Thinking about a lift and SFA soon. I have a few ?'s Don't know what axles and ratios

nmz787 · 06-04-2006, 05:41 AM

Would this work?
A 95+ Ford 8.8 in the rear, so that i have disc brakes, limited slip, and generally stronger rear end.
A reverse cut dana 30 from a wrangler. I was thinking these two because of availability and because they would probably be pretty cheap.

What is 10 bolt, 14 bolt, etc... Where are those bolts?
What is the 8.8, is that how tall the dif is in inches?
Do the front and rear gear ratios have to be the same?
What are the stock ratios for the front and for the back?
Is the stock diff open or limited slip?

Could I use dana 30's for the front and rear?

I want disc brakes all around, and i would like to have a selectable locking rear axle. I don't know too much about gear ratios, can you change the ratio of ANY differential? What can I find a used selectably locking rear on? For a Solid front axle, what is recommended, open, limited slip, or locker?

What kind of differential action is going on in the stock transfer case for the 2.8 with 5speed, is it open, limited slip, or locked?

Okay I think that's it. I am going to be using my Blazer for light off-roading, no crazy boulders or crawling, no big tires. I want to be able to drive this around the city and highway, and when I get sick of that, get out to the country.

Oh yeah, what is the difference between spring over and spring under... i know the obvious difference, but what reasons are there to consider for doing one or the other?

GeorgesBlazah · 06-04-2006, 10:19 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by nmz787

Would this work?
A 95+ Ford 8.8 in the rear, so that i have disc brakes, limited slip, and generally stronger rear end.
A reverse cut dana 30 from a wrangler. I was thinking these two because of availability and because they would probably be pretty cheap.

What is 10 bolt, 14 bolt, etc... Where are those bolts?
What is the 8.8, is that how tall the dif is in inches?
Do the front and rear gear ratios have to be the same?
What are the stock ratios for the front and for the back?
Is the stock diff open or limited slip?

Could I use dana 30's for the front and rear?

I want disc brakes all around, and i would like to have a selectable locking rear axle. I don't know too much about gear ratios, can you change the ratio of ANY differential? What can I find a used selectably locking rear on? For a Solid front axle, what is recommended, open, limited slip, or locker?

What kind of differential action is going on in the stock transfer case for the 2.8 with 5speed, is it open, limited slip, or locked?

Okay I think that's it. I am going to be using my Blazer for light off-roading, no crazy boulders or crawling, no big tires. I want to be able to drive this around the city and highway, and when I get sick of that, get out to the country.

Oh yeah, what is the difference between spring over and spring under... i know the obvious difference, but what reasons are there to consider for doing one or the other?

Not a bad choice for axle tehre. Both should stand up to 33in tires pretty well. 10 bolts and 14 bolts are defined by the number of bolts on the diff cover. 8.8 is the diameter of the ring gear in inches. Yes, the front and rear ratios have the same. They can be off somewhat, like if you had a 4.11 front and 4.10 rear that is fine. But a 4.56 and 4.10 would not work. Stock ratios differ from truck to truck. Depends on the model truck and what options it is equipped with. Stock diff come both, with a posi and open. IMO a d30 would be ok for the front, but i would not reccomend puttin one in the rear. I always hear the jeep guys complain about how weak the rears are. You can changes the ratio of any axle, with the exception of a few oddball axles, I think it would be tough to find a used selectable locker in any factory truck. As for locking the front, it really depends on the type of wheeling you do. You said you will be doing light wheeling, so i would think wi wouldnt be a nesscity to lock the front. However you can go alot more places with less effort with a locked front end. If you lock the front I reccomend that you use manual hubs up front. Spring under helps reduce axle wrap and wheel hop, but it takes away from some of the ground clearence under the axle. If your doing all thie work i would go spring over to get as much clearence as you can get.

ninjaboy · 06-05-2006, 09:16 PM

The 8.8 for the rear is a good choice. We install these in the rear of jeeps to replace the Dana 35's. If you are going to the work of replacing axles though I wouldnt use a dana 30 in the front.. Search for say a Dana 44 out of a rubicon jeep or something stronger. The Dana 30 axles are at their limit with 33's.. If you arent going to be doing lots of offroad or rock climbing then I would say either just use open diffs or maybe at most put a limited slip or an air locker in the rear. You dont want a locker in the front for street driving especially in wet or snowy weather because it will be a handful to drive.

nmz787 · 06-07-2006, 02:11 AM

Would the dana 30 be cool if I were to leave my 235's as tires, I know the stock is 205, I think the size of my tires are pretty good as is, and new tires are expensive!

plus I don't know how to fix my speedo as is...

-Nate

p.s. would the limited slip in the rear cut into normal gas economy? if so i would probly leave it out... though getting stuck is scary, the best way to avoid bad economy i guess would be with a selectable locker.

06-04-2006, 05:41 AM	#1
nmz787 Registered User Age: 22 Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 182 Location: Near Pittsburgh, PA User is: OffLine	Thinking about a lift and SFA soon. I have a few ?'s Don't know what axles and ratios Would this work? A 95+ Ford 8.8 in the rear, so that i have disc brakes, limited slip, and generally stronger rear end. A reverse cut dana 30 from a wrangler. I was thinking these two because of availability and because they would probably be pretty cheap. What is 10 bolt, 14 bolt, etc... Where are those bolts? What is the 8.8, is that how tall the dif is in inches? Do the front and rear gear ratios have to be the same? What are the stock ratios for the front and for the back? Is the stock diff open or limited slip? Could I use dana 30's for the front and rear? I want disc brakes all around, and i would like to have a selectable locking rear axle. I don't know too much about gear ratios, can you change the ratio of ANY differential? What can I find a used selectably locking rear on? For a Solid front axle, what is recommended, open, limited slip, or locker? What kind of differential action is going on in the stock transfer case for the 2.8 with 5speed, is it open, limited slip, or locked? Okay I think that's it. I am going to be using my Blazer for light off-roading, no crazy boulders or crawling, no big tires. I want to be able to drive this around the city and highway, and when I get sick of that, get out to the country. Oh yeah, what is the difference between spring over and spring under... i know the obvious difference, but what reasons are there to consider for doing one or the other? Last edited by nmz787 : 06-04-2006 at 05:59 AM.
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06-04-2006, 10:19 AM	#2
GeorgesBlazah Slap my meat on your pita Age: 24 Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 7,510 Location: south jersey User is: OffLine	Re: Thinking about a lift and SFA soon. I have a few ?'s Don't know what axles and ratios Quote: Originally Posted by nmz787 Would this work? A 95+ Ford 8.8 in the rear, so that i have disc brakes, limited slip, and generally stronger rear end. A reverse cut dana 30 from a wrangler. I was thinking these two because of availability and because they would probably be pretty cheap. What is 10 bolt, 14 bolt, etc... Where are those bolts? What is the 8.8, is that how tall the dif is in inches? Do the front and rear gear ratios have to be the same? What are the stock ratios for the front and for the back? Is the stock diff open or limited slip? Could I use dana 30's for the front and rear? I want disc brakes all around, and i would like to have a selectable locking rear axle. I don't know too much about gear ratios, can you change the ratio of ANY differential? What can I find a used selectably locking rear on? For a Solid front axle, what is recommended, open, limited slip, or locker? What kind of differential action is going on in the stock transfer case for the 2.8 with 5speed, is it open, limited slip, or locked? Okay I think that's it. I am going to be using my Blazer for light off-roading, no crazy boulders or crawling, no big tires. I want to be able to drive this around the city and highway, and when I get sick of that, get out to the country. Oh yeah, what is the difference between spring over and spring under... i know the obvious difference, but what reasons are there to consider for doing one or the other? Not a bad choice for axle tehre. Both should stand up to 33in tires pretty well. 10 bolts and 14 bolts are defined by the number of bolts on the diff cover. 8.8 is the diameter of the ring gear in inches. Yes, the front and rear ratios have the same. They can be off somewhat, like if you had a 4.11 front and 4.10 rear that is fine. But a 4.56 and 4.10 would not work. Stock ratios differ from truck to truck. Depends on the model truck and what options it is equipped with. Stock diff come both, with a posi and open. IMO a d30 would be ok for the front, but i would not reccomend puttin one in the rear. I always hear the jeep guys complain about how weak the rears are. You can changes the ratio of any axle, with the exception of a few oddball axles, I think it would be tough to find a used selectable locker in any factory truck. As for locking the front, it really depends on the type of wheeling you do. You said you will be doing light wheeling, so i would think wi wouldnt be a nesscity to lock the front. However you can go alot more places with less effort with a locked front end. If you lock the front I reccomend that you use manual hubs up front. Spring under helps reduce axle wrap and wheel hop, but it takes away from some of the ground clearence under the axle. If your doing all thie work i would go spring over to get as much clearence as you can get.
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06-05-2006, 09:16 PM	#3
ninjaboy Registered User Age: 38 Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 171 Location: Brantford,Ont,Can User is: OffLine	Re: Thinking about a lift and SFA soon. I have a few ?'s Don't know what axles and ratios The 8.8 for the rear is a good choice. We install these in the rear of jeeps to replace the Dana 35's. If you are going to the work of replacing axles though I wouldnt use a dana 30 in the front.. Search for say a Dana 44 out of a rubicon jeep or something stronger. The Dana 30 axles are at their limit with 33's.. If you arent going to be doing lots of offroad or rock climbing then I would say either just use open diffs or maybe at most put a limited slip or an air locker in the rear. You dont want a locker in the front for street driving especially in wet or snowy weather because it will be a handful to drive.
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06-07-2006, 02:11 AM	#4
nmz787 Registered User Age: 22 Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 182 Location: Near Pittsburgh, PA User is: OffLine	Re: Thinking about a lift and SFA soon. I have a few ?'s Don't know what axles and ratios Would the dana 30 be cool if I were to leave my 235's as tires, I know the stock is 205, I think the size of my tires are pretty good as is, and new tires are expensive! plus I don't know how to fix my speedo as is... -Nate p.s. would the limited slip in the rear cut into normal gas economy? if so i would probly leave it out... though getting stuck is scary, the best way to avoid bad economy i guess would be with a selectable locker. Last edited by nmz787 : 06-07-2006 at 02:14 AM.
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