Open diff to ls swap questions
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New User
Joined: Jan 2013
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Open diff to ls swap questions
Well I'm pretty much positive that I have an open diff, and I'm looking to swap a ls into it. (96 f250 supercab with a 460 2wd) I'm just looking into the general swap questions, would i need a different rear end? or just the internals? Major things to look for, and while I'm doing it what's some other good modifications? Not just for the ls swap but things that would make maintenance easier and just improve the rearend all together.
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 2,408
Likes: 5
From: Parkesburg PA
Since they were factory offered you could try and find a good used rear and swap it in. If you're going to swap a L/S into your rear you can change just the carrier but replacing the bearings is a good idea. Also, this is a great time to change your gear ratio if you want. Talk to the shop that will be doing it and make sure they're ok with using your existing gears if you go that route.
Adding a high capacity aluminum diff cover is a good idea.
Adding a high capacity aluminum diff cover is a good idea.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,893
Likes: 12
From: Ohio
You can just swap carriers, did that with my 8.8 in my F150. Spent an afternoon in the driveway with basic hand tools. With a dana style housing, as long as you use a Ford LS and you keep the shims in order on each side, it will be pretty easy.
Remove cover and axles. Unloose carrier and drop it out, keep shims together for each side. Remove ring gear bolts, press(or carefully knock off) the ring gear and reinstall on LS carrier. Torque bolts and put back in housing. Install shims and caps and torque. Install cover and proper LS lube.
I found a late model LS take out at swap meet for my 8.8 for $60. Had good bearings on it. Works really well, bit too tight. In wet weather it will chatter the tires going around corners. No biggie.
The big thing with using a Ford LS, other then an off brand, is keeping backlash correct. Being a Ford part, you likely can get away without changing anything. With using an aftermarket piece, the thickness might be off enough to create problems. Nothing a set of shims cant fix, but not for someone without any rear end knowledge.
Remove cover and axles. Unloose carrier and drop it out, keep shims together for each side. Remove ring gear bolts, press(or carefully knock off) the ring gear and reinstall on LS carrier. Torque bolts and put back in housing. Install shims and caps and torque. Install cover and proper LS lube.
I found a late model LS take out at swap meet for my 8.8 for $60. Had good bearings on it. Works really well, bit too tight. In wet weather it will chatter the tires going around corners. No biggie.
The big thing with using a Ford LS, other then an off brand, is keeping backlash correct. Being a Ford part, you likely can get away without changing anything. With using an aftermarket piece, the thickness might be off enough to create problems. Nothing a set of shims cant fix, but not for someone without any rear end knowledge.
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I would be doing it myself, I help out at a local shop here in town (I live in a town of like 2500 people and it's an old coworker of my dads, so we can get away with my using the shop and not having insurance and other issues). I asked him about it earlyer and he wasn't sure exactly on that rearend. (He's more of a chevy guy and has put posi in his trucks but never a ls into a ford) Another guy that works there said about putting a locker in it, saying that a ls was pretty much just a factory locker but i wasn't sure about that, is it?
Cargo Master
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 2,364
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From: starship enterprise
LS in these trucks was a trac lok. We put one in my brother's truck and it took about 1 hr. The bearinngs could use replacing, but even if so that is a minor chore and do it before staeting the swap. remove old bearings, put carrier in freezer, bearings in oven at 300-350 and wait about 2 hours (bearings in oven take only minutes, frezzer takes longer) and pop them together. off you go. The shims on these rear ends are outside the carrier bearings so just put them back in the orientaion you had them. and ut the ring gear and the excitor ring on the carrier. You are done. very painless. The only upgrade I have seen necessary on these axles is the crush sleeve eliminator, and not even necessary, but slightly more dependable than the crush sleeve.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Apr 2025
Posts: 147
Likes: 30
Just ordered the TruTrac from Speedway motors for $787 and the shim/bearing kit from Ron's Machining Service. The bearings are Koyo, not Timken but looks like high quality, made in Japan.. $100 , no tax, no shipping includes shim kit
Thanks Guys.
Thanks Guys.
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