Can I use U-bolts from 7.5 on 8.8?

[Xandor]

I got a 89 ranger with 7.5 I have an 28 spine 8.8 froma 94 ranger im putting under it. It has lift blocks so I need to buy new bolts or can I use my old ones? I was thing the 8.8 was bigger around but I checked on summit and there bolth 2.75in wide.

Just wanted to double check befor I pull this apart

 

[ChrisR1S]

yeah ranger 8.8s are the same tube diameter as the 7.5 (the explorer and other fullsize 8.8s are bigger at 3.25inches) ALTHOUGH I'd recommend replacing the u-bolts anyways while its apart...

 

[Xandor]

yeah ranger 8.8s are the same tube diameter as the 7.5 (the explorer and other fullsize 8.8s are bigger at 3.25inches) ALTHOUGH I'd recommend replacing the u-bolts anyways while its apart...

Thanks man.

 

[7.5L_STX]

i never like to re-use u-bolts on axles. i do keep the old ones though, sometimes they come in handy with other projects/creations lol.

 

[feellnfroggy]

If you can get the old bolts off without breaking them then more power to ya. ALso measurements dont lie. If you get stuck, autozone has a 2 inch lift block kit for like 19 bux, that comes with the u bolts you need.

 

[cammeddrz]

this is weird, i just helped a guy on here do an 8.8 swap last weekend on his 1986 bII, and the 2 axles were not the same diameter, we pounded the 7.5 u-bolts onto the 8.8 but by doing so it spread the ends of the bolts so far apart that the plates would never fit back over them

 

[ChrisR1S]

Yeah thats because all 8.8s other than the ranger have the larger 3.25OD axle tube

 

[craveman85]

i used the same bolts on my 95 when i swapped.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Yeah thats because all 8.8s other than the ranger have the larger 3.25OD axle tube

Explorer, Ranger FX4 Level II and fullsize.

I imagine cars with the lighter 8.8 would be the same as a 7.5 and normal Ranger 8.8.

 

[cammeddrz]

aha, so the 8.8 from the explorer we used is different than the ranger one.