Limited slip differential upgrade?

[theoldwizard]

Like I was saying. Find somebody who know rear axles, like Cuda Jim !

[WVFord]

While that is good advice from both T.O.W. and Cuda Jim that is just too far outside my comfort level so I had the shop go ahead with a new one.
I stopped by to see what the innards looked like.

The van de-differentialed.




Old differential.
12 07 98 DANA D 47664 P4L578 45 11


Old next to New differential.



Closeup.

[theoldwizard]

So did you hang around and watch the process of adjusting it ? Quite interesting !

[Cuda_Jim]

Well all that I posted above was for naught...you have a Dana 60. Looks like it was a 4:10 ratio (45 Tooth ring 11 Tooth pinion)
You did the right thing taking it to someone that knows rear diffs, the Dana's are a little more involved with the carrier swap than a Sterling.

[GPz11]

OK, am I missing something, but I don't see a LSD in the pics.

Or is it just that the clutch packs aren't installed yet in the pics?

[WVFord]

@GPz11
I don't know the names of the various parts so maybe this picture will work.
Update: Info I originally put here was wrong. Correct info in post #27

@Cuda_Jim
The shop owner did mention the ratio was a 4:11.
Update:Got that wrong too. He said 4.10.
Update 2:It ended up being a 4.09.

Question:I know Ford vans also use a 3:73 ratio. What's the advantages/disadvantages of the different ratios?

@theoldwizard
I just stopped in a couple times after work. I wasn't around for any of the actual repair which was probably best considering the looks the guys working there were giving me .
Something along the lines of "What the **** is that guy doing with the camera. Hasn't he ever seen a differential before?"
Well actually, No.

[theoldwizard]

Originally Posted by WVFord

@GPz11@Cuda_Jim
The shop owner did mention the ratio was a 4:11.
Question:I know Ford vans also use a 3:73 ratio. What's the advantages/disadvantages of the different ratios?

The 4.11 is a real "stump puller". Good for hauling heavy loads. Bad for fuel economy. Also good for drag racing !

3.73 would give you better fuel economy. A 3.55 would be even better. Both would make the engine and trans work harder when carrying a heavy load.

@theoldwizard
I just stopped in a couple times after work. I wasn't around for any of the actual repair which was probably best considering the looks the guys working there were giving me .
Something along the lines of "What the **** is that guy doing with the camera. Hasn't he ever seen a differential before?"
Well actually, No.

Very few people have. Adjusting the gears is complex and is close to being an "art". I know I would never think of trying it.

Hopefully the guy knows what he is doing. Improperly adjusted gears make lots of noise and will cause accelerated wear (gears should last 3-500,000 miles as long as they are kept lubed.

BTW, LSD require special lube and sometimes even a special additive. The additive is very $$ for just a couple of ounces !!

[WVFord]

The 4.11 is a real "stump puller". Good for hauling heavy loads. Bad for fuel economy.

As a camper van I'm not planning on hauling heavy loads but since most of my driving will be around WV, a.k.a. The Mountain State, where you spend a lot of time pulling steep grades I'm guessing that ratio is probably not a bad thing to have.

[Cuda_Jim]

It could be 4:11.. the math says its...... 4.0909 = 45 divided by 11
The clutches are under the top and bottom gear in your picture. (Called a spider gear)

[GPz11]

Well, this is generally what a lsd looks like.

POSI & LIMITED SLIP

Maybe Cuda_Jim can chime in here. To me that still looks like an open dif.

Have you been able to test it out? I guess as long as both wheels spin, that's all that matters.