To eliminate c-clip or not

BigClay

BigClay

Knower of useless ZJ things
Joined
Sep 24, 2008
Location
Winston-Salem
What is everyone's thoughts on eliminating c-clips, specifically the 8.8. I know c-clipped axles suck because if you snap a shaft, then there is nothing holding the broken shaft in the housing. So then going with a c-clip elimination kit like the super 88 kit seems to be the best route. The biggest downfall I see is that if you were to break the new shaft, you can't simply run to the local JY and grab a new axle, and more than likely there will be no one on the trail with a spare to help you out.

SO what are your thoughts, keep the c-clip axles or go with c-clip eliminator kit?
 
I thought this was going to be a monologue about your most recent bowel movement.

\nothing to add
 
I'm with Dave.I clicked specifically to find out why we had a pooping thread.

Also, if you're so hard up to spend money on a TJ, I'll send you my shopping list. I still need a few things. We can consider it a birthday present.
 
Wouldn't the disk brakes on the 8.8 keep it in enough to get you back to camp/tow rig/or good spot to swap in a spare?
I have always kept spares close to me when wheeling hard. My 8.8 took a serious beating. But I had the 2.5, 4:88s and 36's with a lock right. I never bothered with the eliminators because of your mentioned ease of junkyard access and probability of someone else having a spare.
I'm sure the broken shaft would be rough on a caliper and rotor, I just always assumed it would be easy to limp it. I had my share of stopping every 20-30ft to have 3 people rock the jeep while one pushed the axle back in. That blows.
 
I've also never personally seen or heard of, within my circle, anyone break an 8.8. I know it can be done, just noting that its a very tough axle in stock form to begin with. Main thing is they have VERY thin diff covers, that should be the first upgrade on any 8.8
 
The only stock 8.8 shaft I've witnessed break was on a jeep yj on 39's going up a waterfall, I've heard of a few others but its kinda rare. The weakest point of the 8.8 is the stock carrier, I've seen two of those break in person and heard of many more. Other than that twisting axle tubes seems to be more common than shaft failure. If you go with the Yukon's I'm pretty sure everything else will break on the axle before the shafts quit. If you've got one with Yukon's, arb and a decent truss I think it'll take a lot to break one and it would probably be some kind of epic r&p failure.
 
Here's my take. No matter what, an 8.8 is a sturdy axle for most wheelers unless you are the full on go-pedal type with a heavy rig and a lot of horsepower. Breaking an 8.8 shaft is not unheard of, but changing to non-c-clip shafts involves custom shafts, etc. and really doesn't improve strength tremendously, it just changes what happens if you were to break. Instead of the axle shaft sliding out, the bearing still retains your brake and tire. You still have a broken shaft to replace and you can't just go to a junkyard and grab another shaft where you can with a stock 8.8.

Custom stuff is great if you have deep pockets. But out on the trail with broken custom stuff - deep pockets or not - it's a problem.
 
shawn said:
I'm with Dave.I clicked specifically to find out why we had a pooping thread.

Also, if you're so hard up to spend money on a TJ, I'll send you my shopping list. I still need a few things. We can consider it a birthday present.
Click to expand...

Sorry to disappoint. Not hard up to spend any money on a TJ, let’s just call this dreaming while I am stuck in the office 12 hours a day and need a mental break.

Edit: I also changed the title so no one else comes in looking for a bowel movement thread :)
 
I'm "eliminating" last nights dinner at a sheetz right now if that makes anyone feel better....
 
Research the eliminator kits and the types of bearing they use. It's been a few years since I looked at them, but the ones I was finding for a gm 10-bolt were designed for drag racing applications, and not recommended for use on highways. Disk brakes wont allow you to drive it out, but will allow you to get out of the way. I would just buy a couple of junkyard spares.
 
IMO, I would grab the junkyards spares and call it good. Probably a massive point of weakness in your set up unlike a D35 in the same scenario.
 
77GreenMachine said:
I'm "eliminating" last nights dinner at a sheetz right now if that makes anyone feel better....
Click to expand...

You stopped at a Sheetz for a sheetz?

strange1 said:
Research the eliminator kits and the types of bearing they use. It's been a few years since I looked at them, but the ones I was finding for a gm 10-bolt were designed for drag racing applications, and not recommended for use on highways.
Click to expand...

That gibes with my recollections as well, but I think the Super 88 kit uses a regular Timken Set 20.
 
shawn said:
You stopped at a Sheetz for a sheetz?
.
Click to expand...


Holy Sheetz!



Im putting an 8.8 in my rig and had the same thoughts as most on here, the jy parts are to readily available to warrant spending the extra cash. Just carry and extra R & L shaft and anything else you have room for.
 
In my TJ I went to Harlan with a spare f&r drive shaft, a tie rod, and all four axle shafts all bundled up with the huge zip ties in one bundle. They all fit nicely behind the front seats in the floor boards. And the added weight low and centered.
 
I take that back, I had the front shafts zip tied along the tub between the B and C bars on the cage, on top of the rear wheel wells.
 
With just 33s, unless you are really heavy on the gas pedal I wouldn't bother. A friend has has an 8.8 in his TJ on 33s and is really heavy on the throttle and has never had an issue. I would wait until you go with something over 35s and run a stickier tire. Money can be spent elsewhere.
 
I'd be more concerned about bending the housing, spinning a tube, or tearing a bracket off the tube.
 
The c-clip eliminators are really for drag race applications. They don't look like they'd handle the side loading very well.
FYI, i ran a (mini)spooled 8.8 with 35's. I broke 2 sets of ring an pinions, one carrier, twisted a drive shaft, and exploded the t-case output. NEVER damaged a stock 31 spline shaft.
 
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