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View Full Version : trac-loc or LS??

AllGoNoShow
07-20-2006, 07:41 AM
This may be newb-ish but I pulled out the rear dana 60 axle on my 79 f-350 parts pickup and pulled out the diff to clean everything up. The differential is either a LS or trac-loc. I believe it is a LS. It has what appears to be cluthes behind the side gears. But I thought that most stock LS had a spring in between the side gears also which this does not, so this led me to believe that it may be a trac-loc. Anybody have any suggestions??
bmc69
07-20-2006, 08:18 AM
Trac-Loc is simply the 'brand name' of limited-slip (LS) that comes in Dana axles used in Fords. It is the organic multi-disk friction clutch type of LS..loaded with a conical spring insde the clutch pack.
no v8? why drive?
07-20-2006, 01:58 PM
And they are useless if you are wanting to install it in another truck. You can spend $50 on a clutch pack and repack it so it will work at 70% for another 50k and then do it again, or you can buy a much better unit and be done with it.
bearfoot_25
07-20-2006, 02:22 PM
Well it could be a Power-lock and not a trac-loc, in which case you will be way better off .
AllGoNoShow
07-20-2006, 02:46 PM
Ok so what is the difference between the power lock and trac-loc? How can you tell by just looking at it?
bmc69
07-20-2006, 03:04 PM
Ok so what is the difference between the power lock and trac-loc? How can you tell by just looking at it?

Jeffs Bronco Graveyard has a nice pic of a Power Lok on their web site catalog ..they sell them new. It's still a clutch posi but beefier and with more torque bias than a Trac Loc. I run a shimmed Trac Loc in the front of my '78 Bronco and it does nicely..has about the same bias as the 'street bias' Auburn LS I have in the rear..maybe even a bit more. Thre is nothing really wrong with running a fresh Trac Loc when its shimmed ...very cheap option if you already have the unit. They have been known to explode the clutch case though, if you do end up seriously spinning one tire and have it shimmed. I think I still have some of the pieces of one layng around here somewhere:shaking: ..
AllGoNoShow
07-20-2006, 09:17 PM
Ok...So is it possible to weld this diff up??? I was kind of hoping it would of had a open diff cuz I planned on welding it up anyway. I broke the axle and spun a carrier bearing on my last dana 60 and am putting this in temporarily until I can find a 1-ton rear.
speedo
07-21-2006, 12:53 AM
Ok so what is the difference between the power lock and trac-loc? How can you tell by just looking at it?

Powr-Lok for a 60 is a 2 piece case with 4 pinion gears and a Trac-Lok is a 1 piece case with 2 pinion gears.

Gus
AllGoNoShow
07-21-2006, 04:21 PM
Sounds like I have a trac-loc then...So can I weld it???
Jess James
07-22-2006, 10:46 AM
Sounds like I have a trac-loc then...So can I weld it???

Maybe, but it would be weak and likely to break. Grenade comes to mind.
bearfoot_25
07-22-2006, 12:10 PM
better off finding an open carrier to weld up. Find someone who wants to trade.
Apogee
07-23-2006, 03:32 PM
better off finding an open carrier to weld up. Find someone who wants to trade.

IMO Trash-Locs aren't worth trading for...it isn't worth the master install kit to put it in. The most common failure with them is that the caps shear along the bolt circle and your ring gear departs from the carrier. At least that's what mine did and I was being easy on it.
AllGoNoShow
07-24-2006, 12:35 PM
Hmmmm...I guess i'll just run it as is until I can get a 1 ton to put under there...if it grenades i'm not out much.
no v8? why drive?
07-25-2006, 12:54 PM
You can weld them fine but the carriers are weaker than an open carrier. If you want to save the r&p though I wouldnt risk it.