dual purpose build. desert runner and mtn rig. gearing/locker/lsd advice

[dcashley84]

my rear 8.8 has limited slip in it. front is open diff.
i need to replace gears when i put the 35's on. going with 4.56's

what do you guys recommend for rear? i have a lead on a open rear diff with 4.56 already in it. should i go that route or leave the rear as limited slip and use my stock axle
front im thinking limited slip also.

thoughts on whats good for desert prerunning and mtn trail rig? i only know rock crawling so prerunning is new to me.

[Phoenix0783]

I like the true trac I had up front. That's what I had in the rear as well and it worked great.

[Seabass]

I'm a big fan of the full carrier detroits for use in the rear. They are simple and proven. I've had other lockers and this is my go to for something that sees pavement and dirt.

I'd like to run an lsd in the front but with the travel numbers you can get out of the ttb you really got to be doing some crazy stuff to pick up a wheel or loose ground psi. An open carrier may even help save you from drive train carnage. I've been going back and forth in my head on this one for a long time. My decision will most likely be made by the health of my checking account when its time to regear the front.

[Nick]

I'm running a detroit in the rear, open in front. I really like that combo, but it all comes down to what you prefer.

[hobbyturnedobsession]

I ran a Detroit in the rear and a posi up front on 4.56 gears. With the suspension and traction I would piss jeep guys off.

[dcashley84]

hobbyturnedobsession.... im in elsinore.. we should wheel some time. im a convert from a highly modded xj to a bone stock 96 xlt. soon to be c&t with kings.

[agavelouis]

I'm open / open with 4.88's

Pulled a heavy Dodge out of a huge silt bed in 4wd with no issues. All 4 seem to spin pretty equally.... cough cough Philo cough....

http://youtu.be/W8YRr-_luxc



Played around in a lot of other areas in 2wd alone. I'm sure with straight up hammers style crawling I'll run into some issues, but for now I have yet to have to use 4wd for myself.

[greaslife]

I'm going 538. Or 513. On 35s and an ad trans. I have a 9" and will be installing a lock right in the read and open in the front.
Unless your going nuts with crawling I don't see a reason to lock the front up. Becides your not going too turn very well with a locked up front

[hobbyturnedobsession]

I'm sorry man I tore mine down. Got a Baja bug now. My wife has a bronco which will not remain stock after the bug is complete.

[VintageIronFab]

At least 4.88's with an OD trans- I went 4.56 and honestly regret it.

[Mesozoic]

My truck makes so much torque at low RPM, I'm perfectly happy with 4.11:1 gearing. It serves me well on the highway and offroad. Anyway, I've got a US Gear billet steel LS in the Ford 9" out back and a Powertrax Lockright in the Dana 44 front. It works great, but if the Truetrac had been available at the time I did the rear LS I would've gone with that instead.

[dcashley84]

i ended up doing 4.56's and a yukon zip locker in rear with a detroit lsd in front