No more open-open

[SN95GT50]

Took the first step yesterday of getting rid of the "I'm open-open" excuse...

Yesterday I picked up a rear axle out of a 2004 Ford Explorer SportTrac.  Plan to spend I good part of the winter tearing it down cutting off mounts, welding on new mounts and making it pretty.

The axle has 4.10:1 ratio with a limited slip.  I haven't decided if I will go with a truss and the brackets or just the brackets, about $150 more for the whole set-up.

For the front, I am just going to keep my eyes open for ideas, options are regear the Dana 30 to 4.10s or pick up a 4.10 axle out of a 4 cylinder.  A Dana 44 for the front would be great but I am not optimistic on finding one that I can afford.

Hope to have this done by spring when I need new tires and move up to 33s.

[pvanweelden]

Congrats on the 8.8. Instead of messing with a tj lp30, get an XJ HP30. Skip the 33's and got to 35's

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

[JustinS]

Looks fun 

[SN95GT50]

Started the tear down. Got the brakes off, pulled the cover and drained it, then tried to turn the shafts. Turn one side, the other side turned the opposite direction and vice versa. The pinion does not turn at all. This should be limited slip so I wouldn't expect it to turn the opposite direction when using a 15" prybar between the lugs to turn it.

Am I screwed on this axle? I will try to find some bolts to put into the pinion so I can try to turn that next.

[SN95GT50]

Ok, feel better now...

put a couple of bolts in the flange and put my prybar on there and everything started to move as expected.  This thing had been sitting around for a while and just needed to be broke lose.

From my earlier test, does it sound like the clutches need to be replaced? Or is that normal.

Thanks again,
John

[Luke Graham]

I can help you out with an Artec truss and any other parts you may need.

As far as the limited slip goes, toss it in the scrap bin. They are junk and might as well be an open differential.

[SN95GT50]

Would love to jump directly into a locker, but, dropping a locker in at this point is not realistic financially.  By going to the 8.8 now I get a better gear ratio, much stronger axle and something better than my current open differential.  When I have the funds (hopefully someday) we will discuss lockers.

Now the Artec Truss, when I get the 8.8 all prepped for it, we will talk.

As always, appreciate and respect your opinion.

John

[SN95GT50]

Made some progress the last couple of days.  pulled the cover and everything looks good, no spare metal floating around.  Diff fluid was pretty dark.  Confirmed the gears are 4.10s  .  Removed the two passenger side brackets, need a grinding disk to remove the remainder.  Did a little sanding to make it shiny and removed the parking brake cables.  I bought a 10 pack of cut-off disks, four are gone, should have enough to finish the job.  Fun little project for after work.

[SN95GT50]

Brackets are ground down smooth with the tubes and most of the rust removed on the passenger side.  Drivers side brackets removed, still need to grind down to the tubes and remove the rust.

Next will be to rebuild the TrakLoc and replace the bearings and seals.

John

[JustinS]

Good work.  Need more photos.

[SN95GT50]

8.8 Differential, see anything I should be concerned about?

[SN95GT50]

Axle tubes, brackets removed and ground level with the tube

[SN95GT50]

A little more work on it tonight, pulled both axles out, c-clips came out easier that I expected.  Removed everything the ends of both axles.  Seals are all dry, no leaks, still plan to pull the seals and the bearings just to freshen it up.  Confirmed that the axles are 31 spline  .

[JustinS]

Still going to rebuild the limited slip?

[SN95GT50]

Yes, not knowing the history of the diff and how much easier it will be with it out I'm gonna rebuild it.