TJ w/ABS Axle swap?

[CrunchTyme]

I currently have a DD 1998 TJ Sahara, 4.0, 5 speed, D30 open front, D35c open rear, ABS, currently running 31x9.5's

I want to upgrade the rear axle, and I am looking for helpful input. More strength than a D35c is required. I would like to run 33's possible 35's with a selective locker (brand to be determined). And I would like to keep the ABS functional.

This rig is used for long stretches of Freeway driving 75 mph (16 hours a stretch), busy city traffic, and some of the crappiest washed out utility roads in the desert southwest. Some times all three in the same day.

I have seen many writeups re swapping in axles into the TJ, however, none that I have found have addressed keeping the ABS operational. My understanding of the ABS is minimal, so this may be a non existant problem, but before I hit the Wrecking yard, I want to be info-armed.

1) Can this swap be accomplished keeping the ABS operational.

2) Looking up on Car-parts.com show TJ D35's with the ABS option, but none of the D44's are so marked. Was the D44 TJ available with ABS. If so, will any mods to the brake system be necessary to make it functional.

3) If a Ford 8.8 with ABS is located as a donor, will the ABS be functional with the Jeep TJ ABS System with minimal effort, or does this require major brake system/ axle surgery.

Are there any options available other than dropping a chunk of change for a custom built axle.

Thanks in advance Martyn

 

[Jaydog]

Here is a good write up

http://www.stu-offroad.com/axle/8.8axle/8.8axle-1.htm

 

[KarlVP]

I pretty sure, with the bigger tires, you would have to take your rig in to get the ABS recalibrated. I don't know exactly how the system works, but I do know that larger tires don't work correctly with it.

As for the ABS on the 8.8 it has a tone ring inside the rear differential with a sensor on the differential housing.

A TJ D35 has the tone rings on the axleshafts and the sensors located in the brake housing.

Possibly you could find a way to make your computer think that your rear end ABS is working fine with the 8.8? I dunno.

 

[KarlVP]

Another thing I was thinking of. With tall gears on an 8.8, installing an ARB is tough. I know when I did the 8.8 on anntypers YJ, I had to grind down a chunk off of one of the ring gear teeth to get the cross shaft in place.

If you ran the tone ring for the abs, you might have to remove the majority of a tooth on the ring gear to get the cross shaft in. I'd call the different selectable locker manufacturers to see what they reccomend for the installs on thier lockers. I know when I did Ann's I called ARB and they told me to take part of the gear off to get the cross shaft in.

 

[CrunchTyme]

Another thing I was thinking of. With tall gears on an 8.8, installing an ARB is tough. I know when I did the 8.8 on anntypers YJ, I had to grind down a chunk off of one of the ring gear teeth to get the cross shaft in place.

If you ran the tone ring for the abs, you might have to remove the majority of a tooth on the ring gear to get the cross shaft in. I'd call the different selectable locker manufacturers to see what they reccomend for the installs on thier lockers. I know when I did Ann's I called ARB and they told me to take part of the gear off to get the cross shaft in.

I appreciate the input, it seems unless I want to mortgage the kids, there has to be a different direction to look.

After searching all over, I realized that the Wranglers only had the ABS option with the D35, it was not available on a wrangler D44 any year, and neither on the Rubicon's. Custom ABS D44 axels are all spendy.

So, what is involved in killing off the ABS system, so I can mount either a D44 or ford 8.8's oin this TJ? .

 

[KarlVP]

So, what is involved in killing off the ABS system, so I can mount either a D44 or ford 8.8's oin this TJ? .

Just cut the sensor wires at the axles.

Then cut the power wire for the ABS light on the dash.

just kidding, if you don't mind the ABS light on, simply remove the sensors and you will be good to go.