8.8 4.10 from open to LSD ....can I do this?

[RangerBobMan]

Hi, Gang...would love to hear from those who've done this or know it can be...easily.
I'm pretty well versed in the Ford 8' and Ford 9' but want to be sure I'm not missing something with the 8.8
I have an 07 Ranger Sport with the open 4.10. It is quiet and smooth.
I'd like to add LSD. There is a LSD 4.10 in the boneyard with 118k miles on it....
Aside from clutch pack condition...(I'll likely refresh over winter)...Can't I just pull the center locking carrier from the boneyard unit, leave behind the ring gear, then open up my unit, transfer my carrier bearings to LSD (so original races stay put) and ring gear....then put the LSD unit in without having messed up anything? Same shims from my unit will go back in and obviously caps are marked and go back in original spot..I'll also mark the teeth on my original 4.10's so same teeth mate at same times....Any reason this wouldn't work? Is the LSD carrier wider etc or anything???

 

[Curious Hound]

Hi, Gang...would love to hear from those who've done this or know it can be...easily.
I'm pretty well versed in the Ford 8' and Ford 9' but want to be sure I'm not missing something with the 8.8
I have an 07 Ranger Sport with the open 4.10. It is quiet and smooth.
I'd like to add LSD. There is a LSD 4.10 in the boneyard with 118k miles on it....
Aside from clutch pack condition...(I'll likely refresh over winter)...Can't I just pull the center locking carrier from the boneyard unit, leave behind the ring gear, then open up my unit, transfer my carrier bearings to LSD (so original races stay put) and ring gear....then put the LSD unit in without having messed up anything? Same shims from my unit will go back in and obviously caps are marked and go back in original spot..I'll also mark the teeth on my original 4.10's so same teeth mate at same times....Any reason this wouldn't work? Is the LSD carrier wider etc or anything???

I would always recommend going through the setup procedure if different parts are introduced. Everything is produced with tolerances. That means that even though the parts are made to the same specifications, they can be different. So, if one piece is manufactured towards the minimum side of the tolerances, and another is more toward the maximum side of the tolerance, then those differences add or subtract from each other and you could end up needing different shims for the optimum result.

 

[RangerBobMan]

Which set up procedure would I have disturbed? My pinion will stay put ? Is the LSD carrier wider or narrower?

 

[Curious Hound]

Which set up procedure would I have disturbed? My pinion will stay put ? Is the LSD carrier wider or narrower?

Yes, the carrier could be a bit different.

 

[Uncle Gump]

I'm not suggesting you do this... but i have left the pinion in place. Pinion depth was correct... and relatively new. I pulled the ring gear from the existing carrier and swapped onto a new carrier. Dial in the backlash with the new carrier... and ensured the gear pattern was acceptable. Ran just fine.

I've done it several times on old VW buggy transmissions too. Those were all off road beaters...

 

[Curious Hound]

That ^^^^ would be the way to do it.

 

[bobbywalter]

just swap the whole axle.


a drop in locker will net actual traction....is actually easy...but will have scary drop in noises.

 

[SenorNoob]

Lol @ "scary drop in noises".

 

[bobbywalter]

well..... if you drive my truck and your not used to lockers.



you will be skeeeeeeerideded

 

[scotts90ranger]

I'm with bobby, a lunchbox locker would be way better for actual traction...

But yeah, keep the bearing races from the carrier you pull, put your ring gear on and install then check the mesh, you might get lucky... just don't toss your open carrier if you want more traction to go with a lunchbox locker later as they're just made for open carriers...

 

[19Walt93]

Which set up procedure would I have disturbed? My pinion will stay put ? Is the LSD carrier wider or narrower?

The backlash and carrier bearing preload should be checked. I'd also use new carrier bearings. Why not just buy a new limited slip differential and install it instead of buying a used one and hoping it's rebuildable?

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

I’d either swap the entire axle or drop a lunchbox locker in. I’ve done both of those methods. Maybe once I actually have a shop to work in I’ll get into changing gears and carriers.

 

[rubydist]

@RangerBobMan - your plan is not likely to work as easily as you describe. The reason that the shims are used with the bearings is because of manufacturing tolerances. It is highly unlikely that the diff you randomly pick from the junkyard will be exactly the same as the one you have now. As mentioned earlier, the pinion depth will still be correct, but you will still need to shim the diff to get the mesh bearing loading correct.

 

[2011Supercab]

If all carriers were the same exact same dimensions they wouldn't have to use shims.

 

[00t444e]

I wouldn't waste time or money on a factory limited slip, they aren't very good. Just put a lock right in you current axle and use 85w140 gear oil in your axle to keep it quiet.