2007 4.0 5 speed Front locker options

[SniperJJ10]

the front diff in 98+ SLA rangers is 27 splines.
here is a size comparison between a 7.5 rear carrier and a front D35-SLA.
the rear is about 7.5" wide, the front is less than 6.5" wide, bearing to bearing.
note the front is only 8 ring gear bolts.


View attachment 57205

This says it has 27 splines, and it SAYS it has 10 bolts, but I count 8 from the picture, so what do I believe? The picture, or the description?

2007 FORD RANGER Powertrax GT443527 Powertrax Grip Pro Traction Systems | Summit Racing

Free Shipping - Powertrax Grip Pro Traction Systems with qualifying orders of $109. Shop Differential Carriers at Summit Racing.

www.summitracing.com

 

[gw33gp]

I looked into finding a selectable locker for the front of my Ranger a few years ago. The only thing I found was a complete kit made by Yukon. They had air, electric and manual kits at that time. It was not listed as fitting the front on a Ranger. I talked extensively with an engineer there and we came to the conclusion that it would probably work with some modification to the cover that came with the kit. The internals looked like they would work fine. It was the cover with the shifting mechanism that was the problem. The front cover on the Ranger fits so close to a cross member that modification to the cross member would probably also require modification. He said that if it didn't work, I would be out the cost of the kit which was not cheap.

I was very tempted to give it a try because I have access to a full machine shop and the tools need for the modifications. I was pretty confident I could make it work but it would take a lot of effort on my part. Then, Torsen came out with a unit for the front differential. That changed my plans and I immediately ordered the Torsen unit. I am very happy with that decision. It is not as good as a locker but the combination of Torsens front and rear work very well.

The front Torsen is not felt at all in 2WD with one exception. When it is cold (approximately 40 or lower) it creates a slight on center steering wheel sticking feel until it gets warmed up a little from driving (about 5 miles). Many people say they don't feel it but I am very sensitive to any kind of steering feedback after racing in SCCA over 30 years.

In 4WD the front Torsen wants to pull the steering to on center, especially under load. It is not problem though until you have to drive a long distance with a slight curve or side slope. Then the arms can begin to feel fatigued. With power steering, I have never reach a point of discomfort due to this.

I didn't want an automatic locker. I have used them for rear differentials in racing and know of their quirks. Not really a big issue but one caused me to spin out in the rain coming off a corner once and that was enough to turn me against them after using them for many years without a problem.

 

[SniperJJ10]

I looked into finding a selectable locker for the front of my Ranger a few years ago. The only thing I found was a complete kit made by Yukon. They had air, electric and manual kits at that time. It was not listed as fitting the front on a Ranger. I talked extensively with an engineer there and we came to the conclusion that it would probably work with some modification to the cover that came with the kit. The internals looked like they would work fine. It was the cover with the shifting mechanism that was the problem. The front cover on the Ranger fits so close to a cross member that modification to the cross member would probably also require modification. He said that if it didn't work, I would be out the cost of the kit which was not cheap.

I was very tempted to give it a try because I have access to a full machine shop and the tools need for the modifications. I was pretty confident I could make it work but it would take a lot of effort on my part. Then, Torsen came out with a unit for the front differential. That changed my plans and I immediately ordered the Torsen unit. I am very happy with that decision. It is not as good as a locker but the combination of Torsens front and rear work very well.

The front Torsen is not felt at all in 2WD with one exception. When it is cold (approximately 40 or lower) it creates a slight on center steering wheel sticking feel until it gets warmed up a little from driving (about 5 miles). Many people say they don't feel it but I am very sensitive to any kind of steering feedback after racing in SCCA over 30 years.

In 4WD the front Torsen wants to pull the steering to on center, especially under load. It is not problem though until you have to drive a long distance with a slight curve or side slope. Then the arms can begin to feel fatigued. With power steering, I have never reach a point of discomfort due to this.

I didn't want an automatic locker. I have used them for rear differentials in racing and know of their quirks. Not really a big issue but one caused me to spin out in the rain coming off a corner once and that was enough to turn me against them after using them for many years without a problem.

Oh okay, I appreciate the detail. I didn't want to put a torsen in the front out of fear of the steering problems in 4wd. Thank you very much kind sir!

 

[fastpakr]

I'd love to hear more about the Powertrax Grip Pro if anybody has experience with them. That's a new one on me and there aren't a ton of reviews online. It appears to be a mechanical limited slip that's quite a bit cheaper than the Torsen and available immediately.

 

[gw33gp]

Oh okay, I appreciate the detail. I didn't want to put a torsen in the front out of fear of the steering problems in 4wd. Thank you very much kind sir!

Other than the steering wheel slightly wanting to center in 4WD, I have not experienced any big issues in 4WD with the front Torsen. I have been in all kinds of conditions including snow and ice with it in 4WD. Under power, a Torsen almost acts like a locker and you can create some quirky actions if you get crazy under acceleration. When driven moderately, no problems should develope.

 

[rubydist]

OP, if you are afraid of the Torsen for steering issues in the front axle, then you definitely don't want a real locker, because those steering issues will be 10x worse with a locked diff than they are for the Torsen.

 

[Fire]

Anyone know the diff in behavior between a helical locker like torson and a spiral gear locker like a Grip Pro?

 

[sgtsandman]

The Torsen and the Powertrax are limited slip differentials and not lockers. Everything I've read about the Dana 35 SLA, you don't want a locker in them. It will break things. Mostly the CV shafts. You can get away with a locker in a 35 TTB but you don't want one in a 35 SLA.

 

[pjtoledo]

Anyone know the diff in behavior between a helical locker like torson and a spiral gear locker like a Grip Pro?

here's half of the answer, sort of.
I suspect they are both the same, trademarks/patents etc forced a different name.
there are 2 types of geared torque sensing differentials.
one has all the gears aligned in the same axis, this allows a lifted wheel to spin
the other has spur & worm gears at 90 degrees to the axles, this does not allow a lifted wheel to spin

Torsen® Traction

 

[pjtoledo]

here is an interesting article from long ago
The Muehl Differential. | 13th May 1915 | The Commercial Motor Archive

 

[19Walt93]

I looked into finding a selectable locker for the front of my Ranger a few years ago. The only thing I found was a complete kit made by Yukon. They had air, electric and manual kits at that time. It was not listed as fitting the front on a Ranger. I talked extensively with an engineer there and we came to the conclusion that it would probably work with some modification to the cover that came with the kit. The internals looked like they would work fine. It was the cover with the shifting mechanism that was the problem. The front cover on the Ranger fits so close to a cross member that modification to the cross member would probably also require modification. He said that if it didn't work, I would be out the cost of the kit which was not cheap.

I was very tempted to give it a try because I have access to a full machine shop and the tools need for the modifications. I was pretty confident I could make it work but it would take a lot of effort on my part. Then, Torsen came out with a unit for the front differential. That changed my plans and I immediately ordered the Torsen unit. I am very happy with that decision. It is not as good as a locker but the combination of Torsens front and rear work very well.

The front Torsen is not felt at all in 2WD with one exception. When it is cold (approximately 40 or lower) it creates a slight on center steering wheel sticking feel until it gets warmed up a little from driving (about 5 miles). Many people say they don't feel it but I am very sensitive to any kind of steering feedback after racing in SCCA over 30 years.

In 4WD the front Torsen wants to pull the steering to on center, especially under load. It is not problem though until you have to drive a long distance with a slight curve or side slope. Then the arms can begin to feel fatigued. With power steering, I have never reach a point of discomfort due to this.

I didn't want an automatic locker. I have used them for rear differentials in racing and know of their quirks. Not really a big issue but one caused me to spin out in the rain coming off a corner once and that was enough to turn me against them after using them for many years without a problem.

It sounds like you pay attention to your truck and how it works, after decades of trying to get customers to give me a coherent description of their car complaints, I want to give you an attaboy. But if you think 40 degrees is cold you don't have a concept of winter driving in New England and your description of how the differential acts when "cold" should convince the OP to avoid one. You've done him a favor.

 

[19Walt93]

If the truck is going to be driven on the street in the winter, I'd recommend an air locker for serious off roading. I ordered traction lok in my 04 Ranger and found that it wanted to slide sideways if I tried to accelerate at all on snowy roads. My 2011 had an open rear end. Since my 93 is a summer only truck, it had a Yukon aggressive clutch type limited slip.

 

[gw33gp]

It sounds like you pay attention to your truck and how it works, after decades of trying to get customers to give me a coherent description of their car complaints, I want to give you an attaboy. But if you think 40 degrees is cold you don't have a concept of winter driving in New England and your description of how the differential acts when "cold" should convince the OP to avoid one. You've done him a favor.

I pay attention to all my vehicles and keep them in top condition. That is especially true of my Ranger. It has around 250K miles on it and it and I use it a lot on long term off-road adventures. I don't want to be stranded in the middle of nowhere.

I have done a considerable amount of Winter driving in very cold conditions, so I do understand what it is. I have lived in SoCal for many years and have gotten used to mild Winters but I don't think I ever considered 40 a warm temperature.

I don't think the little quirk of the Torsen when "cold" is enough to dissuade anyone from using one. As I said before, many people don't even notice it. However, that is for the end user to decide, I just wanted to point out a minor issue.

 

[pjtoledo]

here is the other type of Torsen differential, courtesy of youtube.

 

[fastpakr]

I put in an order for the Grip Pro. Availability seems up be unclear, the delivery estimates were all over the place on different sites. Hopefully it'll ship fairly soon.