I got a questio for all you 4x4 and differential experts. I have a two wheel drive and during the winter i sometime regret it. But a while back my old 8 and 1/4 rear end puked on me. Pinion snapped in half and tore the inside all to hell. Anyways the mechanic i took it to couldn't find a axle like mine with the abs sensor in the top so i told not to worry i would probably need something bigger and tougher anyway. So instead he stuck what i think is a Dana 44 in the rear out of a 4X4 dodge. This rearend has a rubber hose coming out of the side of it and I thought it may be a vaccum locker. I know that the vaccum line my Cruise control goes to is also suppose to go to 4x4 and stuff like that. And since my CC doesn't work anyway i suppose i could stick that vaccum tube to the manifold and get a locker rearend so i wouldn't spin that much if at all in the snow. I had a hell of a tme trying to leave my muddy driveway the other day. And being a 2wd i don't have clearnce fora good sizetire with thick tread blocks, all the tires that they list for my truck are M and S rated but to me they wouldn't do in a small rain storm. Plz help me fiqure out if this will work, and if not what others way could i hook my truck up.

 

Are you sure that vacuum hose is not the vent?
Is the rear a dana 44 or a 9.25.

 

weld it.

 

The old rearend was a 8.25 but this one looks totally different then the 8.25 did. It is deffinitly out of a Dodge 4X4. The guy that put it in told me it was a Dana 44. Does anyone have some way to identify them, shape, number of bolts. I know it has what looks like a rubber plug on the passenger side of the cover. The cover isn't flat it has a place where the pinion would be that sticks out to allow clearance i guess. I was looking for a free way to get a locker, i don'treally need one it would just help me incasewe get a good snow, so i am not going to spend the money to get it welded.The hose is about18 inches long and has a plug in it, that is the only thing that led me to guessing it was a vaccum hose, so no dirt or air could get in it. And the end shows obvious signs that it has been cut before. Tanks for any help.

 

I looked all over the google and a couple of 4x4 sites and i think i actually had a Dana 35, which is almost identical to the 8.25 chrysler axle. It has the rubber plug. The only reason I think it's the Dana and not the 8.25 is the tube. The old 8.25 axle i had did not have this tube or a hole for it.

 

its a vent, dodge didnt have and truck come from the factory with vacum powered lockers. at least not in the late 80's early 90's

 

I just got a chance to look under the truck. Got a good deal on the exhaust and took it up there last night suppose to ahve it back at 12:00. But they called about 15 minutes ago and guess what they don't have the right size pipe i want. Be till Saturday, so i said well forget it, took it back, but they already cut whole system off so i am running straight out manifolds. Anyway just ranting, there are 12 bolts holding the cover on. The cover looks like this:


After looking around i found this picture on a axle I.D site, it says it's a Chrysler 9.25 axle, used on 1/2 and 3/4 ton since 1969.

 

its still just a vent line, no locker

 

I really don't like true lockers in the mud or snow for a driver. Since both tires spin no matter what and the same amount I've found that the rear end usually just slides downhill. I can't drive it at all in snow or ice because it just slides sideways. That is in a car with a big block but I'd think a truck would be the same.

As for tires, my old S10 would get stuck on wet grass. When I got my Ranger I did some research and the Liberator tires that Wal-Mart sells have a good reputation for quality as well as one of the most agressive treads you can get without spending a lot of money. I bought them and have really liked them...gone through 6" of mud with a 2wd Ranger for 50 feet or so.

http://www.uniroyal.com/specs/liberator-a-t/3378.html

Derek

 

I was looking at then whenI replaced my tire about 4 months ago. I went to a couple of places to check price. The only tires Wal-Mart carries in the size I need is the BFGoodrich Radial T/A's, and they were $420 without mounting or any other fees. So i went to my Uncles place and he said the comapny he orders tire from doesn't have any tire listed for my application that are aggresive in the tread area. I need 275/60R/15's, pretty fricken wide on stock rims.