choptrees

Hey folks

I got a 98 Cherokee, auto. A while back I took the thing in (lack of workspace here in the city) to get an alignment and a pinion seal done. Of course the guys at the shop found a bunch of stuff wrong with it, the worst being the rear diff had missing teeth. So they replaced the rear end with an 8.8 Ford Explorer (I got disc brakes!). Only they left the original shocks on and now they're too long, they bottom out on the smallest bumps, which doesn't make for the nicest ride. Anyone recommend decent shocks I can replace mine with?

Cheers

xjoffroad

bilstein is all you need.

posjeepxj

http://www.shocksandsuspension.com/showitems-dc-1.htm

Ritter4.0

They did re-weld the spring perches and shock mounts, right?

choptrees

Hmmm... as much as I can figure out, they put the axle in and welded it in place, I've got a 4" lift and I was relying on shims previously to angle the rear diff. I guess the shock mounts on the Explorer axle are in a different position to the stock axle. So the travel was shortened and now bottom out. I have no idea about spring perches... sorry, beyond me!

vashxj

so does anyone know if the exploder 8.8 comes with 3.55 gears and limited slip? and can you use the stock driveshaft on a 99 xj for it?

Detour

Some pictures might help....

posjeepxj

you can find the with 3.55s and limited slip pretty easy. you will need a flange for drive shaft but yes it should work

posjeepxj

yes. 8.8s are spring under where jeeps are spring over. and shocks are in diff mounting locations. so both must be re welded on. they had to of or he would be lowered about 3.25 inches

vashxj

do you know where i can get the flange at for it, who makes the or can i just steal the one off the ford shaft? i tried searching so sorry if this has already been answered before, also the ford ones have abs to right

posjeepxj

do a little research. theres a junk yard one you can go find but im not on my computer to look threw my notes to remember what it is off

housew

the explorer flange if for a 1350 u-joint, jeeps are 1310. You can use the explorer one with a 1350/1310 conversion u-joint (same price as a normal u-joint at napa)

you can rob a flange off ranger or crown vic, they should be 1310.

shock mounts and spring perches had to have been cut off and re-welded. If your at 4" and the shocks mounts are flush with the bottom of the tube (most logical spot to put them so they don't hang up on stuff) you can run shocks from a stock height cherokee. I also suggest bilsteins.

8.8s came with lots of gears. most common from exploreres are 3.73. you can get 3.55 3.73 4.10 very easily with or without limited slip. I chose an open one with 4.10s so i can add an aussie.

housew

probably wont save much at a jy, flange is only 25-30 bucks or so. can be had at MORE, dennys driveshaft, or tons of other places.


http://www.dennysdriveshaft.com/p376...s_large_b.html

on that note I have a 1350 yoke from an explorer i'd let go for $15+shipping. Its currently in my spare parts bin.

housew

x2.

would be lowered by 3.25(diameter of tube) + 2x Spring perch height + thickness of leaf pack. so probably close to 6"