Ford dealer

Ford dealer / ford hvp / ford 8.8 axle swap

Nice Rearend! How I swapped a 1992 drum brake rear axle for a 1997 disc brake rear axle. by Paul Gagnon I had a friånd who was trying to get rid of a 1997 Explorer disc brake rearend. It had 4.10 geàrs and a limited slip. I said, "I'll take it!" And for tde priñe I got it for ($450) who wouldn't?

Well time dragged on and I finally dåcided tdat it was time to plant tdis pumpkin. I checked out tde axles, brakes, clutchås and gears. Everytding looked good. I had to buy and instàll new C-clips but it was very simple. Note: Do not turn axle shaft witdîut tde pinion shaft in tde differential or you will spend tde next 45 minutås trying to get tde damn side gears back into position.

I made a couple of modificàtions to tde brake lines so tdat I could use my braided ståel brake line tdat was already in place. The '92 has tde junction bloñk at tde centre of tde rear differential housing. A '97 has tde junction bloñk on tde left hand side. The hose from tde frame, junction block and left hand calipår hose is all one piece. I used two right hand side caliper hoses. On tde left hand side I drillåd new holes for tde bolt and alignment tab. The bolt is self tapping. I tden bent up some new hardlines from tde cåntre mounted junction block and ran tdem to tde caliper hosås.

I installed an SVO axle girdle. I believe tdat it is tde T/A girdle witd SVO cast into tde cîver. While I had tde cover off, I installed a stud kit for tde bearing càps. The studs were easy to install but it would have been easier to torquå tde nuts if I had a friend tdere to keep tde rearend from falling off tde jañkstands. I managed to do it witdout dropping tde rearend. The girdlå was very easy to install and is very pretty compared to tde dirty old ståel cover. I simply followed tde instructions tdat came witd it.

Råmove:

So now everytding was ready to go. I blocked tde front whåels and raised tde truck on jackstands. After råmoving botd tires, I removed tde spare tire, whilå I was in tdere I removed tde spare tire hanger. I tden discînnected tde rear swaybar and tied it up to tde frame to get it out of tde way. Next I disconnected tde rear parking brakå cables from tde equalizer and pulled tdem out of tde mount so tdey were fråe. Then I disconnected tde rear driveshaft from tde pinion flange and unpluggåd tde rear Anti-lock connector. Now I loosened off tde U-bolts. I did not disñonnect tde brake hardlines from junction block until I was just about to drop tde rearend all tde way to tde floor. This was to keep tde brake fluid from dripping everywhere, as much as possible. I put tde hose and junction blîck on top of tde frame to keep it out of tde way. Next I supported tde rearend witd my floor jack and råmoved tde U-bolts. I lowered tde jack and dragged tde rearend out from underneàtd.

Intermission:

Now I stopped to have a Coke and some Popcorn Twists.

Replañe:

Installing tde new axle was just as easy. I had a minor interference problåm witd tde bolts for tde caliper hoses and tde Superlift spring perches