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Changing out 7.5" rear to 8.8"


Good point about pulling it by yourself, that really can be time consuming and a little labor intensive. Not to mention you have to be a human fork truck to carry it any significant distance it by yourself. My pull a part sells them for 65 without drums. I found my most recent one in a 90 Ranger. Had 10" drums and the bed was off the truck and the driveshaft was already cut, but near the axle so I got an extra yoke. I wasn't there for an axle, but I couldn't walk away from that. Then it took me almost as long to carry/drag it to the gate as it did to pull it from the truck.

That has been my hangup about swapping in a D35, after you fight tooth and nail to get the thing out I would have to drag the thing clear across the yard (the trucks are in the back) to get the thing out... and then lift the thing into the back of my truck.

I got my 8.8 with springs for $100 from a guy that was junking a '96 Explorer. I had to pull it in is dillapadated garage in January with a cord running to the house for my trebble light. It really came pretty peacefully which surprised me.
 
$100 is a pretty good deal, and sometimes any garage is better than none. I got a late start on the one I was talking about, and really had to hurry to get the axle, just as in your case, 85, all the way across the yard. I was already pretty worn out when I pulled the axle. I cut a seat belt out of a nearby car, threw the axle on a door panel, and dragged it 95% of the distance I had to go. The best part was, some old guy walked up to me and suggested I carry it the last bit of the distance. He explained that no one saw me dragging the rear and they would all think I carried it all the way from the bottom of the yard. I picked it up, and appearing as casual as I could, I walked up and set it at the back of the line. Okay, so it was more like me and the axle hit the ground in a heap. So much for fooling anyone. My back has still not completely forgiven me. Me and the old guy had a good laugh about it later, though. All in all, it's not so bad if you leave yourself enough time. At least Crazy Ray's (my favorite local pull it yard chain) allows customers to bring in wagons or hand trucks. A plastic snow sled with a string would probably work better than a door panel or floor mat and seat belt for dragging something big and heavy, though any of these can get it done in a pinch. Getting it in the bed sucks no matter what, though, especially since it is always the last thing you have to do. Until you get home with it, that is, but I tend to put off thinking about that until I get there.
 
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$100 is a pretty good deal, and sometimes any garage is better than none. I got a late start on the one I was talking about, and really had to hurry to get the axle, just as in your case, 85, all the way across the yard. I was already pretty worn out when I pulled the axle. I cut a seat belt out of a nearby car, threw the axle on a door panel, and dragged it 95% of the distance I had to go. The best part was, some old guy walked up to me and suggested I carry it the last bit of the distance. He explained that no one saw me dragging the rear and they would all think I carried it all the way from the bottom of the yard. I picked it up, and appearing as casual as I could, I walked up and set it at the back of the line. Okay, so it was more like me and the axle hit the ground in a heap. So much for fooling anyone. My back has still not completely forgiven me. Me and the old guy had a good laugh about it later, though. All in all, it's not so bad if you leave yourself enough time. At least Crazy Ray's (my favorite local pull it yard chain) allows customers to bring in wagons or hand trucks. A plastic snow sled with a string would probably work better than a door panel or floor mat and seat belt for dragging something big and heavy, though any of these can get it done in a pinch. Getting it in the bed sucks no matter what, though, especially since it is always the last thing you have to do. Until you get home with it, that is, but I tend to put off thinking about that until I get there.

I was kind of worried about the garage coming down, it was all concrete block but had settled so you could fit your fist between blocks in places. There was trash somewhere that smelled like rancid bacon grease that added to my impression of it... it wasn't in the greatest part of town. We used part of one wall that had fallen in to block the car up actually :icon_thumby:

On a rear axle could you stick wheels on it and then wrap your seat belt around the diff and roll it? I think they run $15 apeice but it would really save a guys back.
 
I thought most yards had forklifts and if you ask nicely they will take large stuff to the front for you. Helps if you give the lift operator a couple bills. $100 is nice but a local yard sells any axle you pull for $40, so far I pulled a 14b, and a complete disk 8.8 that only needed brakes.

Sent from the road while ignoring traffic
 
I was kind of worried about the garage coming down, it was all concrete block but had settled so you could fit your fist between blocks in places. There was trash somewhere that smelled like rancid bacon grease that added to my impression of it... it wasn't in the greatest part of town. We used part of one wall that had fallen in to block the car up actually :icon_thumby:

On a rear axle could you stick wheels on it and then wrap your seat belt around the diff and roll it? I think they run $15 apeice but it would really save a guys back.

That's scary 85, I think I would have tried to drag that truck outside. Crazy Rays is cool about hauling stuff for you, but that day, by the time I had the axle out they were getting ready to close and had already shut the fork trucks down for the day. They have a old truck bed they will let you throw stuff in, then they carry that with the fork truck. Problem is that the cars are packed in so tight you still have to carry stuff a good way to get to an aisle sometimes. Putting a couple wheels on the rear could actually work out pretty well. It would be necessary to keep very close tabs on it if you have a hill to climb though. A run away situation could be ugly. Kryptonite, $40 is the best deal I have heard of so far for axles, even at $65 a piece I have not been able to resist acquiring a small collection of rears, in addition to the many other parts I have laying around of course.
 
Its just luck of the draw that I have one with sweet deals. I'm not worried about getting masses of parts, still living at home for college and my roommate wouldn't appreciate more parts.

Sent from the road while ignoring traffic
 
The pullapart i frequent has a guy in a gator that drives around and takes parts up front for people. Or i would just manhandle it in one of their wheelbarrows lol.
 
Its just luck of the draw that I have one with sweet deals. I'm not worried about getting masses of parts, still living at home for college and my roommate wouldn't appreciate more parts.

Sent from the road while ignoring traffic

I was once asked to leave an apartment. The landlord never made it clear what the worst offense was, but among his complaints were a motorcycle in the dining room, a half full fuel cell on my bed, and eight car tires mounted on wheels, also in the dining room.
 

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