1977 Ford F-150 4 x 4 with front locking hubs

Anyone ever upgraded the differentials and with what?

Eaton TruTrac for street use?

 

Hi, I put a whole rebuild kit from jbg in my Dana 44 with a traction lock and it pulls pretty nice in the snow and mud. My nine inch is a nodular iron center section from speedway with their gear limited slip and it seems like a pretty nice setup although I’ve only driven it like 50 miles. There’s a lot of good options and a truetrac probably behaves similarly to what I’ve got and it drives pretty nice not much of a change from the old clutch limited slip.

 

Thanks so much! Do you know the spline count for the front and rear? Also, what do you suggest for the front? Can you also use a true trac for the locking hubs? Thanks again!

 

There's nothing at all wrong with the Dana 44 front it's a proven axle.

I like the looks of the factory Spicer hubs best, but if you want something aftermarket the Warn old style premium hubs have always been considered the best , because they are.

 

Yes. I have used numerous trac lock units over the years in rear d60 and one detroit that was 35 splined. had to drill the housing. THe detroit had manageable street use but would unload really really hard especially like going down the hiway at 60+ and round a bend then shortly there after it would get between and BANG and nearly change lanes. Surprised I never got accused of drinking and driving. it also would like to slide rear end on slick conditions. not always ideal. They are very expensive and really strong. my new build I went with a trac lock and rebuilt it. they are frowned upon locally so can usually get for cheap, but will not unload all the time and quiet and if your parking brake works, they you can usually get them to lock even on ice. unless big horsepower is going through it, they work well.

 

I have Eaton Tru Tracs in my 9" rear, and Dana 44 front. I love them. However, putting a limited slip in the front end was a mistake. I should have installed a selectable locker in the front. Anytime the hubs are locked, in 4wd or not, the limited slip causes the axle shaft universal joints to work against each other. Even though I'm fairly disciplined about unlocking the hubs when I come out of the woods, I've had to replaced both axle shaft universal joints twice since installing the front Tru Trac.

 

​​​​​​ EXCELLENT feedback....thank you!

 

I'm just curious what you intend to do with the truck? Or maybe where do you drive it? Do you have inclement weather where you live? Drive it in the mountains, on trails, in the snow and ice and mud and muck?
Trying to make it a more capable off-roader?
Maybe future-proofing the truck?
Just wondering, since you only mention the street.

Most limited-slips are at least mostly street-friendly, especially in longer wheel-base vehicles. But they're also usually completely unnecessary on the street as well.
I'm a Truetrac fan myself, as they don't require special lubricant and don't really have any wear issues. I have one for my Bronco now, and have a Detroit Locker in the other. The Detroit is quite the nuisance on the street in the short wheelbase rig, but it was in it when I bought it. The Truetrac should be great, but I also intend to continue to do trails in the Bronco.
I drove the Bronco for 30 years, including several trips over the Rubicon and other local trails, with open differentials at both ends. Drove the pickup for 20 years with open diffs too. Never needed one either. But I live where the weather is very polite and cooperative most of the time too.
But adding them to the Bronco made sense. With the pickup? Maybe if I'm redoing the diffs anyway. But I like saving money (I'm still basically cheap!) too!

Anyway, just curious whatcha plannin' for the truck.

Thanks

Paul

 

I appreciate it and I just ordered some things from you all!

I'm future proofing in that it was my father's farm truck, but with great bones. I happened to find out it was originally a Ford Freewheeling package that was purchased a town away.

I would say it was neglected, but it was patched and fixed. I don't intend to off road it at all, but would like to refresh all the internals for general street driving.

I'm one of those that thinks, "While it's open let's do it right and be done with it" for my lifetime (I'm 50 lol)

Hope that explains and thanks for taking the time to ask!

 

I agree 100% about doing it all while it's open.

Based on the first statement I'd keep what it has (prob clutch pack LSD from factory.

I replaced mine with a currie unit (just like the Eaton trutrac) gear driven limited slip.

I have no complaints with the unit except driving in wet conditions...... The truck will step out (break loose on the back end) a lot. I have to be very careful driving it in wet conditions due to this. Even in 3rd gear at 2000 rpm and try to accelerate just a little bit the back end will get loose and want to start to turn the truck a little sideways making me back off the throttle a little.

I am running a mud terrain tire so traction is not as good as it would be with a street tire.

My.cluch pack unit even rebuilt with new clutches was A LOT more manageable in wet conditions.

I went with it for 2 reason and that was I use my rig to pull a 23 foot boat out of a sometimes slippery boat ramp and the occasional off roading.

On dry pavement it perform just like an open differential. On wet roads it's a totally different animal.

​​​​​

 

This is all extremely helpful to not only me, but I'm sure others as well!

 

Thanks! Appreciate the support always.
Hope the experience is a good one.

 

Front Dana 44 has 30 splines and rear Ford 9" has 31 splines. Last spring, I went through my rear axle. It was a stock 3:50 ratio open differential. Since I am now running 35" tires, I went with 4:56 gears and Yukon DuraTrac (limited slip) in the rear. I haven't had the time to do the front yet, but it's getting a full spool. I'm not worried about the full spool because it will only be engaged offroad and I can always unlock either side locker if needed. The 4:56 gears really made a huge difference and the Yukon makes it fun in slippery road conditions. Also, TSLs might grip mud and rocks like god's hands, but on pavement I might as well have race slicks on. Really wish I bought 35" BFG KO2s.

 

Same for the Swamper Thornbird. Cool looking for sure.
Also the scariest tires I’ve driven on!

 

I've never seen a spool installed in a front end. Have you? Given my experience with a LSD up front, I'm convinced that a spool will rapidly destroy universal joints, and possibly itself.