4x4 front diff placement, Ford v. GM
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2005
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From: Durant, OK (SOSU)
4x4 front diff placement, Ford v. GM
Just something I've noticed. Ford seems to put their front differential on the driver's side of the vehicle, whereas GM seems to put their front differential on the passenger side of the vehicle. Any paticular advantage to either? Or just a brand trademark?
Just had me to wonderin'.
Just had me to wonderin'.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2006
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Solid axle G.M.s have the diff. on the opposite side. The IFS trucks have the diff on the driver side like Fords.
Using old useless D50 solid axles from SD's are going into SAS G.M trtucks every day.
Darn guys are alsousing up Ford D60's addind to their disappearance.
Advantage? Mechanically I do not see any, however, I can judge rocks a little better, and try to limit the amount of whacks the diff takes when the diff is under me, and not the passenger. Hard to see some of them even if they are only two feet to the right. Easier for me to judge when it is closer to the driver side tire.
There might be something to the way tourqe is applied to one axle or the other (open diff.) and the distance between the centerline of the diff, and the wheel, relative to power output, and chassis flex during foward motion. Too many variables to try to support that theory. I would immagine given different situations (off-road) it would be difficult to prove, or disprove either way.
Using old useless D50 solid axles from SD's are going into SAS G.M trtucks every day.
Darn guys are alsousing up Ford D60's addind to their disappearance.
Advantage? Mechanically I do not see any, however, I can judge rocks a little better, and try to limit the amount of whacks the diff takes when the diff is under me, and not the passenger. Hard to see some of them even if they are only two feet to the right. Easier for me to judge when it is closer to the driver side tire.
There might be something to the way tourqe is applied to one axle or the other (open diff.) and the distance between the centerline of the diff, and the wheel, relative to power output, and chassis flex during foward motion. Too many variables to try to support that theory. I would immagine given different situations (off-road) it would be difficult to prove, or disprove either way.
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 390
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From: OR
just an interesting thing i noticed, one mud bog I went to there was a bunch of big Chevys and only one big Ford the Ford was set up better than any of the Chevys yet could not get through the pit that many Chevys were going through repeatedly, I began to notice every time the ford went in his front diff got hung up where there were some deep ruts, since there were more Chevys there they were continually dragging the diff through on the pass. side, but the lone ford was the only one dragging drivers side diff, and would therefor get hung up.
So if the odds were switched, it would have been the other way around.
Maybe I'm full of Baloney, but it made sense to me.
moral of the story: wheel with those of the same differential orientation
Note to self, design an axle without a pumpkin
So if the odds were switched, it would have been the other way around.
Maybe I'm full of Baloney, but it made sense to me.
moral of the story: wheel with those of the same differential orientation
Note to self, design an axle without a pumpkin
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 5,377
Likes: 2
From: Elkhart IN
Originally Posted by 78250crewcab4x4
just an interesting thing i noticed, one mud bog I went to there was a bunch of big Chevys and only one big Ford the Ford was set up better than any of the Chevys yet could not get through the pit that many Chevys were going through repeatedly, I began to notice every time the ford went in his front diff got hung up where there were some deep ruts, since there were more Chevys there they were continually dragging the diff through on the pass. side, but the lone ford was the only one dragging drivers side diff, and would therefor get hung up.
So if the odds were switched, it would have been the other way around.
Maybe I'm full of Baloney, but it made sense to me.
moral of the story: wheel with those of the same differential orientation
Note to self, design an axle without a pumpkin
So if the odds were switched, it would have been the other way around.
Maybe I'm full of Baloney, but it made sense to me.
moral of the story: wheel with those of the same differential orientation
Note to self, design an axle without a pumpkin
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Postmaster
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 3,441
Likes: 5
From: Muskegon, MI (home)
The guy in the Ford couldn't drive. I like the Ford set up better... you don't have to reach as far to put in 4x
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2005
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From: Durant, OK (SOSU)
Lol yeah I know that, but what does the front differential placement have to do with T-case layout, other than the fact that the front output of the t-case would be on the passenger side in a GM as opposed to the driver's side of the Ford. Would this move the T-case shifter lever to the passenger side of the tranny tunnel as well?
Just trying to build a little knowledge here. Thanks guys.
Just trying to build a little knowledge here. Thanks guys.