The Artec 8.8 Modular Truss is the flexible way to brace a Ford Explorer 8.8 — the budget-friendly rear axle that ends up under so many Jeep TJ, LJ, XJ, and YJ builds. Built entirely from 1/4" steel, the interlocking kit self-jigs around the housing to stop axle wrap and tube flex, and it includes a pinion bridge to tie the nose into the structure. What makes it modular is what it doesn't lock you into: it clears factory leaf-spring perches, accepts Artec's add-on coil or leaf perches, and offers high-clearance shock mount options, so the same truss carries your 8.8 from a leaf-sprung swap to a linked, coil-sprung rear without starting over.
Features
- 1/4" mild steel throughout, CNC cut and bent with interlocked 1/4" gussets
- Modular, self-jigging construction adapts to your suspension plan
- Compatible with factory leaf-spring perches or add-on coil/leaf perches
- Includes a pinion bridge; high-clearance shock mount options available
- Low profile keeps upper-link joints roughly 8" from the axle centerline
- Approximately 32" long by 3.25" wide, sitting about 1" above the differential
- Made in the USA
The truss is built for the Ford 8.8 sourced from the Explorer — the classic strong, cheap, disc-brake rear swap for TJ/LJ, XJ, and YJ Jeeps. Installation is weld-on: heat the housing to around 400 degrees, stitch weld per Artec's step-by-step instructions, and paint or powder coat the bare steel afterward. Going one-ton instead? See the sibling 14 Bolt Modular Truss. For a complete package, the TJ 8.8 Swap Kit with Truss bundles the brackets, and you can browse more in axle reinforcements and swap kits.
Ford 8.8 Modular Axle Truss FAQs
Which axle and vehicles is this truss for?
It is built for the Ford 8.8" rear axle from the Ford Explorer — the strong, cheap, disc-brake rear end that is one of the most popular swaps into the Jeep Wrangler TJ and LJ, Cherokee XJ, and Wrangler YJ. The truss itself welds to the 8.8 housing, so it works no matter which chassis the axle is going under.
What does "modular" actually get me?
Flexibility in your suspension plan. The truss clears factory leaf-spring perches, accepts Artec's add-on coil or leaf perches, and offers high-clearance shock mount options — so you can run the 8.8 under leaves today and convert to a linked, coil-sprung rear later without cutting the truss off. It also self-jigs during assembly, which makes accurate weld-up much easier.
Is welding required, and what about finish?
Yes — this is a weld-on kit that expects fabrication skills. Artec's instructions call for heating the housing to roughly 400 degrees and stitch welding to avoid warping the tubes. The steel ships bare, so clean it up and apply paint or powder coat once the welding is done.
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