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8.8 posi conversion


Blueox

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 17, 2008
Messages
269
City
Winona, MN
Vehicle Year
2001
Transmission
Automatic
The question is simple. But I suspect the answer is complex.

Can you add posi/limited slip to a non unit easily?
 
If you have done gears before, Yes, you can do it easily.
If you havent done gears before, No, it will be difficult.
Gears are not a unbolt old parts, bolt in new parts, kind of a deal. You usually need some pretty specialized tools and know how to use them. You will need to check the gear pattern after they are installed and know what that pattern tells you. Lots of work for someone that has never done them before.

Dont get me wrong, you can learn how to do them by watching vids, some people have, just be ready for some disappointment if you cant do gears in the end.
 
its real easy to do if you can get the Earth to stand still. :icon_confused:

its even easier to swap out the entire axle unit with one that already has the desired internals.
 
My experience with this is that just adding limited slip is actually not that hard since you don't have to touch the pinion to do a carrier.

The way I was told to do it, and this was by the guy who did all the gears in our shop, when I put the Torsen unit in my truck, was to check the back-lash before taking anything apart. Then pull the carrier, swap the ring over to the new one, and put the new carrier back in with the old shims and check your backlash. As long as you get the back lash within about .002" of where it was you should be golden.
 
Thanks guys.

So not only add the posi unit but change the ring gear???

Thinking I may go to a junk yard first. Then if way too much, pursue an install in mine.
 
Yes, ring and pinion are a matched set, that's the rear axle ratio, i.e. 3.73 or 4.10 or ect....

And when already used they will have matched wear patterns, so should be kept together if practical

Chevy/GM calls their Limited Slip differential Posi-traction, Ford calls theirs Trac-lok, or traction-lock, those are "brand names" for the same thing, just FYI

Either requires a "friction modifier" added to the differential oil, you can buy this additive as a separate fluid or buy the oil with modifier already mixed in.
But you must use the friction modifier with either of these limited slip differentials
 
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Thanks guys.

So not only add the posi unit but change the ring gear???

Thinking I may go to a junk yard first. Then if way too much, pursue an install in mine.


This job is clearly above your limited understanding.

You don't "change" the ring gear dinkus. You keep your existing ring gear. You change your carrier from an open to a limited unit, but the ring gear is bolted to the carrier, so it would have to be swapped from the old one to the new one.

You don't buy a new set of wheels every time your tires get worn out do you?
 
We ALL started somewhere and sometime :)

And we ALL started a project that may have been beyond our current skill set at the time, but wasn't when we were done..........and that IS a good feeling
 
we need to establish a "Snickers" fund.....

for persnickety people? I thought maybe someone pissed in his cornflakes....

@blueox; Don't give up. There's lots of people that will give you help if you get in over your head.
 
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for persnickety people? I thought maybe someone pissed in his cornflakes....

@blueox; Don't give up. There's lots of people that will give you help if you get in over your head.

nah, I was thinking of the TV commercials where people need a Snickers bar to get the day going in the right direction
 
I have a NIB 31 spline posi I'm about to put in the classifieds.
 
:icon_twisted:

Just for shits and giggles I ask the dealer the labor cost. $1,000. What a joke.

Just remember if you need true Ford Parts, go to Tousley Ford Parts. Parts are about on average 34% off list price. Trac-loc is about $330 from them.
 
:icon_twisted:

Just for shits and giggles I ask the dealer the labor cost. $1,000. What a joke.

Just remember if you need true Ford Parts, go to Tousley Ford Parts. Parts are about on average 34% off list price. Trac-loc is about $330 from them.

You do not use the stealership unless you have disposable cash.
 
U just need to set the backlash at .006-.010", get a dial indicator theyre cheap at harbor freight not the best but it gets the job done.

Make sure u use the ring gear from your old carrier, and like others said it would be ideal to set the back lash within a couple thousands of the initial back lash


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

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