I've had problems with my rear diff. and my spider gears are worn severely. Since the pinion shaft has worked loose before also, it will need to be replaced eventually. She whines like a banshee and has for 3 years with no appearant ring or pinion wear. In the mean time I have no inhibitions on addressing the problem myself since I can't hurt it any more and it will be a good learning experience. To really do it right I would need to order a new ring and pinion etc. and would probably have to have it put in, so for now I will just tinker with it. I can get a LS carrier out of a mustang for about $75. Although I would love a good clutchless LS I cant let go of that much money. Anybody ran one of these in their truck? Is this the stock LS style for a truck?

Ok, if I get LS in the back, I won't have problems getting around in the snow in 2 wheel drive (I always have wieght back there), so my 4x4 will only be used only in extreme slick situations. I thought about welding my front spider gears together to make an all out posi. Basically whenever I would use my 4x4 if I had an LS rear end is when I really needed to get some grip. Anybody ever done this? I've heard of it, but never had any experience with it. I assume posi will be harder on my joints etc, but it would only be used when the tires can slip. I figure worst case I have to buy new spider gears for the front if I wanna go back, or a LS or locker carrier instead.

I believe a locker allows for selection between and open differential. Isn't this how they work? If I had money laying around I would locker the front with a good Eaton or Auburn LS rear, but I aint made of money. I just like the idea of all 4 spinning before I get stuck. What do you guys think?

 

Mustang LS won't work, its 28 spline axles, truck is 31. Get a new LS from a truck or an Eaton "Posi".. I bought mine for $270 new from Pro Gear, (858) 571-1158, http://www.progeardifferentials.com/parts.html

Love it!

Welding spider gears is not a good solution unless its a race car or dirt only truck. Front spider gears is insane, the wheels must turn at different speeds all the time when they turn, welded does not allow this. Is it a dirt only truck? If that were the case it MIGHT be ok? I'm not a 4x4 extreme offroader type so I really don't know, just giving my .02

 

MMMM... thanks thats exactly what this forum is for. I don't have $300 to spend right now so I gotta find the cheap way out. I just like the idea of improving while I'm repairing. I have a rear end with an open carrier in it that I can pull, which is what I may have to do if I can't find an inexpensive LS for now. Did you install your new LS yourself?

I wouldn't plan on turning much in 4x4 cause I can see how it would be almost impossible. I won't weld up the splines right away, I would like to see what an LS would do first.

 

Whether you turn much or not in 4x4 doesn't matter if you weld the front spider gears from what I know about 4 wheel drive. Point is they are locked together whether they are being driven or not. If they are locked together the inside wheel will be forced to spin as the outside wheels travels a larger arc around a turn.

No, I did not install the rear myself, out of my league: need a dial indicator and you have to know how to shim the carrier, pattern the gears adn and set backlash..

Cheap solution is to buy a used LS from an F150 out of a junkyard and rebuild it w/ a Ford Motorsport LS Clutch rebuild kit. Don't have the part number, try checking the arhives over at www.corral.net. Its like $75 and it will replace all the worn parts that go bad in a worn out LS that acts like an open rear..

From the junkyard look for a wrecked truck w/ the door jam showing H8 (LS 3.08) or H9 (LS 3.55). The ford part
F85z-4026-AA is 31 Spline Truck Trak-Loc unit, its $236 at FordPartsOnline. Use that price to compare what you'd pay in the junk yard.

Jerry

 

Only if the hubs are locked.

Thanks for the LS truck info. Can't wait to find what I need and fix that lash back there.

 

Well, I put a detriot locker in the rear of mine (spendy under $400) It works really well but occasionaly I get weird peformance out of it. It will disengage and reengage quickly and buck the truck. It should just stay constantly engaged. Putting a rear end in is decently easy if you take your time and have the right tools. I know several guys that have welded the front end solid on their trucks, they both snapped an axel. There is just too much weight and force on the front end for the semi-weak axels. I will be putting a ctutchless ls or locker (eletric, or ox) in the front end eventually, probley in the spring.

 

Randy's Ring and Pinion is advertising how-to videos for $15. I'm getting an eaton posi or one of the genuine gear (makers of detroit lockers) LS products as soon as I scrape up enough money. I've been talking about it for damn near a year now. But being a mechanic I blow alot of moolah on tools.

 

I just bought a used 31 spline factory LS for $75. That will go in for now. I think I won't weld up the front spider gears. Every now and again I gotta back the trailer up a muddy hill. It would make it darn near impossible to turn the thing with the front wheels locked together.

Thanks all for your thoughts.