Super 8.8 Kit

Jeep Tech
1

Well… after a solid week’s worth of evenings, the Heeps sitting on all fours again!

The install was pretty straight forward. However - taking apart an Aussie locker sucks, and I’m hoping that I never break the shafts 'cuz getting them back out is going to be a nightmare - They seat in TIGHT!

So why the upgrade? - had a shot bearing and seal in the drivers side - yeah sure, it’s doesn’t justify the work, but hey, “while you’ve got it apart…”

The dreaded Aussie locker uninstall -

The pins are the worst, tried with a screwdriver, but couldn’t get enough friction to slide them so I made a “tool”

Here’s the difference… stock Dana 35 on left, stock 8.8 in middle, Super 88 on right.

Getting the pressed in bearings out was a nightmare - ended up cutting the axle tube off (which you have to anyway) ground the edge off a 2.5" washer and got it in behind the bearing and used another “tool” to pull them out.

Here’s the ground off tube:

And what it used to look like -

Next to press on the new bearing seats -

Make sure you grind off the rust before re-assembly -

you can see where the new bearing seat fits -

Here’s why taking it apart isn’t going to be fun - but hopefully I won’t ever need to.

The whole thing should take about a day, but I re-worked my ebrakes and a couple other jobs while I was at it. The only issue I had was that somebody at Superior missed a lug nut hole when they were tapping it out at the factory.

2

i’m looking forward to and not looking forward to ripping apart the 8.8 i have. i want to do all new seals. i wish i had the money to upgrade axles while it was apart uh well something else to save up for. i saw you were going to sell your spare shafts. find a buyer yet?

3

looks good Jonny! where you been?

4

Nice writeup Jon, very nice!

5

Looks good.

I’ve never seen lugs that thread in. All mine have been pressed in.

6

In my garage!

I’ve been pulling a lot of hours at work, and spending all my spare time getting the Heep back on the road. It’s going to be short lived though. am going to need a frame swap sometime in the very near future.

7

whats the big deal about an aussie locker? they are super easy to install/uninstall.

are 8.8 axles c-clip axles?.. if so, that might explain your difficulty. i have never installed an aussie on a c-clip axle, so i assume that it might be a little more interesting install…

anyways great job on the super 88 install

8

ya, the 8.8’s are c clip axles

9

it’s a pain in the arse to get the pins out - in picture - then I only have 1/8" movement in the shafts to position the c-clip over the recess in the locker and use a zip tie to start it wiggling out. Took forever to get the first c-clip off - the second was a piece of cake and yeah, if you don’t have c-clips they aren’t bad to put back in. Without c-clips it’s a 10-15 minute job… with c-clips add in another 45 minutes of farting around to get it apart.

10

that explains that, learning things everyday :smiley: