Pulled the 8.8 out for its make over...but I have had a growing suspicion that the housing might be tweaked. I was trying to come up with ways to measure it....and then I remembered that we have a kick ass 3D scanner at work.
We scanned in and I the center point of four cross sections of the axle tubes (one just behind the backing plate on both sides, and one on both sides of the pumpkin. Then shot a line from the two end points. The middle is sagged down about 4mm on both sides, so if I project a line down one tube...its off by about 8mm from WMS to WMS
Any who..here are some cool pics.
Thinking that next time I pop a leaf or anything leaf related...I am going to go triangulated 4 link. I am on the hunt for a new 8.8 housing, this time I will be putting a legit truss on it that will serve as my upper link mount later. My last "truss" was just there for the traction bar mount and I think the axle may have been tweaked prior to adding it.
Silly Ranger...8 lugs are for real trucks...
Picked up a bunch of 2.5" perched for dirt cheap on Pirate
Pulled my 8.8 apart for the first time since I locked it...
Fluid looked new after 2 years of wheeling
The Lock Right is showing some age, but works just fine. I think I want to go selectable though with new setup.
Dutchmans are also showing signs of abuse...the driverside is twisted about a 1/4 spline or so. Both show wear on the splines where they engaged into the side gears? thinking maybe the tweaked housing is to blame.
I had to tighten the pinion nut once a few trips ago, noticed the seal was leaking and grabbed the flange it was sloppy. I knew I was regearing soon, so I just snugged it up....I found when I pulled it apart that the crush sleeve has wear on it? must have been spinning when it was loose.lol Regardless the new 8.8 will have solid shims and the pinion depth shims moved to the outer race instead of on the pinion.
So now I just need a housing and a maybe new locker so I can put things back together