AMP Performance
AMP Performance has a wide selection of items to keep your car's rearend in one piece. After perusing the catalog, a couple of items came to our attention that will help shine up the 8.8 and keep it in tip-top shape. For $21.95 you can grab AMP's chrome 8.8-rear differential cover. The chrome 10-bolt cover looks awesome under the rear of your Mustang and will replace the drab factory piece with class. If the Traction-Lok posi unit is starting to go and you catch it early enough, instead of popping for a new differential, you can rebuild the one you have using AMP's 8.8-inch Traction-Lok rebuild kit. The cost is $43.00 and includes a clutch pack, shims, a friction modifier, and an instruction sheet. So why not save a few beans and rebuild the posi?
Auburn Gear
Auburn offers two different posi-units, the High Performance Series limited-slip and the Pro Series limited-slip for the 8.8. Power is transferred to the wheels via the use of cone clutches coupled to beveled side gears. The cone design, along with the applied force, determines torque transfer capability. The High Performance unit is similar to the OEM differential from Ford, while the Pro Series is an upgrade that features more preload on the side gears for quicker activation. Contact Auburn Gear for pricing and application.
BB&T Racing
BB&T is a dealer for Moser Engineering, and two of the items offered for the 8.8-inch rear are the axle packages that come from Moser. The first package, priced at $549, includes Moser C-clip street axles, an Auburn heavy-duty differential, and Moser wheel studs. The second package prices out at $609 and comes with Moser NHRA race axles, C-clip eliminators, wheel studs, and a spool.
Brothers Performance
Without having the correct axles in your 8.8, all you'll do is just sit at the starting line. For those with an 8.8 in their Fox-bodies, the simplest way to beef up the rear is to replace the stock four-lug axles with a pair of 28-spline five-lug pieces from Brothers Performance. The induction-hardened axles are over 50 percent stronger than stock, and the kit includes the axles, axle seals, bearings, and studs. Retailing at $319.99, the kit is a cheap but surefire way to strengthen things under the rear flanks of your car. While you swap out the axles, spend the $119.99 for Brothers Superior Axle Overhaul kit. It has everything needed to reinstall the rear gears, including a new pinion seal, ring gear bolts, a crush collar, a pinion nut, shims, a pinion bearing, carrier bearings, a gear-marking com-pound, Loctite, and all gaskets.
CJ Pony Parts
Breaking an axle and having it spin out of the rearend housing is an easy way to turn your beloved Mustang into the guardrail. In an effort to add strength and safety to your 8.8, consider ordering CJ Pony Parts' C-clip eliminator kit. The kit retains the axles externally, thus eliminating the C-clips in the housing. At $169.95, it's a great product for keeping your car-and yourself-a bit safer at the track. Keep in mind, however, this product is billed by CJ as a drag racing-specific product, as use of a C-clip is not recommended for road racing or for cars with rear disc brakes. Don't forget to add a little flash and Ford pride when replacing the rearend cover by picking up CJ's axle girdle complete with Ford Racing script. The girdle will set you back $164.95.
Detroit Locker
Detroit Locker offers a couple of posi units worth looking at. The first is a unit of the same name, the Detroit Locker. A spool-type piece on straight roads, yet it runs like a normal posi under cornering. The other posi from Detroit Locker is the Truetrac, which is designed around parallel-axis planetary helical gears, which means this unit has no clutches, friction plates, or cones. Instead, three sets of pinions, or helical gears mesh together to transfer power. The gears move quickly to transfer power away from the slipping wheel, gradually feeding it back in as wheel speed decreases. Both of the units are offered for the 8.8. Contact Detroit Locker for pricing.