My Dakota didn't come with the Trac Lock. I was disappointed until I read about the broken clip issue. I shopped around for a while but couldn't swing the cost of an Auburn/Eaton etc right now. Apparently lots of folks are pulling the Trac Locks because of the clip issue so I scored a nearly new one on Flea-Bay for $55 delivered. I made a stop at the local Dodge dealer and got the new styleclips for about $9. The newest p/n is 5183722AB. It took me about 30 minutes to swap the clips tonight. I'll install it next week when I've gathered up the tools and a day off.I've attached a photo of the old and new clips for comparison.


[IMG]local://upfiles/81674/C387AC3D82E14FC3B0F82BD2A4CEA7C7.jpg[/IMG]

 

what is this "trac loc" you speak of?

 

Ya what is it? and what does it do?

 

The "Trac Lock" is the limited slip differential you get in any Dodge/Chrysler/Jeep, etcwith an 8.25" or 9.25" rear that has an LSD. They were made by Dana and have been used in Chrysler products since the late 60's I think (Ford also uses them and gets them from Dana). Sometime in the 2001-2003 time-frame they started having problems with these clips breaking and sometimes getting stuck in the spider or ring gears. If this happens when you're going down the road the rearend will lock up and things get exciting! I've read on other forums that the problem started when Dodgebegan sourcing the diffs from a company called "American Axle" (foreign manufactured parts) but the replacement clips I got from the Dodge dealer were labeled "Dana" so I can't say for sure if that's true. There have been attempts to get Chrysler to issue a recall but as far as I've been able to find, they only do repairs for free if the truck is still under warranty. Initially they put the same pieces back in that would just break again. Eventually the clips were redesigned to be stronger and that's what is in my picture.

 

How do you tell if you have an LSD? I thought I read they came standard with the factory tow package( which I have), but I looked and no mention of it.

Growlor

 

Put the gear in "D" hold the brake, mash the gas...

If you have two black rubber lines behind your truck, you have LSD, if one, no LSD...

Or, if you start walking around, and everything becomes fuzzy, and you see stuff, you're ON LSD.

 

I was hoping for something a little less likely to fry my brakes! :P

 

hahahahha thats some funny ****, ur dam right