Tacoma, the Ford 8.8 is basically the Ford 9" rear (the best dang rear axle ever manufactured) since ford no longer makes the 9". I have the 8.8" (limited slip) swapped into my '88 Ranger trail rig because it's the perfect width...the 9" would stick the tires too far out the sides unless I had it shortened which costs mucho dollars, so the 8.8 was the perfect, bulletproof axle for hammering 35" tires.

One thing I learned in the Coast Guard towing 20,000 LB boats around every day, 6 days a week for 4 years and selling auto parts for a couple years was Ford makes some damn good trucks and truck parts. I won't comment on the other trucks we had because I'd like to keep that can 'o worms closed!!! Not saying they weren't good trucks at ALL, just that 1 held up far better than the rest, hands down.