jeepdreamer

Hey guys, I could use some input here. Being in Germany its difficult finding stock parts, let alone upgrades. Well, I found this 8.8 in the junkyard and am thinking it would be a good candidate for a swap. I've looked over some of the related threads and have the gist of what to do but I could use some more info. You can see in the pics the data tag with gear ratio and the factory white sticker that means nothing to me? How does one tell what year it came out of? I know its from an Explorer but the JY guy doesn't remember what year.
Also, I've seen RoughStuff's simple kit and that will prob. be ordered but what else will I need to get? This is going in my 01 XJ. Will the driveshaft from the XJ work or will it need a custom one? Where is the cheapest place to find a replacement yolk for the axle? What about brake lines etc? Part numbers would be awesome and much appreciated! I'd like to order it all at once so I'm not waiting on USPS and their horribly slow shipping.
Thanks in advance for all help and ideas! Cheers!

99 Purple XJ

About 150 to 250 id pay it has 410 gears and disc brakes go for it

machinisttx

It's a 4.10 gear with open carrier. I'd try to get it for less than $150 since you'll have to replace the pads, rotors, and possibly the calipers.

jeepdreamer

In the pic you can see the far side backing place is pretty beat... does it matter?

jeepdreamer

Well, I finally got to ask the guy what he'd sell the axle for. 75 bucks! So I'm on it like a fat kid near a box of doughnuts. My next question is how to identify it better. The guy can't remember what year Ford it was from though he's pretty sure it was an Explorer. So is there any way to identify what year etc so I can order the right brake parts? Please help! Like to get this rolling asap. Thanks!

CheapCherokee

they used the same parts for a range of years, something like 96-01. i used 98 parts and they work and fit fine. just order parts for a 98 explorer and you'll be good

jeepdreamer

So you installed yours? I have about a billion questions if you wouldn't mind answering some? I need to order the parts and since it takes a month on average to get stuff, I'd kinda like it to all be coming at one time, ya know?
Things like brake lines, fittings, parking brakes, etc... how do they all fit. Did you get to reuse your current driveshaft after putting on the regular style yolk? Anything you'll share would be awesome! And thanks in advance!

CheapCherokee

i did everything except the parking brake lines, so i can help you with everything except that. let me do some e-digging and i'll get you some links and P/Ns

jeepdreamer

Awesome! Thanks a billion!!!!!!!!! I gotta crash... first day back at work tomorrow and 0430 comes early. Let me know whatever you find!

CheapCherokee

for all stock parts just order for the rear of a 1998 ford explorer. for the modifications, you will need a few things. you can re-use the stock 8.8 brake lines and use a brake line flaring tool and cut the lines where your XJ brake line will meet. the tool looks like this: http://www.denlorstools.com/home/dt1...ource=googleps
you could probably find one cheaper somewhere. basically you cut the line where your XJ brake line will connect to it, and flare each line where you cut so that they fit on the XJ brake line. don't forget to slip the nuts over the line before you flare the line!

because the explorer uses a weird brake line system, you will need to swap in another passenger side brake hose on the driver side caliper, and attach it to the existing hard line. http://www.napaonline.com/Catalog/Ca...528_0283061945

on to the driveshaft.

you can re-use the current yoke flange and run a conversion u joint: http://eastcoastgearsupply.com/i-135...n-u-joint.html

or you can buy a different flange for your current driveshaft:
http://www.mountainoffroad.com/_e/Fo...p_XJ_YJ_TJ.htm



like i said, i still haven't hooked up my E brakes so i can't help you there.

BLKXJ 96

When I did my 8.8 I got all my parts from M.O.R.E......one stop shopping. For the calapers I used 1965 mustang front brake lines, and made my own mounts. The Exploder 8.8 is narrower than a XJ axle, I spaced mine out with 5/8 spacers to get it closer to stock width. As for the dust shields, mine were really smashed up too, I just took them off.

Cheapcherokee has a ton of good info in his post also.

CheapCherokee

okay, forgot to include some things.

the breather from your old axle will slip right on to the 8.8

with the new disc brakes you will want to get a new proportioning valve to get more pressure back there. this means going to the junkyard, and finding a ZJ with disc brakes and either taking the whole proportioning valve block thing (the name escapes me, but its the thing where the lines from the master cylinder go in and branch out the lines to the front 2 lines and 1 rear line), or you can take out the prop. valve from the block. i just took the whole block from the junkyard so i could side by side swap the prop valves from the donor to the one in my jeep.

jeepdreamer

So here is my "new"8.8. Took pics of the yolk hoping someone can tell me what I have and which size I need to order to make it work with the XJ?
The brake pics are a different "donor" sitting in the JY. Its a mountaineer and pretty rusty (just like mine) and its only 3.55 gears. But I see the difference between the LF and RT flex brake lines now. So I need two RT side ones, right? And they screw right into the XJ splitter block? Keep the help and advice coming guys! I appreciate it!

CheapCherokee

link for the yolk is above. yes you will need two right side soft lines, but bolting them on will not make the XJ splitter block bolt on. at that point, you will have solid hard line and no where to connect. that is why you will need to cut the hard line and flare both ends for the xj splitter block