry me to think it could even happen one more time to me....I've got a non-ABS L/S rearend from a 85 Bronco now (same gearing) and it seems to work just fine. I'm kinda takein it easy on my truck lately though....like not down shifting on my Auto trans like before and no jack rabbit starts or takein it above 75 mph. I still don't know what caused the last rearend to blow a bearing in the first place....maybe driving habits?....maybe just bad luck?......who knows. As for upgrading the gearing......someday I might, depends on what size tires I end up running....33's or 35's....don't know yet but I have seen the Auburn High performance Diffs and would definatly considering installing that....ahh but I need to find another Job and get back on my feet for now....thanks for the reply, really appreciate it.
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Blown Diff
i broke a few doing dumb stuff when i was younger... bought the truck brand new. i was doing burnouts and that kinda stuff. then i put the 33s on wich didnt help matters either... since then ive been doin a lotta hard four wheelin too... ive heard from many people that the 8.8 rear isnt too good... i dont really know too much about mechanics, but i did a lot of reaserch try to finally fix the problem for good. i also got a 10 year warranty on this one so hopefully ill be covered either way
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Blown Diff
buckinbronco'95,
Thanks for your reply....sounds like it could be my driving habits that helped that last rearend to fry?.....I do have a lead foot and did make full use of my 302/limited slip before, however I haven't done really any 4 wheelin with my 87 Bronco yet. I hope this 85 rear I have now can just not blow for at least 6-12 months. Sounds like your 4.11/Dana 60 is a lot more durable though......good luck with this setup, if you could post any probs, updates or info you might have on this rear that would be cool. Are you still running 33's?
Thanks for your reply....sounds like it could be my driving habits that helped that last rearend to fry?.....I do have a lead foot and did make full use of my 302/limited slip before, however I haven't done really any 4 wheelin with my 87 Bronco yet. I hope this 85 rear I have now can just not blow for at least 6-12 months. Sounds like your 4.11/Dana 60 is a lot more durable though......good luck with this setup, if you could post any probs, updates or info you might have on this rear that would be cool. Are you still running 33's?
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2002
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From: Gateway to the West
Blown Diff
Originally posted by buckinbronco'95
ive heard from many people that the 8.8 rear isnt too good...
ive heard from many people that the 8.8 rear isnt too good...
Buckin',
Ford never made a "posi" rear end they made Trac-loc rear ends and the best thing to use with them besides proper weight gear oil, and vital to the mix, is the friction conditioner which is an additive. Without it, you can kiss the clutch packs goodbye.
