Posted By: '84 D150 Shorty
8.25 rear axle ? - 04/16/11 05:33 PM
Can a 8.25 hold up under a stock 440 or is that a broken axle waiting to happen? Trying to figure my options 
8.25 rear axle ?
Posted By: Pacnorthcuda
Re: 8.25 rear axle ? - 04/16/11 06:10 PM
Quote:
Can a 8.25 hold up under a stock 440 or is that a broken axle waiting to happen? Trying to figure my options
I say yes it can if the car (truck?) is driven reasonably. The rear doesn't know if the applied torque is from a 318 or a 440---until the torque is MORE than a stock small block would produce.
Lots of hard acceleration or heavy towing and the 8.25 is probably gonna give up after awhile.
One key point would be not to accelerate hard in turns--the spiders/side gears are at work when 'differentiating' and they can't take the power that the ring and pinion can.
Posted By: Prince_Valiant
Re: 8.25 rear axle ? - 04/16/11 06:22 PM
it's always a matter of power/torque of the engine and the wt of the vehicle. I've known a 8.25 lose it's spider gears behind a stock 318 tbi in a Ramcharger...and I've abused the living heck out of a suregripped 8.25 behind a hot 360 in a valiant...and it lived just fine.
I say go with it...if it breaks, upgrade then
I say go with it...if it breaks, upgrade then
Posted By: landon1
Re: 8.25 rear axle ? - 04/16/11 06:26 PM
the 440 swap in my satellite was done way before my time, but i've had the car for 8 years now and i've had no problems with the rear axle...and i'm not real nice to it either 
Posted By: '84 D150 Shorty
Re: 8.25 rear axle ? - 04/16/11 06:34 PM
Cool, thanks guys. I will probably just keep the 8.25 untill something breaks then, lol. I am gonna do the ZJ Grand Cherokee disc brake upgrade on it then, and I can reuse those parts on the 8.75 should the 8.25 break.
Posted By: dOrk !
Re: 8.25 rear axle ? - 04/16/11 07:26 PM
I would add ....depends on the gear ratio. LOTS of HOESpower and a short gear ..... you might get into trouble.
Posted By: 80fbody
Re: 8.25 rear axle ? - 04/16/11 10:44 PM
Mine likes to spider crack the adjusters even on street tires. Twice I've had to replace them. I would start working on plan "B" & run the 8 1/4" till it grenades.
Posted By: Dcuda69
Re: 8.25 rear axle ? - 04/17/11 12:07 AM
Have one in my 69 B'cuda with a 470" BB.3:73 gear 4spd. Seems to hold up OK in my street car....I WON'T put slicks on it though!! 
Posted By: scratchnfotraction
Re: 8.25 rear axle ? - 04/17/11 03:14 AM
just think of the axle snapping,then wheel with axle comeing out,then 
the side of the bed and wheelwell that is perfect with fresh paint and all the work it took to get it that way!.....just before you launch it every time and you will baby that thing till you have plan "B" built to bullet proof specs...then stress test it
there is a reason they made a 10 bolt,12 bolt,8 3/4,D-60
the side of the bed and wheelwell that is perfect with fresh paint and all the work it took to get it that way!.....just before you launch it every time and you will baby that thing till you have plan "B" built to bullet proof specs...then stress test it there is a reason they made a 10 bolt,12 bolt,8 3/4,D-60