[Keller]

Anybody know how much it costs to rebuild one of those? And I know the 4.0 rangers have an 8.8, but are they 28 or 31 spline?:?: :?:

And how long do they last before needing rebuilt?

 

[Ben L]

The 4.0 Ranger's 8.8 is a 28-spline unit. Do-it-yourself rebuild kits are available from Randy's Ring and Pinion (I saw the article in MM+FF)

http://www.ring-pinion.com/

Check it out, the site doesn't list the price but the MM+FF article said that they sell them and they have a pic of the clutches and steels on their main page...

Later,
Ben

 

[Ben L]

Oh, and they will last a long time in normal use. I swapped a L/S carrier out of an 88 T-bird into my rear, and who knows how many miles it has on it and it's holding up ok in a straight line but it does like to spin the inside tire in turns a whole lot (which I've been told is normal for a L/S)...

Later,
Ben

 

[Keller]

So then one with 60,xxx miles on it should be okay? I had someone tell me that the clutch in them goes out after approx 60,xxx miles. :newbie: :WH:

 

[MazdaSOHC]

60,000 isn't bad for a LS rear, as long as it's been driven normally. The clutch packs do get worn after a while and they don't like to lock as easily. You wouldn't notice it driving on dry roads, they will still lock OK. But on wet or slippery roads, they tend to need a shot of throttle to get them to engage. Or if you're in snow, setting the emergency brake lightly helps.

 

[Ben L]

Yeah, good info Mazda! My L/S is out of a T-bird Turbo Coupe, and I have no idea how many miles are on it, but I'll have to assume at least 100,xxx and that it was probably driven pretty hard to end up in a junkyard in South Dakota (where ted was so kind as to remove it and mail it to me for a reasonable fee :thumbup: ) I'm gonna call Randy's Ring and Pinion on Monday, and I think I'm gonna probably end up rebuilding my L/S unit just because I don't like how it spins the inside tire so easily on sand and gravel (like Mazda said). Hopefully it'll tighten it up, and hopefully the rebuild kit is only like 40 bucks... I'll let you guys know!

Later,
Ben

 

[MazdaSOHC]

I don't know how much rebuilding will help that, Ben. The LS in mine has 6000 miles on it, and it still likes to spin the inside tire when taking off in gravel or something. Maybe the differential action still lets it do that. It locks up good when taking off in a straight line though. When you're turning in a circle, somethings got to slip somewhere.

 

[Ben L]

Well I checked just to be sure, and sure enough she left 2 nice big 255 millimeter wide patches. It works in a straight line fine, but sometimes I like a little bitof fun oversteer and it stinks when I can't even kick the ass-end of the truck out at all. It is worse around right turns though, when going left it will 'lock' better and tend to oversteer a bit easier. Oh well, maybe I should just drive like an adult and not spin my tires? Yeah right!

 

[Keller]

Thanks for the help guys.

 

[MazdaSOHC]

You're welcome Keller, and Ben, don't grow up just yet. I was thinking today, the Firestones on my truck are some of the ones being recalled (again), so why not do some nice smoky burnouts and get some good pics? It doesn't matter whether I give them back looking like new, or a "little" worn, right?

 

[Keller]

Either one of you guys had any expierences, or know someone who has, with the Powertrax set-up?

 

[MazdaSOHC]

I'm not familiar with it. Just the Ford Trac-loc and GM posi-trac, and it's been a few years since I've torn either one apart.