im pretty sure they had larger brakes/calipers also
the standard rear end was a 7.5 in the half ton trucks......
and as far as the 8" rear goes on the 2wds, it had drum brakes for sure.....
a lot of people actually told me that I did not have a 8" rear end in my truck, but I did.... apparently, the 8" did not come in the 2wds UNLESS they were a 1 ton..... I put 4.10 gears into it from the rear on an 86 4Runner....