Let me start by saying Im tired of getting stuck in snow drifts and having 2 wheels spinning on my 4x4. Im looking at getting a Powertrax locker for my front D44. Now for my rear I have the factory worn out LS. It still works a bit on slick pavement but in the deep stuff its worthless. I would like to get a Powertrax for this axle too but what Im reading it sounds like it wont work with a LS carrier. If so should I just go with a carrier type locker? Will I be able to reuse my ring gear with a carrier replacement and will it need to be set up or just remove and replace?

 

What type of LS do you have back there already? Why not re-build it? Fresh clutches can do wonders.
You cant install a lunchbox type locker in any LS carrier, it will require an open unit.
You have to purchase a carrier that will accomodate the gear ratio within a specific carrier break.
The same is true for a full replacement carrier type locker.

You should be warned that you are about to enter a world of expensive problems. Your D44 and rear D60 is not the strongest combo in the world. There is no mention of tire size, but even with 35" tires, a full size truck (F250) can start to tear up front end components and rear axles in no time once you get the diffs locked up.
Small u-joints are no match for a locked up rig. Smaller jeeps can get away with this because they are light weight vehicles, but in a full size, you need to be carefull.
This combo holds up well with smaller tires and open carriers, or even weak LS units, because the LS units will act as a fuse, and break traction before a component failure.

If you replace any carrier, you will have to set the lash up. Pinion depth is already set, so you just have to set the carrier shims.

 

although if you're in just snow with limited traction you'd probably be ok as long as you're with 33 inch tires or less.....

 

I dont do any off-roading in this truck. Tires are 35's. Theres no rock crawling or any of that stuff. I live in rural Nebraska so I deal with gravel roads. That means mud when its warm and snow when its cold. Im not too worried about stressing my D44. But if something was to happen to it I have a D60 front that needs to be rebuilt and swapped in. As for the rear, its the factory LS (trac-loc or whatever its called). When they are all rebuilt is it really worth it? Will it actually spin both rear tires if one is deep in snow and the other on solid gravel?

 

Oh and Im not worried about how a locker handles on the highway. I will worry about that when I can actually get to pavement.

 

Do you plan on ever installing a D60F in this thing? WHy postpone it and spend money twice?
If you have a D60F already then I might suggest that you stop where you are and consider using it. Why waste money and only be marginally better?
Here is what I mean.
Consider the amount of money you will spend on lockers for marginal equipment, then consider spending that money on the upgrades, and see which will be most benificial.

If it were me, I would find a 14B for the rear, and lock it up with a detroit. This is the cheapest locked 1 ton you will ever build. Then I would take the carrier out of the rear 60 axle and use it in the front. Yup, I would use the Power lok in the front. You will need a 35 spline conversion kit, but these are less than a lunchbox locker, and the power lok is probably the right choice for this application. This LS unit is among the most desireable around for front end applications.
Since you are changing carriers for your D60F, you will be removing axles anyway, so pop a new set of seals in there and some bearings, and joints, and you have a re-built D60F.
Dollar for dollar, this would be only slightly more than what you should budget for your current idea. You would be time and money ahead, and only spend money once. I mean of you ever have the intention to install that 60 up front, whay wait?

The Power lok is capable of spinning both 44's when used in the front of a D60.
This is a power lok up front:


Doubt you will ever task your diff this much with little tires.

 

I doubt your current rear would have a Powr-Loc in it from the factory. It's probably a Trac-Loc which is a complete turd. They didn't get the nickname Trash Lock because they were any good.
You can tell the difference by looking at the carrier. The Powr-Loc case is held together by bolts. The Trash Lock doesn't have any bolts holding it together.

 

Believe me, Ive been debating on weather or not to completely redo my D60F or just stick with my D44. The D60F needs to be completely gone through. It needs rotors, calipers and seals. My D44 is in great shape with excellent brakes with a lot of life left in them. The D44 will either stay with this truck or go into my other SuperCab unless I stumble across another D60F which is unlikely. Where can I find a 35 spline conversion for a LS carrier for my D60F? Ive got another rear D60 I could rob the carrier from. That would greatly cheapen the D60F build and maybe motivate me to take that forward.

 

The rotors and calipers are all the same.

 

Precision Gear used to manufacture the 35 spline kits, however they have gone out of business. I have a fax somewhere that told me who the new company was. This new outfit caters to the Jeep crowd but nonetheless the kits are out there. Many of us are running power lok front diffs with 35 splines. This is a mighty reliable combo, and if you want to reallu upgrade, you can use custom bolts to saftey wire the fasteners so they cant back out. This is one of the downfalls of the power lok. Its two piece design has been known to seperate.
As Mark stated, the brakes are the same, so spend the few bucks to get that big axle road worthy and make some real foward progress.
Small steps are better than no steps, but steps in the right direction will bring you and your truck much satisfaction.
If you intend to build the 60F now is the time, so dont waste money on a 44 that you are going to replace anyway.

 

ill second that vote. if your on a tight budget just reuse the brakes, throw new seals and bearings at it, and depending on the differential, throw a lunchbox locker in that or go with the setup these guys said if you have the power lok differential at your disposal. new bearings and seals are relatively cheap. your going to want toput the 60 in there eventually, and your going to want max traction from that as well. like 75f350 said, if your going to put the 60 in this truck, now is the time.

 

Trac-Lok was the only type of Limited Slip available, and was an option front/rear on Dana 44's, Dana 60's and Dana 70's.

Replacing the steel and lined clutches is usually all that's needed to repair these units.

 

Maybe I will start on that D60. Might as well start gathering springs and stuff for a lift and crossover steering parts. A little here and a little there I will have it all in no time.

 

Now you are cooking with gas man!!!!
Thats the way to do it. Heak, you can actually have that axle under the truck in no time and slowly upgrade. You can lift and do your steering after you get it in there. This way you keep motivated and it does not look like a pile of money just sitting there.

Friendly tip: Dont tear it apart until you gather the required parts to put it all back together. It is too easy to give up on a project if you take it apart and let it sit.. Also very easy to misplace parts. Then once you cant find them, you will get discouraged and might never put it back together.
Ask me how I know. Stay focused, and come up with a plan, and you will have a rockin drivetrain in no time.