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Offroad4life
Dodge Dakota
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6/03/2009
20:49:27
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 Subject: Spun the rear diff- What to do?
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For the longest time I was thinking of selling my Dakota. Unfortunately after a very hard launch I spun my rear diff 30 degrees backwards on my axle tubes. Now I'm looking at about $400 to fix the truck keeping the same 3.55 gearing with 33's (that sucks, I know). I was thinking that instead of fixing my 8.25 with 3.55's I could swap in a 9.25 with 3.92's. I have always wanted to to a solid axle swap on it and I think that if I am doing the rear I might as well do the front too, right? So, here are my options and I would like to hear your advise on what I should do...
1. Fix the stock rear diff (by spinning it back and welding it in place) for $400 keeping the same gearing and axles.
2. Swap in a 9.25 rear with 3.92's and get a front diff with 3.92's probably costing me around $1000.
3. Swap to a Dana 44 or Ford 9 inch rear with the gear ratios I want and just drive the truck in 2wd until I have the time and money to do a SAS in the front.
Those are my options. I might have had a good idea about the solid axle swap. When you take the dana 44 from the ford bronco, why not take the radius arm and coil over set-up from it and make mounts to use that on the Dakota? Why would that not work? Are the frames too different? Otherwise I would just build a leaf spring SAS for now.
I wanted to buy an economy car, but I believe after I do all this and because my truck already has a NV4500 with NP241 I might as well swap in a VE pump 4bt and get 25 MPG. I might be able to have it all in one vehicle. What do you think?
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JasonB
Dodge Dakota
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6/04/2009
22:08:44
| RE: Spun the rear diff- What to do?
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By spinning the diff, do you mean that the u-bolts and clamps didn't hold and the entire axle rotated on its spring perches? And now the pinion shaft points up at the bed?
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other bill
Dodge Dakota
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6/05/2009
11:26:53
| RE: Spun the rear diff- What to do?
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Jason,
The spring perches are welded to the axle housing. These points are likely stronger than the points where the axle tubes meet the differential, as they are just pressed into the 'pumpkin'.
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other bill
Dodge Dakota
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6/05/2009
11:31:12
| RE: Spun the rear diff- What to do?
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I did have a friend in Highschool who had a 289 in a Datsun P/U (dating myself) who was able to tear the rear end from the perches...(twice). But that was the stock, Datsun rear end. Never happened again once we slung the Ford 9" under it.
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SxtJDK03
GenIII
6/05/2009
13:51:54
| RE: Spun the rear diff- What to do?
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Here is what I did.
I took a dana 44 from a 78 bronco and used some coil buckets I had from a f250 and put them in place. Constructed my own radius arms that split on the axle end so they are like a "Y" made my own track bar and steering linkage. You don't necessarily have to use a ford 9" rear, I would use your stock one and save the money for a steering box and pitman arm to put in. I got my rear axleshafts machined to a the stock ford lug pattern(5 on 5.5) that way I would have matching wheels.
The ford 9" rear is great, but you will have to figure out a way to adapt the speed sensor, especially if you have an auto tranny. The Dana 44 is a 8.5 inch ring gear, and yours stock is a 8.25, so really its not that much stronger, I would recommend welding the axle tubes into the pumpkin like you are saying.
As far as using the stock radius arms from the bronco, I have seen it done, There is a guy named Mike who lives in Massachusetts and did it that way, I don't think you will have as much flex but it looks pretty badass.
All in all, save the money on the rear axle, save it for wheels since you will be changing lug patterns!
Wheel 'til it breaks!
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MC
Dodge Dakota
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6/08/2009
22:16:27
| RE: Spun the rear diff- What to do?
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I have done a SAS using 78 F150 axles and adapted the 9" Ford with a speed sensor. If you want a quick and cheap fix to your problem I still have both of my stock axles with 4.56 gears which I used with 33" tires and will sell them very reasonable. m.colantuoni@hotmail.com. If you do go the SAS route let me know I can help with the Ford 9" rear and the radius arm mounting questions.
Mike,
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pjc600
Dodge Dakota
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7/26/2009
11:44:14
| RE: Spun the rear diff- What to do?
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i to did this the pumkin rotated on the tubes -broke the weld's loose-
i fixed by doing some reverse hole shots till it came back where it should be and then rewelded it up done...
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02dak4.7
Dodge Dakota
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7/27/2009
15:07:34
| RE: Spun the rear diff- What to do?
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I have a 02 reg cab 4.7 4x4 that came with a factory 9" rear end with 3.55's. If I were you I would look for one of those out of a Durango or Dakota in a salvage yard and make that swap.
If I was doing the solid front axle swap I would probably try to steal a front out of an older International scout, the 44 is a little narrower then the full size bronco so it won't look wierd with a full size axle under a mid size truck.
But that is my personal opinion.
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Kowalski
GenIII
7/28/2009
07:46:49
| RE: Spun the rear diff- What to do?
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Anyone considering the above advice should be aware that the Durango axle perches are in a different position.
Lead, follow, or get out of the way
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02dak4.7
Dodge Dakota
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7/31/2009
11:36:08
| RE: Spun the rear diff- What to do?
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Thank you Kowalski, I was not aware of the difference.
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