limited slip swap 8.8 4.10's

[85_Ranger4x4]

I also will run with the hubs locked in when I’m expecting 4x4 may be needed so my solution has been if the back starts to move on me, I back off the throttle and give the magic lever a yank one click back.

That is the same solution with an open rear.

My '85 rarely sees bad streets but it acts like it has a locker when it does. F-150 has automatic hubs and the Bronco has a live front axle (actually has automatic 4wd) so locking the hubs with those is a non-issue.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

That is the same solution with an open rear.

My '85 rarely sees bad streets but it acts like it has a locker when it does. F-150 has automatic hubs and the Bronco has a live front axle (actually has automatic 4wd) so locking the hubs with those is a non-issue.

My first Ranger (2wd with open rear originally) did better than my F-150 ever did with an open rear. Has to be something with weight balance or something. It really did better once I swapped to a limited slip.

 

[b3million]

Since you have 4.10's already it would make sense in my mind to just find a 28 spline limited slip carrier and pay someone to set up your existing gears in that carrier. 28 spline carriers are incredibly common/cheap and the labor will not be really high - probably about the same or less than buying a different axle and putting new brakes on it and whatever else it needs. I might even have a limited slip carrier...I think I pulled one a while back and saved it... but are you SURE you have an 8.8 and not a 7.5 axle?

Side note on front lockers. I would do a front locker only over a rear only any day of the week and twice on Sunday. Two of my rigs have front lockers and rear limited slips. I like that I can pull up to an obstacle and have full power to both front wheels as I'm climbing rather than relying on a locked rear to push me up and over while the unlocked front struggles...but that is just my personal opinion and some will vehemently disagree with me.

Absolutely certain it’s an 8.8. I checked my axle codes the week I bought the truck. It’s a supercab, if that makes it more believable. My only issue with that is finding someone who can do gears in my area. I live in North Alabama in a college town, so industry and performance shops are rare.
The whole front limited slip thing i got from my uncle. He said the opposite, though where my family is from, it’s all mud. Though maybe i misheard him. I definitely want a limited slip in the back though, to save my tires, haha.

What kind of lockers are available for the fronts? I feel like a lunchbox up front wouldn’t work out well.
My other uncle suggested just welding it, lol.

 

[Shran]

Find your local offroad club and ask them who is good at setting up gears. There is always one or two guys that do it and usually a lot cheaper than a normal mechanic shop. The guy I use charges $2-300 per axle plus parts, it's very reasonable and he does excellent work.

As far as a locker, I am not real familiar with what's out there for the IFS D35. I have an e-locker in my TTB D35... there might be one of those available for your truck, or a couple of air lockers. Those are nice because you can turn them on & off as needed. Pretty spendy though and do you really need it?

I would not weld it, you will not like that in a daily driver. Lunchbox locker is one step above that, they are supposed to ratchet and unlock but some do and some don't. The Lock-rite in my crawler does not, it is always locked for some reason and I don't mind it, but it's horrible to drive in the snow and the steering is kinda weird when it's in 4 wheel drive.

 

[b3million]

Definitely don’t need an air locker. I miss the locking hubs on my old f250. I kinda get the sense a lunchbox in the front on this truck would make driving not fun at all, mostly due to their temperament like you said.
Thanks for the suggestion. I have no idea why I hadn’t thought of finding an off-road club. I’ve been hunting for new trails to tackle for a while, since the section of Talladega I frequent is mostly sand and I know most of it well.
At this point, I’m put of my depth, so I hope you don’t mind questions.
How much do limited slip carriers go for?
And, if I understand you correctly, what you’re suggesting is I take a limited slip carrier from a lower geared truck and pay someone to set my gears up in it, then put it back in my axle?
How long does that usually take when you have them done?

 

[Shran]

At this point, I’m put of my depth, so I hope you don’t mind questions.
How much do limited slip carriers go for?
And, if I understand you correctly, what you’re suggesting is I take a limited slip carrier from a lower geared truck and pay someone to set my gears up in it, then put it back in my axle?
How long does that usually take when you have them done?

I don't mind questions at all

I don't know how much a used carrier would go for. I would sell a used one for about $50, new they are $2-300 for the Ford version or more if you go with aftermarket (Yukon, Auburn, Torsen, etc.) You should buy a new clutch pack for a used one, that would run about $100.

Yes, pulling one from a lower geared truck is what I'm suggesting. There is no carrier break on 8.8's that I know of so you can use a carrier that had any gear set on it. You would need an install kit with that (bearings & shims) and how long it takes really depends on someone's skill level but I think an experienced person could do it in 2-3 hours. You're not starting from scratch with new everything so you'd already know how the carrier & pinion are shimmed which would give you a rough idea where to start with the new carrier.

 

[b3million]

Gotcha. Unfortunately, most of the offroad clubs in my state are either a few hours away, or defunct, so I guess I'm gonna be doing my own gears over a weekend. Do people sell carriers on Facebook, or is that a junkyard type of purchase?
I'll check RockAuto for clutch packs. I might be able to get a new set pretty cheap.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Do people sell carriers on Facebook, or is that a junkyard type of purchase?

Your results may vary...

Keep your feelers out and they pop up from time to time around me.

 

[b3million]

Honestly, I might just try to grab a 31 spline LSD axle if I can't get a carrier soon-ish. A lot of the aftermarket 8.8 parts I've seen are more or less exclusive to 31 spline axles- I can get a lunchbox for a 31 spline on rockauto. TTB d35's are 27 spline, right? I'm looking for a locker too.

 

[SenorNoob]

TTB in an 02?

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Yeah, 83-97 TTB stuff does you no good, the SLA front diff is its own thing.

You need to focus on stuff for the 98-11 trucks.

 

[b3million]

You need to focus on stuff for the 98-11 trucks.

My mistake. Told y’all I have no idea what I’m talking about. I keep getting these things confused haha.
I’m just looking to confirm the spline count on the fronts to price a locker out. It should be a 27 spline, right?