Dana 44 OEM Limited slip

[roncrawford82]

Hey guys I am new to the forum and starting a 1973 Bronco restoration. I am currently working on rebuilding my from differential and from what I can tell it is the factory dana Trak Lok. I could tell by the cover the differential had been worked on before but realized quickly it was in bad shape. My pinion had been loose and had been hitting the carrier.

I am putting a rebuild kit in it and also replacing the current gear ratio with 4.56. My question is will the original dana/spicer carrier support a 4.56 setup? I noticed while looking at some parts sites that they had carriers for 3.92 and up then 3.73 and below. I was hoping to get by with just putting a Trak Loc rebuild kit in my current setup but if it will not support my gear ratio I will have to buy the whole carrier.

Any help is much appreciated.

 

[Broncobowsher]

Yes, 4.56 is on the same side of the split as 4.10 ratio. If you had 3.50 gears then you would need a new carrier.

 

[DirtDonk]

If you do have the 3.50 carrier you should be able to find that 4.56 in a "thick gear" version that fits the new higher numbered gears on to the old 3.73 and down carrier.

Paul

 

[roncrawford82]

Thanks for the answers. Since I already have the ring gear and pinion, it would probably just be cheaper to buy a new Dana carrier..


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Broncobowsher]

Before you just get another limited slip, might be worth researching what good limited slips exist these days. Back when it was a factory option, the basic clutch plate limited slip was what everyone used. There are better options today. If you want something that is smooth but still just a limited slip, the gear type (Detroit True Trac for example) are very well regarded. Torsen is another brand. I don't even know what all exists anymore.

And if you are going for a more hard core off-road build (with 4.56 gears this may be the case) there are a bunch of different locking differentials out there that will way out preform a limited slip. After having the better options, I will never own a clutch type limited slip again (unless it happens to be in whatever I get). I defiantly will never buy one. Weather it is a highway street cruiser or flat out off-road machine the clutch type limited slip is just the worst of both worlds choice these days.

 

[SteveL]

Tru trak carriers are real nice up front for a limited slip.