Hot Rods 8.8 rears with 5x5.5

The GM 14 bolt also uses a 3rd pinion bearing.

 

My 16" wheels turned up today too. 5 x5.5 x 4.5 off a Jimny. Whilst not 100% the same as early Ford, close enough for me.

 

That's a nice score.

Some wonky info up in here. Let's correct it for future readers.

The 8.8 with 5x5-1/2" pattern arrived in the early 80's in F150, E150 Econolines and the full size Bronco. It was the standard in the F150 until 1996. In 1997, when the new body style arrived it went metric. In the Bronco it was the standard until production ended, also in 1996. On the Econoline it continued until the E150 production ended. I don't recall the year. The bolt pattern was never metric until '97 when it changed to 5x139mm. They always had huge drum brakes if they where 5x5-1/2"

 

I've never heard anyone make such a claim. It flies against every thing ever printed and talked about for over 50 years. If you can't back this up with provable facts, I have to claim bullspit and go with the collective knowledge from 50+ years of experience.

The 8.8 is tough as nails and so is the 9". Each has their benefits. The 8.8 is more efficient at transferring power. That's true.

The 8.8 might be stronger. I can't say with certainty but history indicates otherwise. I will need more proof to believe it.

 

Just a note that might save you huge bucks! You can buy an extra short side axle to use in the 2 7/8" longer side and then just have the long side cut and shortened that amount and drop the short side axle in it. That will take your Bronco axle don enough to likely be a perfect fit, and center the pinion at the same time. Short side axles can be from another open or posi rear axle. Around the US they're about $20 ea. used.

 

Not to speak for him, but I think the point is that not all factory 9" are equal. There are small and big bearing varieties (both wheel and carrier bearing size) 2 pinion or 4 pinion differentials (I think all 8.8" are 2 pinion) 28 and 31 axle splines with 28 being far more common (31 in muscle cars and '79?-'86 F-150). Aftermarket support is really what made the 9" the go-to axle.

8.8" are much easier to find in factory 31 spline, under '86-up pickups, '91-up Explorer, and '05-'14 Mustang.

 

Thanks, although wont they be 5x4.5 PCD? If so will have to change all the brake ***embly too as I understand it?

 

No. He's saying use two short side axles. On an 8.8 it always seems to narrow it down 2-7/8".

But the F150/Bronco axles (they use the same spec) are WIDE. Over 65" I believe. I'd have to look it up. I used to know it off the top of my head.

EDIT: I was close. The rear track width spec is 1631mm which is 64.23". The F150/Bronco stock wheel offset is 0mm so the track width is the same as the axle width.

The stock axles lengths are 31-1/16" p***enger side and 33-3/16" driver side. The difference in axle length is what you could narrow it with using 2 short axles. Looks like 2-1/8". Probably not enough.

 

Thanks that's correct. It wont be enough unfortunately. To the best of my knowledge, the 31 spline short axles such as from the explorer, which is the length I need are 5 x 4.5 PCD.

If I went that way it might be a bit of a rabbit hole as would need brake drums and possibly backing plates etc etc and Id need 5x4.5 to 5x5.5 adapters, adding an inch either side which might be OK.

 

'66-'77 Bronco rear axle are 9" and 5 x 5.5 bolt pattern.

They don't need to be narrowed, HRP

 

Mine is a 8.8 out of a later Bronco.

 

Hardly a rear axle that you would use in a car...

 

Somebody does make Explorer length axles with the 5x5-1/2" pattern. Guys in the 4x4 world are very fond of the Explorer axle, like everyone else. Also the Explorer axles has the same 2.5" brake offset as the F150/Bronco 8.8. And the same as the 9". The F150/Bronco, as a point of information ,also uses the same Torino backing plate pattern for the brakes. Makes the Explorer disc brakes a budget brake upgrade for Ford cars with the 9" as well.

 

I've long speculated you might be able to use the disc brake setup off the 5x139mm 97+up F150 buy using the pre-96 axles and drilling the disc rotor lug holes bigger to allow them to fit over the 5x5-1/2" pattern. 5x139mm to 5x139.7 (metric conversion of the 5x5-1/2" pattern) is not a huge difference. Opening the hole up just enough to clear the 0.7mm difference would not be difficult at all with a uni-bit.

EDIT: It's been a couple days and I remembered something about this idea. The disc brakes (calipers actually) from a '97-up F150 require a 16" wheel. Some 15" might fit depending on the shape of the wheels rim barrel and/or backspace.

 

I took a similar approach with Aussie, Holden Commodore axles and rotors.
They come standard with a 120mm PCD and 12mm studs, so I converted them to Chevy 4-3/4" (120.65mm) PCD and used 1/2" UNF studs (F100) so they matched the Jaguar front end PCD and stud size. Only had to move the hole centrelines over 0.013" (0.325mm) and the 1/2"stud knurl was ~0.610" diameter.
Having accurate machining available made the job very simple.