Does anyone know if a 1997 f-150 rear 8.8 axle will fit a 1986 full size Bronco? Is it the same width?

 

'97 axle may be metric. I'm pretty sure width is okay. The bolt pattern may be off.

 

I've not taken it out yet but I've got an 95 8.8 full width axle for sale. It's got 3.50 or 3.55 gears. It's stock axle. The outside has surface rust but the axle is in great shape.

Lemme know if you are interested.


Oh and I agree with NWBronco.

 

Its the same width... but if you are swapping, why not put a 9" back in? Just curious.

 

The 9" doesn't come in 3.55 and a 3.50 is worth its weight in gold around here.
I have been told that the .05 difference would not be noticable but I still don't have one anyway.
I have checked several salvage yards and all tell me they don't have one. I think I need to start asking for a truck axle instead of Bronco.

 

yeah, try asking around for an f150 axle instead. there's a lot of those around here courtesy of CARS (grrrr, but that's another thread).

 

The 9" doesn't have a VSS sensor or any way to mount one and that is needed for proper engine, trans, and speedo operation in these trucks.

 

HUH? What does that mean?

 

The 97 8.8 was told to me that the spring perches will not work due to a change in frame widths. It is what I was told, so I have no way to verify. Any axle from an 78 to 96 bronco/F150, and possibly as early as 72, should bolt right on your Bronco... Though the 90+ may have a flange rather than a yoke on the input shaft.

As for the VSS, he has an 86 so he may or may not need the VSS depending if he has fuel injection or not. But wouldnt his VSS be on the transfercase/ speedo cable because 86 didnt have RABS.

 

Agreed, 86 didn't have a VSS. And even if he does have an EFI engine, the VSS was only utilized by the E4OD/speedometer and the cruise control computer. Neither of which were even present in an 86. Cruise was still vacuum and magnets and with the transmissions available in 86, the speedometer was still cable driven. The E4OD (not available until very late 89 with most being 90) required the use of the VSS for speedometer and shift point designation.

 

Someone suggested that the wheels from the '86 may not fit a '97.
Anyone have a backup for this statement?

 

The wheels from an '86 will not fit a '97. They use a metric bolt pattern. They are close and you can probably bang them on, but this is a very unwise idea.

If you have an '86 Bronco, you need an axle from a 1989 or older F-series or Bronco. Sometime in 1990 is when Ford when from the yoke input to the flange input.

 

any F150,bronco axle from 78 - 96 will work. doesnt matter if its a 9" or 8.8.

the 3.50 in a 9" also wont matter. i ran a 9" in an 88 bronco i had with 3.54 gears up front and worked great.