BluePrint Engines

Visit our community sponsor

Thanks Thanks:  0
Likes Likes:  0
Results 1 to 13 of 13

Thread: 8.8 axle rebuild

  1. #1
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2015
    Location
    Louisville, KY
    Posts
    103
    Post Thanks / Like

    8.8 axle rebuild

    Has anyone tackled a rebuild of an 8.8 straight axle rear end? How involved? I have access to a fox width rearend with 3.08 gears. It will need 5 lug axles of course. I'd be fine with 3.08s for now, probably have a shop change them to 3.55s down the road.

    Is it straight forward work to change the axles, seals, bearings and rebuild the trac-lok?

  2. #2
    Senior Member R Thomas's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2015
    Location
    Myrtle Beach, SC
    Posts
    153
    Post Thanks / Like
    Blog Entries
    22
    This one of the things that you will be exposed to at the build school. Not a rebuild but disassemble and reassemble to allow swapping the brake brackets to opposite sides. deals with axle removal which would allow the change to 5-lug.

  3. #3
    Senior Member edwardb's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Location
    Lake Orion, Michigan
    Posts
    10,547
    Post Thanks / Like
    I've not done a complete rebuild. But did change the gears in one. From a mechanical standpoint, actually not that hard. The challenge is there are various settings including the mesh of the gears themselves that are variable and require shims and specialty tools. Also requires an arbor press for bearings and the pinion gear. I bought this video which isn't network quality production value, but I found very helpful and down to earth. There's a trailer to give you an idea. https://vimeo.com/ondemand/29206.
    Build 1: Mk3 Roadster #5125. Sold 11/08/2014. Build 2: Mk4 Roadster #7750. Sold 04/10/2017. Build Thread
    Build 3: Mk4 Roadster 20th Anniversary #8674. Sold 09/07/2020. Build Thread and Video. Build 4: Gen 3 Type 65 Coupe #59. Gen 3 Coyote. Legal 03/04/2020. Build Thread and Video
    Build 5: 35 Hot Rod Truck #138. LS3 and 4L65E auto. Rcvd 01/05/2021. Legal 04/20/2023. Build Thread. Sold 11/9/2023.

  4. #4
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2016
    Posts
    831
    Post Thanks / Like
    Well, I'm not building a roadster, and I've never rebuilt one either. But I DID watch a video that made me respect the process. Eric the car guy. Good videos. This is part one, links to part two. He also has an edited version that skips some of the re-doing he re-did.

    https://youtu.be/5fARhE7v5Bg

  5. #5
    Seasoned Citizen NAZ's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2016
    Location
    "The High Country", beautiful Flagstaff, AZ
    Posts
    2,443
    Post Thanks / Like
    Just to echo what edwardb said -- you will need some special tools to properly set-up your rear end. If you don't already have these you will shell out a couple hundred bucks (or more) for tools you may never use again. And you'll need a repair manual that gives you the procedures & specs you will be setting up the gears & bearings to. Do it wrong and you'll end up with a noisy, clunky gear set that won't last long. Do it right and you'll have a sense of accomplishment. Either way, don't expect to save a ton of money doing it yourself if you don't already have the tools.

  6. #6
    Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2012
    Posts
    58
    Post Thanks / Like
    I'd like to throw this out for discussion. I have and prefer good measuring tools but an old mechanic showed me a trick that I have since used successfully on several automotive sized gear sets. Ford recommends .008 to .012 thousands backlash and newspaper measures three to four thousands. If you cut strips of news paper and feed it thru your assembled gear set it becomes a backyard gauge. If the paper comes out of the gears cut by each tooth the backlash is to small, ie less than .008. If the paper comes out not folded about each tooth tight and square the backlash is too loose. Ideally the paper should be folded in nice sharp square corners but not cut at the corners. Next read the paper strips to judge the meshing pattern. The paper should fold as described along the full length of the tooth. If the paper is cut at the low end of the ring gear teeth and not at the top, your contact patch is too low. If the paper is cut at the upper end of the ring gear teeth and not at the bottom, your contact patch is too high. Might sound crazy but it works and thoroughly amazed some four-wheeling buddies when I did this in a mud hole and drove the wounded truck away.

  7. #7
    Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2015
    Location
    Syracuse, NY
    Posts
    82
    Post Thanks / Like
    If you are just looking to change the axles, it's a piece of cake. Remove the diff cover. Then remove one bolt holds the center pin in. Then there is a clip on each axle that will almost fall out on it's own and the axles will slide out. I'm sure that there are lots of youtube videos that will walk you through the process.

    It's a good idea to change the outer grease seals and bearings while the axles are out. Again, no big deal.

    When you get into changing the gears and other center section components is when things get a bit complicated.

  8. #8
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2015
    Location
    Louisville, KY
    Posts
    103
    Post Thanks / Like
    Great, thanks for the input everyone. After further reading, it looks like i can handle the axles, bearings/seals at home. I'd rather not touch the gears or track-loc. I sent an email over to a local performance shop to see what they would charge to do everything at once. When i find out how much it would be for everything, I'll decide if i want to tackle some of it on my own. Thanks again.

  9. #9
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Oct 2012
    Location
    Tybee Island, GA
    Posts
    505
    Post Thanks / Like
    Here is my Write up on my 8.8 Rear End 3.08 Rebuild. Hope it Helps

    http://buildacobra.blogspot.com/p/19...ferential.html
    Dave
    Mk 3.1 - #6882 - 5.0L 302 - FiTech EFI - 3-Link - 3.08 Ratio - 15" Wheels
    Greenhorn and doing the best I can
    My photos are at: My Flickr acct
    Videos are at: YouTube Videos

  10. #10
    Senior Member CraigS's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Location
    Blacksburg, Va
    Posts
    4,707
    Post Thanks / Like
    Quote Originally Posted by KegMechanic View Post
    If you are just looking to change the axles, it's a piece of cake. Remove the diff cover. Then remove one bolt holds the center pin in. Then there is a clip on each axle that will almost fall out on it's own and the axles will slide out. I'm sure that there are lots of youtube videos that will walk you through the process.

    It's a good idea to change the outer grease seals and bearings while the axles are out. Again, no big deal.

    When you get into changing the gears and other center section components is when things get a bit complicated.
    This is the answer.
    FFR MkII, 408W, Tremec TKO 500, 2015 IRS, DA QA1s, Forte front bar, APE hardtop.

  11. #11
    Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2014
    Posts
    77
    Post Thanks / Like
    I look at this a lot like engine building. If everything isn't right, it doesn't last. Or it whines like crazy until it self destructs. My smartest call of my build was to Mike Forte. He sent me a rear, flange to flange, completely rebuilt with the correct axles, my gear ratio etc... along with a lot of other parts that all worked perfectly on my Coupe.
    Coupe 0652 408 Windsor 510 hp TKO600-68OD 3.73 Traction-lok A/C and heat, Guardsman Blue with White stripes picked up 9/14 first start 7/10/15 go kart 8/15/15 registered, painted (body-on) 11/12/16 inspected and on the road 4/20/17

  12. #12
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2015
    Location
    Louisville, KY
    Posts
    103
    Post Thanks / Like
    Quote Originally Posted by DadofThree View Post
    Here is my Write up on my 8.8 Rear End 3.08 Rebuild. Hope it Helps

    http://buildacobra.blogspot.com/p/19...ferential.html

    Thank you! Great info!

  13. #13
    Senior Member CraigS's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Location
    Blacksburg, Va
    Posts
    4,707
    Post Thanks / Like
    I agree w/ GSides9 that changing gears you need tools and experience. But doing bearings, seals, axles, are pretty easy. Even re-building the trac loc isn't bad. When I pull a center section I put two plastic containers on the floor marked right and left. As the shims come out they go into the appropriate container. Then they go back in the same place on reassembly. I would also rebuild the Tracloc. It isn't that difficult, the upgrade carbon fiber discs are $109 and regular discs $75. Install instructions here.
    http://www.americanmuscle.com/ford-8...t-install.html
    FFR MkII, 408W, Tremec TKO 500, 2015 IRS, DA QA1s, Forte front bar, APE hardtop.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

Stewart Transport

Visit our community sponsor