Grind ring gear or notched pin? 488's

[patrick112390]

so i already have the gears in the front d35 ifs but there are a hundred different people split between grinding the ring to clear the pin or getting a notched pin for the rear. most of the threads about it are old and im wondering if maybe the strength of the new notched pins are up to par. im putting motive 4.88s in the rear and dont have any plans for a locker, just the factory trac-lok.

so the question is, grind the ring gear to fit the stock pin or get a new notched pin for the 8.8?
money isnt a problem, just doing it right is.

 

[rjcooperss396]

I notched my original pin when I installed my 4.56 gears and haven't had any issues. I'm also still running the traclok still on 33's.

 

[joecrna]

Hate to grind the ring gear but don't trust a notched pin. Might consider notching pin (if you have two) and see if it lasts. If it doesn't, what else is destroyed? Just a thought.

 

[rjcooperss396]

I did mine a couple years ago and it has held up fine. I also drive my truck pretty hard. Here's it climbing CJ Hill at the Explorerforum Truckhaven run last year.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvaNo0RRoAA

 

[gavin]

I ground down the gear when I installed my 4.56's
I felt more comfortable doing that, since the pinion gear doesn't contact that part of the ring gear.
Also read a couple horror stories on notched pins breaking under light use; although I'm sure I could find some horror stories about ground gears too if I looked hard enough.

 

[splodo49]

Pins broke

I have had 3 pins break with my 5.13s.

 

[RockRash]

On my old Jeep TJ (35s, Ford Explorer 8.8 rear, 4.56s, ARB, etc.), I ran notched pins with no issues. They were not the stock pins, but aftermarket (Yukon I believe).

My $0.02.

 

[patrick112390]

I have had 3 pins break with my 5.13s.

was that with the spool and a lead foot off road? or normal driving? i dont plan on beating the piss out of it, but would like to know if i did it wouldnt snap... i am leaning towards grinding the ring

 

[gmanpaint]

I used a hardened pin after the ring gear tooth was ground down.

Too much cash invested to take any chances with a notched pin, and for an extra $50 (new shaft), it was a no brainer to me. Grinding the teeth with a dremel wasn't a big deal either.

 

[splodo49]

was that with the spool and a lead foot off road? or normal driving? i dont plan on beating the piss out of it, but would like to know if i did it wouldnt snap... i am leaning towards grinding the ring

Both i ran it with and with out the spool. But you should be fine on road. I finally just welded all mine and never broke another part.

 

[splodo49]

O yeah all my pins were the hardened ones.

 

[dblake79]

Hello, I am doing a solid axle swap right now and went with 4.88's front and rear, I have a fab shop doing the work... I have a ARB locker in the rear already, dose this mean I will have to notch the pin, or grind the gears? or is this just with the stock carrier?

 

[patrick112390]

compound question! i have a buddy that has a 6.0 powerstroke and wants my sct tuner badddd. he wants to trade me a detroit locker 31 spline for the 8.8 with under 10k miles straight up for my sct sf3. -note im only running an 87 tune eff 93 octane fillups---

1. would this be worth it? (i thing so! lol)
2. would i still have to grind the ring gear with the Detroit's pin?

 

[gmanpaint]

Only if you have a thick ring gear. What ratio do you have now?

 

[patrick112390]

Only if you have a thick ring gear. What ratio do you have now?

the 3.73s are current, 4.88's will all the bearings in the box ready to go

 

[gmanpaint]

Limited slip or Open?

Going to need the open carrier for the locker, and your still going to have to grind the ring gear teeth or use the notched pin. Like I said earlier, notching the teeth is the way to go IMO.

I made a couple short videos of us doing just that years ago.

 

[patrick112390]

compound question! i have a buddy that has a 6.0 powerstroke and wants my sct tuner badddd. he wants to trade me a detroit locker 31 spline for the 8.8 with under 10k miles straight up for my sct sf3. -note im only running an 87 tune eff 93 octane fillups---

1. would this be worth it? (i thing so! lol)
2. would i still have to grind the ring gear with the Detroit's pin?

The detroit locker replaces the WHOLE carrier. its not one of those baby spider gear replacers

 

[gmanpaint]

Gotcha!

That's what I get for posting before I have had my morning coffee.

 

[IZwack]

The detroit locker replaces the WHOLE carrier. its not one of those baby spider gear replacers

I agree and I am a big fan of Detroit -- but sometimes people also call the "EZ" locker a "Detroit locker".

 

[patrick112390]

I agree and I am a big fan of Detroit -- but sometimes people also call the "EZ" locker a "Detroit locker".

yea i should have worded it better, but the question still is, the locker for the tuner!!!? lol what should i do