So you want a limited slip / locker in your Ranger in 2026?

[RangerXLT]

and thats where you should have left it.

You posted your experience, great. They posted theirs, equally great.

Fair enough I guess.

I really find it irritating though when it doesn't seem like folks really read or try understand what's already posted.

I guess i know what I'll get around here and will just keep it to myself from now on.

 

[JoshT]

Ok, time for people to cool their jets please. Debate all you want but things are starting to get heated.

Copy, that's mostly what I was intending to say as well, but probably could have chosen better words.

Fair enough I guess.

I really find it irritating though when it doesn't seem like folks really read or try understand what's already posted.

I guess i know what I'll get around here and will just keep it to myself from now on.

If that's how you choose to look at it, your choice.

I can tell you that the long timers around here feel the same way you do about people popping up questions and seemingly doing no reading or research about what is already posted. They are adding to what you posted hoping to provide more info and choices to people who might take a minute to actually search, not trying to dismiss what you contributed.

They also get frustrated about people popping up insisting that there is only one way to skin a cat, when they know from experience that there are several. (That's the way what I responded to read.) They welcome the new guy sharing his way, but know that the best way to do it may differ from one situation to the next.

Though if they're anything like this long timer, they're probably thinking more about why anyone would want to skin a cat and the origin of that phrase, than which way to go about getting an LS/locker.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Copy, that's mostly what I was intending to say as well, but probably could have chosen better words.


If that's how you choose to look at it, your choice.

I can tell you that the long timers around here feel the same way you do about people popping up questions and seemingly doing no reading or research about what is already posted. They are adding to what you posted hoping to provide more info and choices to people who might take a minute to actually search, not trying to dismiss what you contributed.

They also get frustrated about people popping up insisting that there is only one way to skin a cat, when they know from experience that there are several. (That's the way what I responded to read.) They welcome the new guy sharing his way, but know that the best way to do it may differ from one situation to the next.

Though if they're anything like this long timer, they're probably thinking more about why anyone would want to skin a cat and the origin of that phrase, than which way to go about getting an LS/locker.

The cat ain't happy...

 

[Lefty]

Yes sir. If I didn't off road, all I would want is a limited slip.

A locker might be better off road. I would not know enough to argue the point, but Limited Slip works pretty good too, most certainly better than that "one wheel peel."

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

My "offroad vehicle" is the only one in the fleet that doesn't have a locker lol.

Just a clutch Track-Lock in a Explorer axle. It can be a handful in 2wd on slick roads but offroad it is seemless and does what it is told to do without complaint.

It is the one that drags the other two out when they get stuck in snow...

I have been rather underwhelmed with the lockers in the other two after decades of hearing praises online.

Bronco does use its a lot because it can't keep tires on the ground and teeter-totters a lot. If the F-150 can't do it open the odds of it doing it with the rear locked is not great either.

 

[Ab_Reed]

Appreciate the write up. I have done lots of research on axle swaps. I have a 7.5 open diff 3.45 gear. I had planned to do the explorer route because ive already done an axle flip, so less welding from my end. But finding a rear axle in good condition with LSD has been damn near impossible. So this helps

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Appreciate the write up. I have done lots of research on axle swaps. I have a 7.5 open diff 3.45 gear. I had planned to do the explorer route because ive already done an axle flip, so less welding from my end. But finding a rear axle in good condition with LSD has been damn near impossible. So this helps

I snagged mine back in '06 before the hype.

$100 with matching gearing and the guy let me have the springs too.

I've been trying to snag one now for my son's '91... its a very different experience.

 

[Ab_Reed]

I snagged mine back in '06 before the hype.

$100 with matching gearing and the guy let me have the springs too.

I've been trying to snag one now for my son's '91... its a very different experience.

I know its crazy how much prices have jumped. Lucky for me im 2WD, so dont need to match gearing.

 

[sgtsandman]

A locker might be better off road. I would not know enough to argue the point, but Limited Slip works pretty good too, most certainly better than that "one wheel peel."

Most times, a limited slip would be perfectly fine and there are some on here that run just that. The disadvantage of a limited slip is when you get a wheel in the air. A limited slip can only help so much in those conditions, where as a locker doesn't since both sides are locked together and can't slip.

To be perfectly honest, I can only count on one hand (two maybe three) the number of times I've used the locker in the 2019 and I probably didn't even need it then. The 2011 is still two wheel peel at this point and I've yet to have a problem getting where I needed to go. Because of the independent suspension on both trucks, and their travel limitations compared to a TTB or a solid axle, are more likely to be lifted off the ground than the rear axle but the rear axle could still lift. So, better to have it an not need it than need it and not have it.

 

[RangerXLT]

Appreciate the write up. I have done lots of research on axle swaps. I have a 7.5 open diff 3.45 gear. I had planned to do the explorer route because ive already done an axle flip, so less welding from my end. But finding a rear axle in good condition with LSD has been damn near impossible. So this helps

You're welcome.

This is my point: the folks that say "just go get a whole axle with the right code" are doing the community a disservice and I would wager they either haven't actually tried to do so lately or got incredibly lucky. Good limited slip axels for Rangers just aren't common anymore assuming they ever were. Times change but I cant go to pul a part a snag up a bunch of Bumpside or Dentside parts like I could 15 years ago either. There were precisely 2 Ranger 8.8s in my local Pull A Part. one was a 355 open and was was a 410 open, they both had at least 200,000 on them, IIRC correctly the 410 had at least 280000 according to the oil change sticker, the cluster was gone. The next closest pul a part had maybe 4 Rangers i don't remember the miles and ratios but if one had had a LS door code i would have driven the 2.5 hours.

I have Car Part, an LKQ account and SmartPart, I spent weeks looking.

This is what a 125000 mile "A grade" R7 code axle looks like: Asking price will be between 500 and 700.

It may not be immediately apparent but it is so rusty the ears on the top were flaking like long john silvers whitefish, and one of the lips around the axle tube was almost gone and the ends of the tubes were so bad i did not think the backing plates were going to come off. The clutches were worn out and the axles were both bad and it needed bearings. Because the clutches were so worn the side and spider gears were also worn, the second one was maybe a little better but i didn't take it and it wasn't a LS (remember what i said about Hollander interchange) The last one i told them to get me a decent 410 housing and they did, it came out of MO, it wasn't a useable axle assembly as was, it also needed axles and axle bearings. (i would nearly count on that at this point.)

On the plus side if you're looking for a an Explorer you can still buy the Ford Racing diff for a 31 spline for under 400.00 from LMR. I did not look for an Explorer.

Anyway i digress.

I also think the folks that make changing the carrier out to be this huge deal are doing a disservice. As I already mentioned if thats all you are doing you aren't setting up gears, you're only trying to get it back like it was set up. Using quality stuff you'll probably just put to back together like it was with a new carrier/carrier bearings and ring gear bolts using the same shims, easy peasy.

You don't need a press to remove and install a ring gear on an 8.8 carrier and you can do the bearings without one as well if you can use the oven and freezer. Plenty of stuff on you tube about how to do this.

 

[gw33gp]

A lot of it depends on the driver skills. There used to be and maybe still is a guy who drove an older station wagon on the Moab trails. People could not believe the places he would go with it. I don't know what differential he had but it was not 4WD and not lifted much.

I had a 1973 FJ55 Landcruiser that I drove in some very serious off-road areas. It had open axles front and rear. I just had to be careful with my line to keep the tires planted as much as possible. I never got into trouble with it. My wife and I went out by ourselves because back then it was hard to find other people to do this kind of thing. So, I needed to be careful without having a partner vehicle to help me.

I did graduate to using LSD differentials and lockers. My 89 STX had a rear clutch type LSD. My 2002 FX4 has Torsen differentials front and rear. My 2024 Bronco has selectable lockers front and rear. I really like that Torsen differentials. I have not been off-road enough with my Bronco to form an opinion yet. I do think I will like the lockers when I need them, but my dream differentials would be Torsens that are lockable.