Swapping open carrier for limited slip

[SnakeCharmer]

I have an 01 Sport trac that has the tow package with the optional 4:10 gears but no posi. From what I understand, this should be an 8.8 rear, correct? So can I swap in a posi carrier from a Mustang or is it a different spline or anything like that? And if it is a direct swap and since I will be retaining the original 4:10 gear set, can I just swap in the carrier with the same shims that were on the original one or will it have to be set up from scratch as if I were swapping gears?

 

[SnakeCharmer]

Well I just realized that the explorer 8.8's are 31 spline as compared to the Mustang 28 spline 8.8's so scratch that.

So now Im wondering about maybe one of those little ez-locker type things. Any opinions on these for a daily drive street rig.

 

[dirtbro]

im actually getting an ez locker put in this wed...from what ive heard though, it probally wouldnt be your best bet for normal street driving...chirping tires and backlash should be expected...maybe look at the truetrac...it is a limited slip but it doesnt have those little fricition plates that other limited slips have...thus, nothing to wear out in there...i guess i could tell you more in 2 days how it really rides...ill get back to you when it is in

 

[SnakeCharmer]

im actually getting an ez locker put in this wed...from what ive heard though, it probally wouldnt be your best bet for normal street driving...chirping tires and backlash should be expected...maybe look at the truetrac...it is a limited slip but it doesnt have those little fricition plates that other limited slips have...thus, nothing to wear out in there...i guess i could tell you more in 2 days how it really rides...ill get back to you when it is in

Truetrac is way out of the budget. I am trying to get away with not having to pay a shop reset the gears up and all that. Thats why I was looking at the easy locker. If I were to swap out the entire carrier I suppose I could just get a posi unit from an explorer but from what I understand I am in the same boat with having to get the gears set back up.

 

[AMMO_HOOAH]

Your right about having to get your gears resetup if you swap carriers. What are you wanting the LS for anyway if you don't mind me asking?

 

[SnakeCharmer]

What are you wanting the LS for anyway if you don't mind me asking?

Honestly....I just want to be able to get up my driveway in the snow My house sits way up off the road and is on top of a hill. 1" of snow and I have to get a running start from the driveway across the street and it takes 4 or 5 shots because of the one wheel peel. I have even filled my bed with cinder blocks to no avail. It pisses me off because the wifes Escape goes right up and doesnt slide a bit. One time last winter, I actually had to drive my truck back to work, park in the shop and have the wife come pick me up because I gave up trying to get up the drive. The truck is safe and sound at home today because I figured if I drove it to work today I wouldn't get back in the drive.

 

[AMMO_HOOAH]

Ahhhhhh ok that makes sense. I could be wrong but I'm pretty sure your going to end up having to pay to set up gears unless you want to go with an Aussie Locker in there. Super traction, don't have to redo your gears, and from what I've heard (again heard not experieced) that they have really good road manners, so I guess that's an option.....

 

[SnakeCharmer]

Ahhhhhh ok that makes sense. I could be wrong but I'm pretty sure your going to end up having to pay to set up gears unless you want to go with an Aussie Locker in there. Super traction, don't have to redo your gears, and from what I've heard (again heard not experieced) that they have really good road manners, so I guess that's an option.....

I think the Aussilocker and the EZ-locker are basically the same animal, no? I have been doing a little research on the subject and there seems to be alot of mixed opinions about their suitability for use in the snow, which is exactly why I want it. Although it seems that many of these opinions come from poeple with any first hand experience that are probably just repeating something THEY read or heard somewhere. Cant seem to find any good info explaining exactly why they dont think they are good fro snow though. Any idea?

 

[JDraper]

I've run three different vehicles now with a Powertrax locker (lunchbox locker like an Aussie or EZ-Locker) in the rear axle, and they have worked quite well. What happens in the snow is that you have traction with both wheels, but if you spin, both wheels go so that you slide sideways a lot easier than with an open carrier. That may explain people saying they don't like them in the snow. ANY locking device (LS or locker) will perform this way.

All of the lunchbox lockers go in without having to re-set the ring and pinion, which is a huge advantage over switching to a LS, where you will have to re-set the gears.

Right now, my '94 Sport has a Powertrax Lock-rite in the rear axle, and the only time I notice it is starting around corners from a stop. Sometimes it will lock and make the tires chirp a little, but outside of that, it's mostly transparent.

 

[Dan Whitaker]

Why not look on Ebay for a used LS w/gears from an Explorer or a salvage yard?

 

[dman726749]

Why not look on Ebay for a used LS w/gears from an Explorer or a salvage yard?

he would still have to pay to have that carrier shimmed to fit in his housing correctly.......

 

[SnakeCharmer]

Why not look on Ebay for a used LS w/gears from an Explorer or a salvage yard?

Well I have the optional 4:10 gears already so I have no desire to change those. And the reason I am not leaning toward the LS is that I do not have the expertise to set up gears properly. And since NOBODY besides me works on my vehicles, thats an issue.

 

[gijoecam]

A lunchbox locker will help, but I suspect an even bigger problem is the lack of traction. Avoiding the one-wheel peel will only get you so far.... You may want to consider a cheap set of snow tires for at least the rear tires.

Weight in the bed combined with a good set of tires for the conditions will really go a long way to getting your truck back home. Kinda makes you wish you had opted for a 4x4 after all, huh?

-Joe

 

[SnakeCharmer]

A lunchbox locker will help, but I suspect an even bigger problem is the lack of traction. Avoiding the one-wheel peel will only get you so far.... You may want to consider a cheap set of snow tires for at least the rear tires.

Weight in the bed combined with a good set of tires for the conditions will really go a long way to getting your truck back home. Kinda makes you wish you had opted for a 4x4 after all, huh?

-Joe

Actually , I have damn near brand new all terrain tires on there now. And actually I dont regret not getting 4x4. It was a concious on purpose decision. I could have gotten it if I wanted to an it was actually harder to find a 2wd sport trac than it was a 4x4. We have pretty much allways had 2 daily driver 4x4 vehicles and it seemed rather sily since it comes in handy maybe 4 or 5 days out of the year here. I honestly used the 4wd more for pulling other poeple out of ditches than I did getting myself around. I decided that as much as I would use it wasnt worth the extra maintanence to me. I had a few friends at the time that had 4wd explorers, and all had had major transfer case problems so I took that into consideration. The wife and I work at the same place and her Escape is 4wd so we can just drive her car when I cant drive mine but its a little inconvenient because she has to adjust her scedule since I go in earlier than she does.

So basically I can live with it if I need to but if I can spend a couple hundred and not worry about it, that would be nice too.

 

['97 V8]

Just get an aussie locker. If you want one, go to pirate4x4.com where they have a sale that just started. 225 shipped. Easy as hell to install and doesnt take more than 2 hours from removal of diff cover to putting it back on.