7.5 Limited slip to open

[triumphrider-1]

My truck started bucking pretty bad when cornering last night and this morning. So I checked the brakes then the diff; and have found my top spider gear to be "slightly trimmed" on half a dozen teeth.

Is it possible to remove the S spring and pull the bad spider (or both) and run it as an open carrier?

I've got an explorer 8.8 limted slip with matching gears lined up, but won't be able to pick it up till next Saturday, so I need some fix to get me by till I can get it and swap it in.

 

[kunar]

no, without your spiders you wont be going anywhere. the part that makes it limited slip is the clutches that try to keep those spiders from moving, an open diff wont have the clutches but will still have the spiders. my only real thought for a band aid fix is to weld it solid. personally i would probably just keep driving it the way it is as long as you know for sure youll be getting your other axle next weekend. a welded diff is gonna be tough on tires among other things and won't be a ton of fun to street drive. maybe carry a wrench to be able to pull your driveshaft if the axle really takes a shit, at least then youll be able to limp home in 4wd.

 

[triumphrider-1]

Any other thoughts/opinions?

I'm thinking I may shim the clutch side gear out to contact the trimmed gear better.

 

[Andy D]

Any other thoughts/opinions?

I'm thinking I may shim the clutch side gear out to contact the trimmed gear better.

Sure, since you have it far enough apart, shim it. Whilst you're down there give the D shaft stuff a shot of rust buster, and carry the tools to take it off and run on the front end. Good luck with bodge.

 

[feellnfroggy]

If your spiders have material missing, why not figure out why they material is being shaved off and get a set of spiders from the JY and fix it properly.....just ij case he 8.8 doesn't quite work out like you thought it would.

 

[triumphrider-1]

Right now, I'm assuming that the reason some teeth are trimmed is from some black ice or slick spots on the roads the last few days. That coupled with some, most likely, worn clutches and bam trimmed teeth.

 

[triumphrider-1]

Picked up my 8.8 yestreday, now I'm starting to rebuild it.

Just so I get my vehicular information correct, the axle tag has a date code listing of 5M11; does mean May 11th, 1995?

Edit:
After poking around on the net a little bit, I believe it to be December 11, 1995.