Right now I have an open rear end in my 1988 Dakota (short bed/reg cab) it is a 5-lug hub pattern and I want a limited slip rear end. Seems pretty simple for the most part, I just need to identify what vehicle(s) have the axle I need. I'm not looking for off-road performance my truck is not 4x4 but it will help on basic trails fishing etc where I have gotten stuck before when 60/40 would have gotten me out. I have a 5.9L engine lined up for street performance so a LSD will help I'm sure with pavement traction and burnouts?

I heard some pre-97 Dakotas with the 4x4 package had a LSD rear end, and a lot of Jeep Grand/Cherokee's did as well I'm just not sure what years and packages to hunt down...maybe what the pumpkin looks like?

What should I do once I pull one from a salvage yard, pull the cap off the pumpkin drain all the oil, clean up the ring and pinion, replace the gasket and refill with good oil? Anything else? I will look for a low mileage truck, I also need to get some confirmation on what length/width mine would be and if Jeeps are the same?

 

Jeep would be your best option I think as those are 5-lug pattern and almost all of them had either an lsd or a locker from stock.

 

I was thinking about getting a rear locker axle but wasn't sure if I wanted an LSD or locker. Are locker equip Jeep axles "open" or "limited slip 40/60" when unlocked?

 

Lsd is 60/40 split. Locker is where your rear axle is basically welded to go 50/50 when its locked, lockers are generally never used for street application since they will break easily when going around turns, lsd have a ratcheting mechanism for turns.

 

Lockers (like Detroit Locker or any of the "lunchbox" lockers) are fine on the street if you can live with their idiosyncrasies. They sometimes pop or clunk around turns and can be "interesting" on snow and ice. But once you get used to it, they're not bad.

I'm not sure what diff you have, but if it's an 8.25", your easiest option is a lunchbox locker, like a Spartan or a Lock-Right.

If you're somewhat mechanically inclined, you can replace your whole carrier with a TracLoc for almost the same price.

If you have a 7.25", I think your options are pretty limited. You might consider replacing it with an 8.25".

 

Yes I know this, what I am asking is what are the factory locker axles running when unlocked? The street benefits I see in a locker (I need one anyway for winter) is burnouts and takeoffs in drag racing...does a 40/60 pull in one direction on pavement on a hard takeoff or burnout?

I have the 7.25" I think, which is why I wanted to switch out the whole rear end. Junkyard factory setups are much cheaper then aftermarket parts even when rebuilt.

 

A LSD will be lucky if it gets 60/40 split when one tire has loose traction. Most likely it will be 80/20 if even that maybe lower. Most use a spring loaded clutch pack to put pressure on the spider gears, no ratcheting mechanism.

Yes a locker will give true 50/50 split. A selectable locker will not unlock for turns if you don't turn it off. An automatic locker will disengage for a turn they have the ratcheting mechanism. Yes a locker can easily break loose the tires on a turn if that is what you mean. No you won't break any parts with a locked axle while turning.



To answer your question Pink, no factory truck or Jeep came with lockers. Only the Rubicon Jeep which are to narrow and are to sought after. Some newer Toyota TRD Offroad? trucks had them, as well as full size Chevy Z71.

Yes Dakotas 1st and 2nd gen came with stock LSD's. No there no way to tell just by which package. The best way is to lift the rear end and spin a tire (trans in neutral), if the opposite tire spins the opposite direction it is an Open diff. If it spins the same direction then it has a LSD. The only bad thing about used LSD most of the time the clutches are bad and need replacing or else the LSD feature will not work.

 

Oh 80/20 sounds almost useless haha. Yes I planned on unlocking it on road and not depending on any auto system for unlocking on corners. I wasn't asking about breaking loose on corners I was looking at street performance with doing a burn out in either a straight line or fishtail style etc.

Well I should probably stick with a Jeep axle so looks like LSD (non-locking) is my only option then, lockers will have to be a future upgrade if I want it. I just need to measure my axle hub-to-hub and see if Jeeps are the same in that direction, then start looking! I will deff look for something with low mileage and hope the differential clutch is good...are those expensive to replace?? Another reason I want to go with a Jeep axle is while I'm doing this...I might as well do a rear disc brake conversion, my buddie did this on his Cherokee and all he had to do was widen the mounting holes for the caliper/bracket and use a Grand Cherokee rear disc system I think he said? I have over-sized shoes and pads with over-sized front rotors and I still have a hard time stopping, I don't think that is the rear drums though I think it has more to do with my 3-speed auto's torque converter or something (it does not release quick/enough and holds the truck back when coming to an abrupt stop...I'm better off shifting out of drive into neutral before braking if I want to come to a fast and smooth stop!)

I also need to figure out what gearing ratio I want in the LSD I look for...I'm not really a top speed demon I just like a punchy powerful launch but I'm not sure if the 5.9L should require a particular range of ratios because of it's power?

 

If you can find a Jeep axle with a good LSD and disc brakes, then go for it. But I say stick with the Dakota axle so you know it is a direct bolt on 87-90 for the 5lug, you can always use a 5 lug axle shaft on a 91-96 6 lug axle.

For best traction on a LSD get new clutches. They can run $60 or so but installing them is a PIA. There is a great write up in the FAQ2.

As for gear ratio on a 5.9 it depends on your tire size. Stock tires to slightly larger 3.9 is great for launches and towing ect. Anything lower (higher numerically) will affect your freeway.

 

I have a feeling I will need to add the disc brakes they will not be on the axle I find.

What gear ratio's were available in the LSD? Same ratios between Dakota and Jeep or did one have some the other did not?

My tires are tiny on 14" rims but I have slightly larger tires (much wider though) on 15" rims that will make their way on there eventually.