Ok, I was just thinking of something else tonight with all that is going on with my F150. I've got a limited slip with 3.55 gears...how easy is it to rebuild? I remember a year or so ago I pulled the cover off and was checking the gears for any damage because my pinion gear had become loose. I found all these little metal tabs lying in the bottom of the housing about 3/4 inch square....then I realized that they had come off of the clutch discs off of the diff.....I'd like to know how easy something like that would be to do....Thanks

 

I don't know how easy it would be to rebuild. I found a tab in my rearend also when I changed my fluid. I had just bought the truck used and noticed the rearend would chatter when making a tight turn in a parking lot. I replaced the fluid and used the friction modifier that Ford says to use and it quieted right up. The limited slip works great does yours still work?

 

As far as I can tell it's working ok....I really haven't beat it any as far as laying rubber to see if it will leave a pair of marks, but in the gravel and dirt it spins both tires....Hard to say....I think I'm going to leave it as it is....as long as it still gets me where I want to go....If it ain't broke, why fix it?

 

Jack one rear wheel off the ground, leaving the opposite wheel completely grounded, and expose the lug nuts. Put the tranny in neutral, and break out your torque wrench with the proper size socket to fit your lug nuts. Turn the wheel using the torque wrench; breakaway torque should be at least 20 ft./lbs. if your limited slip is any good. Always use a tube of Ford limited slip friction modifier when you change diff fluid, which I do every 50,000 miles, and I have had very good luck using "Red Line" synthetic oil.

 

LSDs operate at different levels of performance(factory installed LSDs are particularly moderate).If your diff hasnt been maintained propperly it will almost certainly affect the performance,(anywhere between not working at all and or working intermittently).With the rear wheels lifted off the ground if you turn one tire the other tire should turn in the oppesite direction just like an open differential,then have someone hold the opposite wheel and turn your wheel hard in a forward direction(top of the wheel towards the front of the truck),you should hear the LSD index to the stopped wheel and when let go it will turn in the same direction as the free spinning wheel at least momentarily.Factory LSDs are not set very aggressive as far as locking up for true traction(as compared to say an Auburn Pro or TRU-TRAC)and they are very prone to failure through poor maintenance,(failure will usualy only result in the differential acting like an open diff).Be sure to always add the friction reducer or use a synthetic gear oil,also make sure that the vent tube is in place and unobstructed,(never plug the vent tube to try to keep out water).Without a propperly working vent tube the axpanding and contracting air in the axle will draw moisture in through the seals and very quickly contaminate your gear oil,almost certainly reduce the affectiveness of the factory LSD,if not completely ruining it.
Jeff