[E-rok]

Originally Posted by spidermonkey

Possible exhaust clearance to driveshaft issues
possible driveline vibe depending on lift height

both due to pinion being offset to the pass side

I had a 8.8 in my XJ and I had no driveline vibes, no SYE either.

the u joint doesnt know if the pinion is offset, its not like it binds the joint in two ways, it simply rotates where the angle is slightly, if that makes sense. nothing about slightly offset pinion is going to cause vibes.

muffler clearance......I have about 3" of clearance between driveshaft and muffler now (FM40), the slight offset of the 8.8 wont cause an issue, it sure wasnt on my XJ

[ratmonkey]

Originally Posted by spidermonkey

Possible exhaust clearance to driveshaft issues
possible driveline vibe depending on lift height

both due to pinion being offset to the pass side

Horizontal offset doesn't do anything negative.

[Technohead]

Originally Posted by ratmonkey

Horizontal offset doesn't do anything negative.

Right. As far as the driveshaft is concerned its no different than vertical offset.

[ShrekII]

Originally Posted by Taz360ZJ

Ohhh yeah i thought that looked familiar, i remember when Jerrod/aprilzwarrior did that write up back in 2002 ish. That zj has a 360 in it now & long arms & i think a cage.

Sounds like a b.a. rig...as I said in my intro, I'm mainly a (fullsize) GM guy, but I have really come to respect my Brides ZJ. After doing research for a suspension upgrade, I see they are more than capable "little" machines

[KyBoy1991]

Well...then I will buying a 96 explorer Eddie bauer edition to steal the rear and part the rest of it. 4.0 with 4x4 and everything in top running order. Back half body panels are damaged....but with 120,000 miles I think I can't go wrong for $200 for the whole thing.

[ShrekII]

Originally Posted by KyBoy1991

Well...then I will buying a 96 explorer Eddie bauer edition to steal the rear and part the rest of it. 4.0 with 4x4 and everything in top running order. Back half body panels are damaged....but with 120,000 miles I think I can't go wrong for $200 for the whole thing.

heck yeah, by the time you part it you will have made $$!

an 8.8 alone goes for about 200-250 around here...

[Taz360ZJ]

Got mine for $80 OTD complete disc to disc & with the factory brake hose from axle to body. It even came with new pads, calipers & rotors before the vehicle gave up the ghost.

[KyBoy1991]

Originally Posted by Taz360ZJ

Got mine for $80 OTD complete disc to disc & with the factory brake hose from axle to body. It even came with new pads, calipers & rotors before the vehicle gave up the ghost.

You get yours at a pullapart JY???? I was considering that route, but was afraid of the unknown with the bearings.

[gabrod72]

I've had my 8.8 on for a few years now. I think it brakes better with the ABS disabled personally - especially on a trail. As for DD, you've got your answer - it's fine... just do your math ahead of time and figure out all the angles. IRO has a great bracket kit for it and their instructions are awesome (wish I had them when I did my build.) Anyway, I haven't had any problems as of yet except for lack of traction going from a locked 35 to an open 8.8. That issue is being resolved soon. If you're thinking of going higher or perhaps Clayton's rear, better do it now. I stuck with stock type brackets, and now have IRO rear LA, but I sometimes regret not setting it up to eliminate the rear trackbar. Still very pleased though, and I'm only struggling to find something to complain about.

[KyBoy1991]

What is the advantage of eliminating the track bar?

[gabrod72]

Just from observation here, someone more technical can probably elaborate more. What I see as advantages are part elimination (no need for trackbar,) an axle truss is needed (very nice to have for added strength,) better axle tracking? What I mean by that is the axle no longer moves to the sides as it comes up and down like it does with a trackbar.

Also, remember I'm just trying to find a reason to complain about even the least significant regrets I've had over several years. I'm very happy with my setup and it's been very stout. On occasion, I've pondered going with Clayton's rear and that would have been nice, but it also would have been much more money. As for IRO, I really like their rear LA subframe design. Limits the muffler options though, but I already had a thrush before the subframe so it was just a matter of repositioning it to route near the cutout in the subframe.

EDIT: Perhaps looking through this will give you a better idea of what you'd be getting into with Clayton's for the rear.

http://claytonoffroad.com/documents/PD-ZJ-9398.pdf

[Taz360ZJ]

Originally Posted by KyBoy1991

You get yours at a pullapart JY???? I was considering that route, but was afraid of the unknown with the bearings.

they pulled it for me, and even loaded it on the trailer I pulled behind my ZJ. The old guy wanted to know why I wanted that axle he had for sale for so long. I'm like....it's going under my Jeep, starting to be a common swap now. He was a little....oh...ok...that's news to me.

axle bearings are pretty easy to do, carrier bearings aren't that bad. Pinion bearings, and crush sleeve isn't a fun time on the 8.8.

[KyBoy1991]

damnit....where are you located?? if they will pull it and load it, i might drive a couple hours for that deal

[Taz360ZJ]

Im quite a few hours away in northern minnesota

[samsonitesamson]

Originally Posted by KyBoy1991

damnit....where are you located?? if they will pull it and load it, i might drive a couple hours for that deal

Drive about 1.5 hours to Evansville, IN, go to Liberty Pull-a-part and get a steal of a deal.