Noob Rear-end Question

[bgettel]

Hello All,

I'm planning to swap the stock 7.5" rear in my 85 GT to an 8.8. Everything is staying 4-lug.

Assuming that all goes relatively well, how much time should this take?

Thanks in advance!

BG

[wraithracing]

If you don't have to make any changes to the brake lines, then this can be done in 2-3 hours if you have done it before and aren't swapping many parts and pieces.

If this is your first time, then it can easily be an all day project. When I haven't done the swap in awhile it can easily take me 4+ hours to do it myself. So much of it has to do with getting the Quadra Bind rear control arms lined up properly when re-installing. Having an extra pair of hands is always a benefit when possible. Good Luck!

[massacre]

Lmao @ “Quadra-bind”

Are you swapping the axles or are you using the 4 lug 8.8” axles?

[mongusta]

Are you going disk brake?

[bgettel]

Trey has to have the record for posts on this site. Love it!


Staying 4 lug and have the 8.8 axles.

Not converting to disc at this time.

Thanks again.

[richpet]

It all depends how long it takes you to line up the control arm holes. If working solo it took me a few hours.

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[wraithracing]

Just my two cents in regards to installing any Fox rear axle assembly. I generally don't have any helpers or extra hands. My 3 daughters have little to no interest in cars, much less my Four eyes. With that said it means I am generally solo. In my experience I have found at least for me, that installing the two upper arms in the body with the nuts just threaded on, but not tight and then raise the rear axle up into position and align the two upper arms with the upper mounts on the rear axle. Again leave all the bolts/nuts loose. A long screwdriver/awl, etc can help align the arms and the bushings for inserting the bolts.

Once the uppers are bolted in, then I install the lower control arms in the body on both sides. Again Nuts are threaded, but not tightened and then I align and install each side on the rear axle. At this point all the control arms should be installed and all the bolts/nuts are threaded and not going to fall out, but still loose so there is no limit on the range of motion of the rear axle up and down. Next is the rear springs (pigtails both are at the rear of the car pointing to the driver side of the vehicle). Sometimes I will lift the rear axle up and set it on jack stands at a height that allows the springs to fit past everything, but the suspension is not drooping. I then install one spring along with insulators and jack up that side until the spring is seated properly in the upper and lower mounts. Adjust the jack stand to hold that side together. Then move to the opposite side and repeat. Now you should be able to lift the entire rear assembly up and compress the springs enough to install the rear shocks that will hold everything together. Assembly all the other parts and pieces that you need. Then with the suspension weight on the rear axle on stands snug up all 8 control arm bolts. I personally snug them up, then back off 1/4 turn. Then I install the wheel and drive around the block for 10 minutes or so, then I jack the back end up again under the differential and put the rear suspension on stands again and do my final tightening of all the suspension bolts. That seems to settle the ride height the best way for me when using stock rubber bushings. I actually do the same even with Maximum Motorsports lower control arms too, just out of habit and it works best for me. Hope that helps!

[Sask84gt]

Took my brother and I about a hour to install my 8.8 with new MM upper and lower control arms. Took around the same to remove 7.5. So I'd say if you have everything ready and have some help then it should be a couple hours give or take.

[gt4494]

And now is time to change control arms if this is in your long term plans!!

[wbrockstar]

Trey has to have the record for posts on this site. Love it!


Staying 4 lug and have the 8.8 axles.

Not converting to disc at this time.

Thanks again.

If you do decide you wanna go to rear disk,but remain 4 lug,the Thunderbird Turbo Coupe came with 4 lug disks on the rear from the factory if you wanted to stay 4 lug while improving stopping distance.The junkyard hp thread below has some info about this in the brake section.


https://forums.corral.net/threads/ju...mmary.1092402/