so after endless googling, debating and whatnot.

The ford 8.8 95+ explorer, 31 spline axles, disc brakes.

I can likely find one for a good price. Its the exact width for the Rx7, has discs, has 5x4.5 lug pattern, has 8.8 aftermarket, has lots of gusto and is only about 30lbs heavier than an 8" toyota.

Question. C-Clips? Apparently, the disc caliper would hold an axle in. There are eliminators only for drum brakes, but a friend recommended milling the space needed for the discs to attach (as they share attachment points). Would this even be needed? Or at least good insurance to try?

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First Rally: 2010 First RallyX: 2004 (a bunch)
Driver (0), Co-Driver (7)
Organizer (3), Volunteer (3)
Cars Built (2.5), Engines Blown (2) Cages Built (0) # of rotations (3.5)
Last Updated, Apr 9, 2023

The reason the eliminators don't work with disc brakes is because the disc brake has an internal drum parking brake that takes up most of the space between the axle and the housing.

The parking brake also usually doesn't work because it's seized into oblivious and the shoes have come apart, so as long as the backing plate bolt pattern is the same as drum, I don't see why it wouldn't work.

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Pete Remner
Cleveland, Ohio

1984 RX-7 (rallycross thing)
1978
Silence is golden, but duct tape is silver.

hmm. well i would ditch such a parking brake apparatus as i have a lever that uses physics to generate braking force.

---

First Rally: 2010 First RallyX: 2004 (a bunch)
Driver (0), Co-Driver (7)
Organizer (3), Volunteer (3)
Cars Built (2.5), Engines Blown (2) Cages Built (0) # of rotations (3.5)
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It seems most of the Ford 8.8s are offset, one side longer.
Also its a lot of overkill.
30 lbs more than Toyota which is 17-18 lbs heavier than Dana 30 which is a real good upgrade for Mazda or Toyota 5.2" or whatever they are.
So Toyota is already a real BIG upgrade.

Toyota LSDs out of the Supras are 4 pinion diffs: 2 side gears and 4 pinions is better than 2 side gears and just a measly 2 pinions..

The bearings are larger in Toyota...

Aside from a little machining, the Toyota seems to be to be more reasonable, and is common enough.

---

John Vanlandingham
Sleezattle, WA, USA

Vive le Prole-le-ralliat

www.rallyrace.net/jvab
CALL +1 206 431-9696
Remember! Pacific Standard Time
is 3 hours behind Eastern Standard Time.

the mazda rx7 is a 7" I believe the Dana is 7.2?

The Toyota would still require machining, then i have to figure out the brakes. Not sure how that offset thing would affect everything... I just need to find a 4 speed 2wd and toyota would get cheaper.

The 8.8 is just nice since it has all the stuff ready. less customization = less cost and profanity?

I could use a Turbocoupe 8.8 axle 87-88 which is equal length, use two short side ranger axles for 5x4.5?

---

First Rally: 2010 First RallyX: 2004 (a bunch)
Driver (0), Co-Driver (7)
Organizer (3), Volunteer (3)
Cars Built (2.5), Engines Blown (2) Cages Built (0) # of rotations (3.5)
Last Updated, Apr 9, 2023



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/05/2012 01:49PM by Gravity Fed.

Damn, I forgot about the offset. Yes the 8.8 out of the Explorer has a pretty decent pinion offset to the right, probably for more fuel tank room since American trucks all stick the fuel tank on the driver's side (a broken driveshaft will be less likely to whip it to death there, is my guess).

Meanwhile, someone on that forum did some measuring and found that the 2wd Toyota truck puts the pinion about 3/4" to the left of where the RX-7 has it, which by providence means that the Toy will actually center the driveshaft under the tunnel. I have lots of pinion marks on the right side of my tunnel where the flange smacks into it, and I keep forgetting to clearance it every time I have the pumpkin out.

So, size and shape wise, advantage: Toyota.

Disadvantage, is the Toy rearend costs more, and then you have to put a diff in it, where even I can find 4.11 limited-slip Explorer rears for $150-200 a pop. (Last time I checked for '95-earlier 2wd Toy rears they were $300-500). And rebuilding the Track-Lok is pretty easy and cheap.

---

Pete Remner
Cleveland, Ohio

1984 RX-7 (rallycross thing)
1978
Silence is golden, but duct tape is silver.

Quote
Pete
(Last time I checked for '95-earlier 2wd Toy rears they were $300-500)

I got toyota rear end, I think its an early 80's 4wd with a 4.10, for $100 dropped off in my driveway. And I'll probably just end up welding the diff, at least first, so no need to buy a separate lsd right off the bat.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/05/2012 06:48PM by Carl S.

Quote
Pete
Damn, I forgot about the offset. Yes the 8.8 out of the Explorer has a pretty decent pinion offset to the right, probably for more fuel tank room since American trucks all stick the fuel tank on the driver's side (a broken driveshaft will be less likely to whip it to death there, is my guess).

Meanwhile, someone on that forum did some measuring and found that the 2wd Toyota truck puts the pinion about 3/4" to the left of where the RX-7 has it, which by providence means that the Toy will actually center the driveshaft under the tunnel. I have lots of pinion marks on the right side of my tunnel where the flange smacks into it, and I keep forgetting to clearance it every time I have the pumpkin out.

So, size and shape wise, advantage: Toyota.

Disadvantage, is the Toy rearend costs more, and then you have to put a diff in it, where even I can find 4.11 limited-slip Explorer rears for $150-200 a pop. (Last time I checked for '95-earlier 2wd Toy rears they were $300-500). And rebuilding the Track-Lok is pretty easy and cheap.

LSD from Supra, the whole stinkin things can be had for $50-200, matches the Ford but with a 4 pinion design. Win.

Choose your Toiletta right and you can get the ring and pinion as short as 4.88 stock.
Stock.
Win win win.

---

John Vanlandingham
Sleezattle, WA, USA

Vive le Prole-le-ralliat

www.rallyrace.net/jvab
CALL +1 206 431-9696
Remember! Pacific Standard Time
is 3 hours behind Eastern Standard Time.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/06/2012 08:04AM by john vanlandingham.

fine fine fine, ill see what the junkyards give up to me when i get home. Pull a parts are full of toyotas here.

---

First Rally: 2010 First RallyX: 2004 (a bunch)
Driver (0), Co-Driver (7)
Organizer (3), Volunteer (3)
Cars Built (2.5), Engines Blown (2) Cages Built (0) # of rotations (3.5)
Last Updated, Apr 9, 2023

I got a toyota axle, and the lsd diff from a supra together for $200. it took a little searching, but not much.

Quote
alkun
I got a toyota axle, and the lsd diff from a supra together for $200. it took a little searching, but not much.

But you haven't sent the half shafts up yet..

I's gunna be doin some other bolt circle type stuffs real soon, be smrat to have yore sheet here same time...

---

John Vanlandingham
Sleezattle, WA, USA

Vive le Prole-le-ralliat

www.rallyrace.net/jvab
CALL +1 206 431-9696
Remember! Pacific Standard Time
is 3 hours behind Eastern Standard Time.

Oh Johny of the Chips, you really going to drill those holes someday?

Oh yeah,

I have the now empty supra diff case. Its free to a good home. Its not that exciting without the diff in there, I konw, but someone might want it.

Quote
alkun
Oh Johny of the Chips, you really going to drill those holes someday?

Yeah, and you could send the diff case and associated junk-n-stuff with it

---

John Vanlandingham
Sleezattle, WA, USA

Vive le Prole-le-ralliat

www.rallyrace.net/jvab
CALL +1 206 431-9696
Remember! Pacific Standard Time
is 3 hours behind Eastern Standard Time.

Damn near got my finger stuck in an 8.8 tonight.. That's what I get for using it to check fluid level.. That would have been a fun one to explain to the extraction team.

1.) If a dana 30 is sufficient (coming from my Jeeping days, that is just so hard to see) then an 8.8 in stock form is way overkill, no need to go looking for c-clip eliminators.

2.) If by some stroke of luck you are breaking shafts, Superior Axle and Gear was making a 'Super 88' kit for a while. Came with some nice billet contraptions to hold the bearings. It did make the axle a bit wider, but it helped me clear a lot of things easier with the tires a hair futher out.

3.) Glad you got it figured out.

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Quote

This isn't floor mat anarchy