Are c-clip eliminators a gimmick for Ford 8.8 axles?

[Eddie Greenlee]

I know of two different c-clip eliminator for a Ford 8.8 Superior axle and Yukon . There may be others. What I would like to know is, are they a gimmick or are they a very important upgrade to the Ford 8.8 axle. I know some of the Pros are NO CLIP, Axle stays in axle tube if broken, new axles are super hard, the bearings are stronger than the roller bearing. I guess you don't have to take out your retainer pin to remove the c-clip, to remove the axle. I'm guessing installing lockers are easier to install and or maintain. Please share your opinion. thanks!!

 

[Fouledplugs]

I know of two different c-clip eliminator for a Ford 8.8 Superior axle and Youkon . There may be others. What I would like to know is, are they a gimic or are they a very important upgrade to the Ford 8.8 axle. I know some of the Pros are NO CLIP, Axle stays in axle tube if broken, new axles are super hard, the bearings are stronger than the roller bearing. I guess you don't have to take out your retainer pin to remove the c-clip, to remove the axle. I'm guessing installing lockers are easier to install and or maintain. Please share your opinion. thanks!!

It’s no gimmick. It’s just one less thing to worry about breaking or causing a break. It also allows for better ends to be fitted on the axle housing.

Do c-clip axles break at the clip portion of the axle? Not often. Could it? Sure, anything is possible.

It also is beneficial in the way of tear down/rebuild in that you no longer have to pull the diff cover to pull the axles out.

If I were you or I had an 8.8 myself, Mark Williams Enterprises would be who got my monies.

 

[mrblaine]

It’s no gimmick. It’s just one less thing to worry about breaking or causing a break. Do c-clip axles break at the clip portion of the axle? Not often. Could it? Sure, anything is possible.

It also is beneficial in the way of tear down/rebuild in that you no longer have to pull the diff cover to pull the axles out.

The c-clip elimination is only a by product of converting to conventional axle bearings held in with a retainer. Has nothing do with whether c-clips do or do not break.

To add though, the Yukon is a direct copy of the Super 88 that I developed for Superior.

 

[Eddie Greenlee]

The c-clip elimination is only a by product of converting to conventional axle bearings held in with a retainer. Has nothing do with whether c-clips do or do not break.

To add though, the Yukon is a direct copy of the Super 88 that I developed for Superior.

that is great to know ! Can you still get the Super 88 from Superior Axle ?

 

[Jerry Bransford]

More directly, the c-clips themselves generally don't fail and neither do the shafts where the c-clips hold them inside the carrier. They're not the reason for c-clip eliminators which are as Blaine said are eliminated simply because they're no longer needed after installing bearings that are held in by a bearing retainer bracket at the end of the axle tube opening. Which is why the Super 35 kit doesn't eliminate the Dana 35's c-clips, they're not the problem with shaft breakages. The problem is the small diameter 27 spline carbon steel shafts, not the c-clips. The c-clip area is inside the carrier and protected from rotational stress by the carrier through which the shaft passes. The rotational stress is between the carrier and the outer hub bearing.

 

[L0jik]

The c-clip elimination is only a by product of converting to conventional axle bearings held in with a retainer. Has nothing do with whether c-clips do or do not break.

To add though, the Yukon is a direct copy of the Super 88 that I developed for Superior.

Are there any companies you HAVEN'T designed for?

 

[Eddie Greenlee]

More directly, the c-clips themselves generally don't fail and neither do the shafts where the c-clips hold them inside the carrier. They're not the reason for c-clip eliminators which are as Blaine said are eliminated simply because they're no longer needed after installing bearings that are held in by a bearing retainer bracket at the end of the axle tube opening. Which is why the Super 35 kit doesn't eliminate the Dana 35's c-clips, they're not the problem with shaft breakages. The problem is the small diameter 27 spline carbon steel shafts, not the c-clips. The c-clip area is inside the carrier and protected from rotational stress by the carrier through which the shaft passes. The rotational stress is between the carrier and the outer hub bearing.

thanks Jerry

 

[Fouledplugs]

that is great to know ! Can you still get the Super 88 from Superior Axle ?

No.

Although you may not have any issues with a Yukon copy cat kit, I would highly advise you to compare any companies 8.8 kits to Mark Williams Enterprises and his kits for the 8.8, his stuff is very nice and well proven.

 

[Steel City 06]

Just to make it more confusing, Ford now has a factory variant of the 8.8 rear end they call the "Super 8.8" that have 34 splines like the Ford 9.75 rear ends

 

[Eddie Greenlee]

No.

Although you may not have any issues with a Yukon copy cat kit, I would highly advise you to compare any companies 8.8 kits to Mark Williams Enterprises and his kits for the 8.8, his stuff is very nice and well proven.

I called and the rep told me that they did not have an application for "super 88 for 8.8s that came out of a truck chassie. Mine came from an explorer. The rep didnt have a lot to say ,, buy he was nice.

 

[Fouledplugs]

I called and the rep told me that they did not have an application for "super 88 for 8.8s that came out of a truck chassie. Mine came from an explorer. The rep didnt have a lot to say ,, buy he was nice.

Ah, wonder what the difference is in the truck housings and the car housings and why his eliminators would not work on an explorer rear end. Guessing he didn't elaborate...

 

[Eddie Greenlee]

Ah, wonder what the difference is in the truck housings and the car housings and why his eliminators would not work on an explorer rear end. Guessing he didn't elaborate...

He really didnt, and said he was sorry he didnt have much. now he could do gears and axles.....

 

[Steel City 06]

There are a LOT of different 8.8s out there.

• Mustang rear 8.8
• Mustang rear Super 8.8
• F150 rear 8.8
• F150 rear Super 8.8
• F150 Independent Front Suspension (IFS) 8.8
• Ford Expedition IFS 8.8
• Ford Explorer 8.8 solid axle
• Ford Explorer Independent Rear Suspension (IRS) 8.8
• Ford Aerostar 8.8
• Ford Bronco 8.8
• Ford Panther 8.8

And probably many others as well

 

[Fouledplugs]

There are a LOT of different 8.8s out there.

• Mustang rear 8.8
• Mustang rear Super 8.8
• F150 rear 8.8
• F150 rear Super 8.8
• F150 Independent Front Suspension (IFS) 8.8
• Ford Expedition IFS 8.8
• Ford Explorer 8.8 solid axle
• Ford Explorer Independent Rear Suspension (IRS) 8.8
• Ford Aerostar 8.8
• Ford Bronco 8.8
• Ford Panther 8.8

And probably many others as well

Yep, and looking around, there are some axle housings that are more desirable than others when upgrading.

 

[Eddie Greenlee]

Ah, wonder what the difference is in the truck housings and the car housings and why his eliminators would not work on an explorer rear end. Guessing he didn't elaborate...

I found out that the type of actual c clip eliminators I guess they cater to race applications. He said where the tracks are straight and short. because racers change out gears and axles quiet often . (didnt make sense to me ) He said his outter bearing could not take the side load pressure that a truck or jeep would put on them on the trails.

 

[mrblaine]

I found out that the type of actual c clip eliminators I guess they cater to race applications. He said where the tracks are straight and short. because racers change out gears and axles quiet often . (didnt make sense to me ) He said his C clip..... could not take the side load pressure that a truck or jeep would put on them on the trails.

When Superior asked me to take a stab at designing one for them, I searched out all I could find to see what was out there. All of the others use a straight roller bearing like an alternator bearing. They can't handle high thrust loads.

 

[Eddie Greenlee]

The c-clip elimination is only a by product of converting to conventional axle bearings held in with a retainer. Has nothing do with whether c-clips do or do not break.

To add though, the Yukon is a direct copy of the Super 88 that I developed for Superior.

mrblaine, what were your reasons for developing a c clip eliminater axle Kit ?

When Superior asked me to take a stab at designing one for them, I searched out all I could find to see what was out there. All of the others use a straight roller bearing like an alternator bearing. They can't handle high thrust loads.

I just bought one from Yukon/Randy's worldwide. Its supposed to be here Wednesday. I'm excited and a little apprehensive about the install, but one step at a time and I'll get it done.

 

[mrblaine]

mrblaine, what were your reasons for developing a c clip eliminater axle Kit ?

At the time, I had several buddies I wheeled with that ran the 8.8. Across the board they all encountered the same problems. All bent the crap out of the stock axle shafts. All complained about the difficulties in changing a bent or broken shaft on the trail by needing to remove the diff cover to get the c-clips loose. They all struggled with the width and would really have liked it to be wider. And, they wanted it to be very durable and able to handle all the side loads that wheeling would subject it to.

They got with me and Superior and asked if I could solve those issues so I did.

 

[Eddie Greenlee]

At the time, I had several buddies I wheeled with that ran the 8.8. Across the board they all encountered the same problems. All bent the crap out of the stock axle shafts. All complained about the difficulties in changing a bent or broken shaft on the trail by needing to remove the diff cover to get the c-clips loose. They all struggled with the width and would really have liked it to be wider. And, they wanted it to be very durable and able to handle all the side loads that wheeling would subject it to.

They got with me and Superior and asked if I could solve those issues so I did.

Thats awesome . what cutting tool would you say would be the best to use cutting the end of the axle housing tube off?

 

[mrblaine]

Thats awesome . what cutting tool would you say would be the best to use cutting the end of the axle housing tube off?

Just about anything that will cut steel will get it off of there easily. It is very thin and just designed to carry the seal.