jdognite

I'm looking to switch my rear axle to a ford 8.8. Does it matter the year of the vehicle it's off of? 1994 grand Cherokee I6 engine. D35 is the current rear axle. Thanks

_StationWagon_

If you're looking to get disk brakes from the deal, mid to late 90s ford. Or so I've been told. Mine was from a '97. So I was told. I imagine a rear from any newer Explorer would do. And I don't see why that Explorer look-alike (edit: Mercury Mountaineer) rear won't do as well.

jdognite

What about one off an 06 ford f-150?

_StationWagon_

That's a full size rear, isn't it? XJ is considered a mid-size. I think that might be too wide.

builtnotbought89'

Other than having drum brakes the f-150 might be wider (full width) than your jeep! Also your gonna want to make sure you gear ratios match... Then get to welding!

Edit: checking the f-150s bolt pattern might be in there somewhere also!

_StationWagon_

Bolt pattern's different. They might even be 6 lugs.

builtnotbought89'

Ya that's gonna be a no go if the bolt patterns different, unless you dont mind carrying 2 spares! Lol

jdognite

Ya it was a 5 lug but like a quarter of an inch different, so ya that would be ****ty to have to carry 2 spares.

jdognite

Now would it be better to keep coils or go with leafsprings?

builtnotbought89'

keep coils for sure! you will either want to make your own coil, & control arm brackets or buy some from one of the many jeep sites... Im sure you can find a 8.8 to ZJ bracket kit with everything you will need!

builtnotbought89'

what type of wheeling are you doing? the 8.8 might be over kill for ya when you could just get a 8.25 out of a junkyard ZJ & beat on it! If you dont plan on running bigger than 35" tires locked the 8.25 will work fine!

jdognite

The lift I'm getting is the 7" ironrock long Arm kit but I plan on only running probley 35s for now. What's that axle off of?

jdognite

If either way I have to weld then I prob just going to do the 8.8

builtnotbought89'

No the 8.25 29 spline came on some grand Cherokee zj's (like yours) so it would bolt right in! I'm not into the grand cherokees, so I couldn't tell ya what years had them but they are all over the junkyards! That's what I run in my Cherokee, welded, on 35"s, w/chromo shafts! It's solid!!!

builtnotbought89'

Granted the 8.8 is beefier, your not gonna want to run anything bigger than 35"s on the front d30.