Weak 8.8 carrier???


UrbanRedneckKid

UrbanRedneckKid

15+ Year Member

Solid Axle Swap
Joined
Aug 30, 2007
Messages
2,439
Points
3,101
Age
38
City
Cass Co, Missouri
Vehicle Year
1994
Transmission
Manual
I 'm putting an Exploder disc rear in my truck. My buddy is getting it for me at a local j-yard where he works. But which one do I have him get?

I've been told of the weak 8.8 carriers, but is it both carriers that are weak? Just the open, or just the Trac-Lock?

Due to expences of my SAS I can't spring for a Detroit. Would I be better off with new clutch packs in a Trac-lock, or an open with a Lockrite?
 
The carrier of the 8.8 is its weak point. There is less material to a l/s so i'd have to say it might be weaker than the open carrier. I ran a 28 spline 8.8 with a lock right with 35's for 2 years and 36 TSL's for about 6 months without any failures. You could get the open carrier diff and weld it up, that improves the strength of the carrier.
 
Having run a welded diff in my old D35, I'll never run another. Although the 8.8 rear is much stronger, I'd be the guy who snapped an axle on his way to buy a pack of smokes...

Welded diff is out of the question, but welding isn't.

Does anyone have pics of a broken T/L carrier? I'm thinking of maybe reinforcing the weak areas with welding... Any thoughts on that?
 
If it's a torsion lock, yeah, they are weak. If it's a Track Lock, those aren't as weak. The only place I know of (other than torsion lock) that is weak on an 8.8 is where the tubes slide into the center housing. Most people with high horse power rigs tend to weld the housing to the tubes around the radius. yes, they can be welded. From what I understand... and I may be wrong... the center housing is cast steel... not iron.
 
the tubes can be welded. I did when installing my 8.8
 
Yup, welded mine in on my sploder 8.8 when i swapped it over.
 
the t loc carriers arent that bad. i have only seen one broke in over 15 years. and it broke right down the center of the crosspin. but it was being launched hard on nitrous on slicks. i dont theres gonna be any problem wheeling one. axle should go first anyway.
 
This was my Traclok Carrier
Weak 8.8 carrier???

Weak 8.8 carrier???

Weak 8.8 carrier???

Weak 8.8 carrier???


Needs an ARB
 
I was on 37s with 4.56s. Stock tired 4.0. I was going donw the road infront of my house when it gernaded and blew. Locked it up almost solid. I ended up building another housing for it with a BTF cover and Ruffstuff brackets. And, of course I welded the tubes to the cented section. I have spun a tube on an XJ and I will not do that again if I can help it.
 
yep you blew that up pretty good
 
dadgum!! Thats some pretty good carnage right there!
 
I wouldn't worry until you approach 35s+ with a 4.0. I want to eventually go Detroit in mine just because, just didn't have the money when I built it.
 
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