To those who have built their 8.8"

[Captain Ledd]

So my 7.5" is leaking... again. I never topped it back off after the last time. And the fluid has never been changed in the last 200,000 miles. I'm pretty sure this thing is ultimately doomed.

Since I can't justify putting any kind of money into the 7.5" when I have a 31 spline Explorer 8.8, I have a few Q's before I start anything.

Talking with some friends they claim they can build a Front D60 for $1000, including the cost of the axle. 60's, as I've noticed, seem to have alot of platinum in them. Especially fronts. I am very skeptical of this.

The best price I can get (main parts) to build the Explorer 8.8 is about $680 (so about $700 after tax and all that jazz) for gears, master rebuild kit, and a Detroit Tru-Trac L/S.

Now I still need perches/shock mounts (which I may even just salvage, even though I'm not supposed to)

Need u-bolts and plates (don't have them)

Need all new 10" brake parts, including some lines. (only have shady looking wheel cylinders)

new bearings and seals. (questionable at best, especially for a highway rig/DD)

as a minor thing, I was going to get a crush sleeve eliminator too.

I figure I'll be running pretty close to the $1000 mark (if not slightly over), and they all felt that it was WAY too high. All work would be done by me.

Gears+master install
http://broncograveyard.com/bronco/i...ve-gear-ring-and-pinion-rebuild-kit-4-56.html

Detroit Tru-trac
http://broncograveyard.com/bronco/i-32329-ford-8-8-detroit-true-trac-31-spline.html

Now believe it or not, from what I've found Jeff's actually does have the best prices, and I live maybe 45 minutes away. So there is NO shipping.


**Does anyone have some sources that can actually get this stuff cheaper?

Or does this actually sound about right?

I've looked and looked, and really seems to be the one to beat... I think my friend was talking about using all used stuff or something...

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

Those seem to be damn good prices for what you got there.

When I switched from my 28 spline 8.8 to my 31 spline 8.8 I spent $640.00 bucks for my Detroit locker, $80 bucks for a master install kit (reused my 4.56's from my 28 spline 8.8), $12 bucks for my crush sleeve eliminator, bought new axle bearings, seals and U bolts from work (dealership) for about $100, grabbed the u bolt plates from the wrecking yard for a 97 f150 (got them for free, the guy didn't want to do up an invoice) and reused the leaf spring perches from the axle and welded them on top of the tube. I re used my brake parts from my 28 spline 8.8 as they were fairly new (had to buy new drums as the center hole is larger on the 31 spline $40 bucks from work)

Any way you look at it, its not cheap to build up a good strong axle. Sounds like you are on the right track tho.

And I HIGHLY doubt your buddies could buy and build a D60 for that price.....around here that would buy you the axle that still needs to be rebuilt.

 

[Captain Ledd]

Yeah I took that D60 business with a grain of salt..., but they have been building rigs for a while now and probably "know more people" than I do.

I did quite a bit of shopping around to find all of that too. Good to know I was on the right track.

I really wanted a virtually new axle, when I do drive the thing it's usually long distance. a 1,000 miles over a week/week and a half is not out of the question. It's one thing to blow up the old, worn out 7.5", it's another when my fancy new axle that I just put alot of work and money into decides to break some small part that I re-used.

 

[Combs Customs]

My locker alone was $600. Plus gears, intall kits and disc brakes. I'm well over $1,000 and did all the work myself.

 

[4x4junkie]

I think I'm probably around a total of $1300 or so into mine.

'99 Ex 8.8" = $300 from a yard
ARB locker = $600
5.13 gears = $180
Install kit = 70
Diff cover (girdle) = $140
F-150 u-bolts and plates = free from a junkyard

I know there's probably some other small odds & ends I'm forgetting too

These are 2004 prices so I know some of them (ARB) will be even higher now

 

[wahlstrom1]

Sittin about the same here as well:

$200 - 97' Axle
$200 - Gears, Install kit
$700 - Detroit (had a 28spl for $400, had to buy a new one at cost for this axle...)
$75 - Perches, Ubolts, and Plates
$75 - Brakes

 

[Guilius]

im at about 1900 with mine

250 for a 99' explorer axle
350 for the ring and pinion
75 for the install kit
750 for an ARB
100 for the ubolts/plates/perches and shock mounts
250 for calipers/rotors pads
75 for the ebrake, hardware kit and new cable
25 for new axle seals
25 for the brake cables (brass block fittings) to go to the calipers

and we did all the work ourselves.

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

$350 for a ring and pinion?!?!?!? Made of gold or what?

 

[Guilius]

um no....overnighted.
i needed it right then and there as my friend who is a transmission and axle guy was in town for a few days and said he would regear front and rear for me, in our garage for free.

spend a little save a TON! and the job was done by an actual pro who has 35 years in a business doing nothing but trannies, transfter cases, driveline and axle repair/upgrades.