Did you install the new spring perch with the same angle as the explorer had? Or did you make the angle the same as the pinion angle?
Dave Did you use 2 short side axle ????? I was able to save the explore perches and reuse the explore u bolts and spring plates. The problem I had the outer u bolts are so close to where the housing neck down I had to weld 2 strap per side to keep the u bolt in alignment... As for pinion angle I set at a angle I wanted...
yes, I replaced the long axle with a short one, worked perfect, cut 2 7/8" from the long tube , now I just need to weld the perches on and maybe add the little pieces to keep the u bolts in place. Am gonna try and reuse the maverick shock bracket/diff bracket. I think at this time I will weld the perches with the same angle as the pinion, if he wants more or less angle he can add the shim.
Dave You will need to be re-drilled the stock spring plates. I used the explore spring plates flip them from side to side and modified them for lower shock mounts. In pic #1 & 2 you can see the strap welded between u bolts . The brake hoses are 2 driver side explore hoses . This 8.8 is in a 64 falcon but it is the very same dimension as a maverick.
901 I had the housing narrow by a local shop that all the tools and mandrels to keep the housing strait .
I used a cut-off wheel air tool, made the marks around the tube, then ran a tape stripe on those marks, then cut right on the edge of the tape, worked great.
Mavdog71 & 55crownvic thanks. Iv seen others use a hand Grinded with a cut off disc & even a sawsall but those housing was 1/8" think & if iv read right the explorer housing is 1/4" think. It seems to me it be harder to cut a straight line with a hand held grinder that thinkness but you say it work great is good to hear 55crownvic
I was wondering if you had access to a big pipe cutter ( the manual type you turn by hand ) if you could use that to score the axle housing. Pipe cutters seem to track in a straight line and score pretty deep, I have never tried to cut a pipe that big with one you might even be able to go completely through and then just have to do a little grinding to the inside.
What one of my friends done was Got a 8.8 out of a Ranger pickup just cut it enough to put C clip eliminators on and weld new perchs on. Hey we put Wilwood brakes on the rear.
A hose clamp can work well to use as a guide to cut a tube straight if you are really strapped for tools.