MattInTheCouv

so i have decided to put a traction-lok on the back of my f150. my question is which part # i should go with? i'm thinking it's M-4204-F318, linked below

http://www.fordracingparts.com/parts...rtKeyField=225

just wanna make sure this is the appropriate one for my 97 4wd rig. it has 3.55's in it or i could just slap an expedition whole rear end on it. (all expeditions seem to have 3.73's, and no f150 rear ends of this gen seem to have limited slip). before i get posts questioning my decision to go with limited slip vs locker....

-pacific northwest rain and mud
-towing a travel trailer on and off road
-elk hunting on washboarded logging roads
-occasional icy roads in winter

so i don't really do any hardcore 4x4'ing... just drive a fair amount on some low-traction surfaces

TRD-Toy

Sorry to burst your bubble but the expedition rear end won't crossover to your pickup. Expeditions use cool springs not leaf springs. Could possibly swap internal parts from the expedition rear end. Most all the off-road package trucks will come with 3.73 gears unless it's a manual transmission then it will be 3.55.

MattInTheCouv

no bubbles burst here. i had assumed the spring perches could have been cut off... but like i said, i'm NOT looking for a expedition rear end because i do have 3.55's in my rig, as it is a manual. just lookin to make sure i don't accidentally order the wrong traction-lok unit

TRD-Toy

Looks like it should be correct. It accepts the exciter ring for the abs, should be 31 spline. Gonna need some marking compound and carrier shims for setup. I can't believe you can't find a good used part. I have one of these on the shelf! Ah, I guess the junk yards probably only sell the whole rear end. Mine came out of a crash truck that bent the axle housing!

Austin97

That's the right part, assuming you have an 8.8 and you're talking about doing just the rear. The front is 28 spline, while the rear is 31.

I just put a traction-lok from the dealer I work at in instead of the Ford Racing Parts one because I got a better price, but it's probably the exact same one anyway. Mine didn't come with the S-clip that needs to be in there to put pressure on the clutches, so make sure you have that, and like it says, you need to put friction modifier in there since you'll have the clutches.

A lot of these trucks do have LS, but not as many as I thought. Like you I have a 5-speed and mine's the XTL "Off-Road". It's pretty sad to make an "Off-Road" vehicle with open diffs if you ask me. I've got these fancy skid plates, but when I get stuck in an inch of mud because my 4x4 is really only 4x2 (One in front, one in rear) they won't do much good. It's a 4x3 now though, so hopefully that'll make a difference. I think next year I might put LS in the front and regear, I just didn't feel like pulling the front diff this year. Rears are so much easier to work on.

MattInTheCouv

i could find a used part, but, it would probably be out of a vehicle with a billion miles on it. even if it weren't, i would have to put a new clutch pack in it cause i wouldn't wanna assemble it and set it up just to find out that it needed new plates. add that to the price of the used unit, which i've only seen for over a hundred bucks, and i'm so close to the price of a new unit, i can't see not just buying a new one. so, since a 3.55 limited slip complete rear end is next-to-impossible to find...

@austin - i'm with you. no clue why they wouldn't include the traction-lok with all the rigs. i mean, actual production line cost would be like a hundred bucks extra, and it would be a good selling point. oh well. once i put the LS unit on i'll have a "2 1/2 wheel drive" truck.

Austin97

Oh yeah I didn't even consider putting a junkyard rear in. It's not worth the work of replacing the clutches, that's a PITA if you're not used to rebuilding them. You're doing the right thing replacing the carrier. Just so you know, the service manual tells you not to reuse the ABS ring, but I did and it wasn't a problem at all, just tapped it off and on with a punch and hammer.