8.8 factory spring perches bolt right up to the YJ? Surely not....

Matt Graham · 04-30-2008, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cody_91YJ

Keith, you really don't even need to cut the spring perches off if your SUA (can't remember what your doing). The perches matched up good on my Jeep, about an 1/8" of my leaf springs overhangs the perch, but that shouldn't cause a problem.

I'm getting ready to install my 8.8 and I'm doing some searching around the forum and I find this post from way back in 2001 I think.

It sounds like he is saying that he used the factory explorer perches in their stock location without moving them and the axle bolted right up. Surely this isn't true. Can anyone confirm or has anyone tried this?

I haven't even taken measurements at the house so it may be way off. I might should've waited until I got home & done some measuring before I posted the thread, but I'm at work & couldn't resist

**sebastian22** · 04-30-2008, 11:34 AM

http://www.jedi.com/obiwan/jeep/ford88.html

a little bit down this page there is a comparison of dimensions between the D35 and 8.8. check it out, it is not the same.

**timatoe** · 04-30-2008, 11:37 AM

No they're not the same, but I too have read that people have bolted it in using the stock location.

yellow2kgt · 04-30-2008, 11:47 AM

It's about 1/2" off per side. You would probably have enough play in the springs to pull them in and bolt them on. However, Most likely your pinion angle is not going to be right and I don't know if I like the extra stress being placed on the shackles by pulling the springs in. I thought about trying it out on mine. But, a set of perches was only $20 and welding stuff is always fun.

Matt Graham · 04-30-2008, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yellow2kgt

It's about 1/2" off per side. You would probably have enough play in the springs to pull them in and bolt them on. However, Most likely your pinion angle is not going to be right and I don't know if I like the extra stress being placed on the shackles by pulling the springs in. I thought about trying it out on mine. But, a set of perches was only $20 and welding stuff is always fun.

Where did you buy the perches? Yeah according to

http://www.jedi.com/obiwan/jeep/ford88.html

the distance between spring perches (o/c) 40.5" on the D35 & 39-1/4" on the 8.8. That means 5/8" too narrow on each side, which may be too much. And then I still don't know how the pinion angle would be.

If anyone has any experience with this - please report!

**timatoe** · 04-30-2008, 02:45 PM

I bought the simple swap kit from Ruff Stuff Specialties, but if you're staying SUA, I'd look into perches from Summit Racing for about $20 or as cheap as $13.

yellow2kgt · 04-30-2008, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt Graham

Where did you buy the perches? Yeah according to

http://www.jedi.com/obiwan/jeep/ford88.html

the distance between spring perches (o/c) 40.5" on the D35 & 39-1/4" on the 8.8. That means 5/8" too narrow on each side, which may be too much. And then I still don't know how the pinion angle would be.

If anyone has any experience with this - please report!

I picked up a set of Moroso ones from a local engine builder. I did not want to use the huge ones from M.O.R.E or Ruff Stuff. They are quality pieces but I did not want to loose the ground clearance while SUA. Plus the Moroso ones were much cheaper. The ones I picked up were listed for a Ford 9" or Dana 60. They fit the 8.8 perfectly fine without grinding.

**RockWoRM** · 04-30-2008, 04:02 PM

I pieced my parts togeather, but ended up only a few bucks less that that ruffstuff deal... unless U already have new U-bolts, plates, mounts, ect. If ya do, then the summit perch would work fine. If U hav'nt already cut off the fac. 8.8 perchs, then it will save U some time to pre-measure/mark the tubes for the new ones, out 9/16 each side. With the amount of lift U have, I would defenately re-set the pinion. U might even think about a MM lift to help with the angle. Keep in mind if U stay SUA, you'll loose about 3/8 to 1/2 inch of height due to the 8.8 thicker tube... keep the perch as close to the tube as possible.

yj_hank · 04-30-2008, 05:50 PM

I gound off the stock perches and rewelded them in the correct location. They have the mounts for the brake lines and they are very strong.

Henry

SonofSam02 · 04-30-2008, 06:18 PM

what did you use to grind them off?
Angle grinder with cut off disk?
Did you have to go into the axle tube at all?
Sorry to hijack

yellow2kgt · 04-30-2008, 06:30 PM

Angle grinder with some GOOD disks. As long as you take your time you should not cut into the axle tube. I thought about reusing the ones I took off. But, I decided I was better off picking up some new ones and, the brake line kit I picked up from Currie came with mounts for the soft lines.

Matt Graham · 04-30-2008, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yj_hank

I gound off the stock perches and rewelded them in the correct location. They have the mounts for the brake lines and they are very strong.

Henry

This is what I am going to do. What is there is good and I won't have to spend any money. I can be careful enough taking them off I am sure.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SonofSam02

Sorry to hijack

no problem......kept me from having to ask the same question!

Quote:

Originally Posted by yellow2kgt

Angle grinder with some GOOD disks. As long as you take your time you should not cut into the axle tube.

I'll let everyone know how it turns out. Looks like I'll be doing this Sunday afternoon. I can't wait!

yj_hank · 04-30-2008, 07:41 PM

I purchased a cheep electric grinder from Tractor Supply. I did grind into the tube a little but not much. It took a while to grind off the the stock perches. The stock perches are lower than the M.O.R.E. perches I purchased.

Henry

motorhead0320 · 04-30-2008, 08:00 PM

i cut the stock ones off and reused them. Worked out great. I would have had to do alot of trimming to the MORE ones that i purchased otherwise. My only regret is that i didn;t go SOA. Should have listened to everyone on here and done it right the first time. Now i am saving up do it it all over SOA. Good luck. You will love not having to worry about breaking your rear end with the 8.8.

Matt Graham · 04-30-2008, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by motorhead0320

i cut the stock ones off and reused them. Worked out great. I would have had to do alot of trimming to the MORE ones that i purchased otherwise. My only regret is that i didn;t go SOA. Should have listened to everyone on here and done it right the first time. Now i am saving up do it it all over SOA. Good luck. You will love not having to worry about breaking your rear end with the 8.8.

Yeah I am really excited about no worries on the breakage. Every time I really hammer down on the gas with the D35 I am wondering in the back of my mind if it is going to break (and maybe hoping it does!)

I'd like to go ahead and go SOA with the 8.8, but really I should wait until next year and the only thing I'd be out is a set of perches, that is if I couldn't reuse the factory ones a second time. Even if I couldn't reuse them the 2nd time it is only a little time & about $35. Plus too, just back at the beginning of November my Jeep was sitting stock on 31's so I think I should just enjoy the big change for a little while before I go even farther