which is the best way to go? I have 4:10 rears with open diffs. I would like to make them limited slip units. Do i buy a pair of limited slip rears and rebuild them? Or get limited slip units for mine? I've heard that the factory units arent that great, is this true? This is for my work truck and gets beatn' daily.
open diff to Limited slip
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I felt this would be a good thread to ask my question. A 4.10 rear end was all that was offered in 95 for my dually. It is needing to be replaced shortly and was wanting to go to a 3.73. Can this be installed in my original housing or would I have to change out the complete rear end, housing, and axles?
You should be able to change just the ring and pinion. They used some different carriers for lower ratios (higher numerically) but I think the carrier will be the same between 3.73 and 4.10. Again, when you order your gearset, a good dealer will be able to tell you if you need the carrier. Have the tag off the rearend and in your hand when you call.
Order a shim kit when you order your gears, and if you have a lot of miles or had some trash in the rear end, order a bearing kit to go with it. It is a lot easier (and cheaper) than chasing parts down individually.
Tim
Order a shim kit when you order your gears, and if you have a lot of miles or had some trash in the rear end, order a bearing kit to go with it. It is a lot easier (and cheaper) than chasing parts down individually.
Tim
As far as the factory units go they are not bad units. Ford sets them up with rather low preload so they do not grip as well as they could. The preload can be increased thus making them grip much better. But as with all clutch type l/s they wear out with use and become less and less effective. Similar to clutches, the more you use them the quicker they wear out.
As a general rule of thumb you need a specific carrier for a given gear series. i.e. all 3.xx:1 gears will use the same carrier, and all 4.xx:1 gears will use a different carrier, there are exceptions. The axles and axle housing will be the same, so unless something is bent, broken, or cracked there is no need to replace the entire axle housing assembly.
IMO for stock to moderate performance levels the best bang for the buck is the Lock Rite locker. This works inside the stock open carrier making it a locker. So there is no need to reset gear tolerances, or even remove the carrier from the housing. The Lock Rite does not use friction clutches so there is nothing to wear out. It is a little noisy but then most lockers are.
I think calling a gear supplier like was said above is a very good idea.
As a general rule of thumb you need a specific carrier for a given gear series. i.e. all 3.xx:1 gears will use the same carrier, and all 4.xx:1 gears will use a different carrier, there are exceptions. The axles and axle housing will be the same, so unless something is bent, broken, or cracked there is no need to replace the entire axle housing assembly.
IMO for stock to moderate performance levels the best bang for the buck is the Lock Rite locker. This works inside the stock open carrier making it a locker. So there is no need to reset gear tolerances, or even remove the carrier from the housing. The Lock Rite does not use friction clutches so there is nothing to wear out. It is a little noisy but then most lockers are.
I think calling a gear supplier like was said above is a very good idea.
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Alocker in a dually is not the best of advice, especially if you tow with it. A selectable locker would be better, you can unlock it at any time-like when you want to turn and the rear says no, we're going straight ahead. The Sterling 10.25 do not have a carrier"break" as does the dana, I have installed a 3.55 in place of a 4.56 on one occasion and a 3.55 in place of a 4.10 in several others.
Factory limited slip is usually plenty strong enough for any one who only uses it on the road or light duty off roading, a locker is the ultimate, but rather quirky to drive.
Factory limited slip is usually plenty strong enough for any one who only uses it on the road or light duty off roading, a locker is the ultimate, but rather quirky to drive.
I understand what you are saying, but I have not had any issues with the Lock Rite in my dually, and I do tow with it. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif The only quirk is it makes a clicking sound when turning tight turns. I have even had lockers in the rear axle and a spool in the front axle of Jeeps, albeit I did not drive in 4x4 on dry pavement. Considering he/she is not willing to pay $300-400 for a locker I am sure they will not like the $800-1000 each axle for a "switchable" locker.
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