Ford 8.8 Eaton eLocker build and install

[dit]

Picked up an 8.8 from an 89 F150 4x4- $75

New brakes, drums and wheel cylinders were a bonus and made up a bit for the fact the axles were trash.

first thing was to gut it and strip it. Trick to easily remove wheel bearings and seals (with center removed): 6' long pipe or bar and a hammer from opposite side; several blows and they're out.

I'm thinking it a good idea to hold onto these parts for now.

[dit]

While waiting for parts, it's a good time to brush up on ring and pinion install and make up a pinion set-up bearing. I did a complete write up on this in 2008 on the old site; http://astrosafarivans.org/bb2/viewtopic.php?f=59&t=8715&p=86141&hilit=photo_van#p86141 so I'm not likely to get into that here. There is also an infinite amount of info on the web, some of which is correct.

Ring and pinion set up is no big deal as much as legend suggests: it's just numbers and a pattern that can be accomplished with $25 worth of special tools from Harbor Freight.

A set-up bearing and trimmed pinion nut will save you a lot of time and anguish. Use the old pinion bearing. Measure the thickness of the bearing (including the outer race). If that measurement is different than the new bearing you will need to adjust the pinion shim accordingly; this one measured the same as new. Go light with the Dremel as you still want the bearing to fit snug. Just remove what is needed on the inside of the inner race so it slips easily over the pinion.

[sixsix]

...Go light with the Dremel as you still want the bearing to fit snug. Just remove what is needed on the inside of the inner race so it slips easily over the pinion.

I kept this up for a few days till I could get back here.

Am I reading this correctly... that IS a precision ground ID, is it not ? Hand grind, should we not be horrified ?
Did I miss a year that day...?

If OK - I'll go back to the "Mainstream Media Pandemic Fear Shelter". It's a room w/ no tv and cable.

[Rod's Trucks]

"...it's a good time to brush up on ring and pinion install and make up a pinion set-up bearing."
With the information taken slightly out of context, it was obviously misleading Sixsix.
The post was in reference to making tooling to set the pinion depth, using a bearing with a slightly relieved ID ( only takes a few minutes for the minimal amount of modification) to allow easy bearing insertion and removal, for setting the pinion shim pack as needed.
Then a new bearing and nut are to be installed...Easy Peasy...and works great.

Rod J

[dit]

Sorry guys, I guess throwing that in at that point was misleading. Yes, old bearing for setup purposes.

While I have your attention, anyone out there have an Astro rearend they might be able to measure the pinion angle on? Pinion in relation to the spring perches. I finally got some parts. Want to weld up the perches but I'm having a hard time pulling angles with the diff still in the van. Thanks in advance!

Master rebuild kit, 4.10 gears, wheel bearings and perches. Axles on the way. Unfortunately the eLocker is still a couple weeks out.

[dit]

I got the angle ~10°

It you just want to put an 8.8 in your van; no rebuild, no new gears, no new diff, these are the parts you will need: 1"- 5x5.5 to 5x5 wheel spacer (unless you have 6 lugs), spring perches, travel stop mounts (fabricated from old perches), re-worked shock mounts and a conversion u-joint. The only machining that will be required is drilling a 5x5 pattern in the passenger side axle and drum and turning the axle center hub down to 77.8mm to accommodate the center bore on the stock rims. If you want disk brakes it looked to me that the assembly from an Explorer (unknown year) will bolt right up.

[dit]

weld three mounts each side and you have an Astro/Safari 8.8 rear axle housing