I posted this in the 73-79 forum and thought it really belongs here. Sorry for the double post.

I went to the junkyard at lunch today to get a new carrier for my 9". As it turns out, I have a limited slip and not an open like I thought (evident by the recessed bolts for the ring gear). The cover for the carrier (the hat) is broken (see my "Can this be fixed" post in the axle/diff. section for a photo). The junkyard didn't have the part I needed. I also recently purchased a mini-spool for this rear end.

Basically, I have 3 options:

1. fix the carrier and live with LS
2. fix the carrier and install the mini-spool
3. replace the carrier with the open type and install the mini-spool

The truck is a 78 F150 460/4x4 and will be used mainly for off-road and plowing my own driveway in the winter.

Please give me your opinion on what will perform the better, the LS or mini-spooled.

Also, are there any differences in the 9" carriers I need to know about? Besides the 28 or 31 spline, are all the bearings the same size? I have the ring gear so I really only need the carrier case.

Thanks in advance!

Kevin K.

 

you are going to get alot of different opinions on this but i can tell you what i have done to my 9" and my front axle and never had a problem yet on the street or off-road. I installed a full spool in the 9" on my truck on the street i have NO problems and people say oh you're going to have alot of tire wear and all kinds of stuff but let me tell you an open diff creates tire drag also going around a corner a mini-spool or a full-spool does create some more than a open diff but not that much more i also have a mini-spool in the front of my truck but i have manual hubs and i don't have any excessive tire wear on the front either i go off-road with my truck all the time and yes with everything locked in i have to watch how sharp i turn but it is no big deal. I have personally installed over 15 full spools in all kinds different makes of trucks and over 25 mini-spools in different makes of trucks and NONE of my customers have ever complained about cornering on the street or excessive tire wear they are all happy with them.

 

Thanks AZ,

You convinced me to spool the rear a few weeks ago on a different post, and I already have the mini spool. After calling around to all the bone yards here, is seems the posi or trac-loc rears are like gold. Ebay has a few but they're not cheap.

Based on cost and availability, I've decided to get an open carrier and put in the mini-spool. The only question is the interchangability (if that's a word) of the carriers. I keep seeing the bearing size listed when refering to the carriers. Is that an issue or are they all the same?

Thanks a bunch.

Kevin K.

 

the main concern there might be is make sure your spline count is the same on the mini-spool and the axles you already have

 

If your plowing snow ,best to have an ls in this truck.
and off road situations.
Rich




Ford Trucks Built Tough!
not with rocks
Watch out "X" Mayor of Truckville

 

Howdy,
I am currently installing a 9" opn my truck from an 8.8. I have an open diff in it and i have welded the gears, a lincon locker per say. It is the same as any locker just cheaper and ALWAYS locked. There are draw backs but off road there is no comparisson. I have my front dana 44 TTB welded and it works GREAT. Just an idea to save you some money if its not to late. my truck is a 95 bronco. Best of luck to ya.
Gary

 

 

Thanks everyone for your opinions and insight! I've posted many questions in several forums regarding this and appreciate the help.

I finally finished the 9" rear project, and hopefully won't have to post anymore about it.

I ended up getting a third member from the junkyard and took the carrier out. I put in my $26 mini-spool (very easy to do BTW) and put my ring gear on it. I re-assembled the whole thing and set the backlash (by feel & guesswork) and reinstalled it on the truck.

Hopefully, I set it up right and won't have to re-do any of it.

Thanks again for the help! You folks are great!

Kevin K.