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Dana 44- Open, LS - Thoughts on your setup??

Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2016 1:09 pm
by VintageIronFab
Hello all,
I was just curious what you all thought about front end traction devices. On my F150 I have to buy a carrier for my new gears and was curious what you all thought is far as going open versus limited slip versus some type of a locking device. I have a bolt in axle 44 so I think my options are pretty open. I am wanting this truck to be a pre-runner but at the same time you never know when you're going to be buried in sand or silt. Just curious if anyone felt like or had any regrets to not putting a limited slip or a locking device on their front end when they were doing the gears .

I appreciate your thoughts thanks !

Re: Dana 44- Open, LS - Thoughts on your setup??

Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2016 1:21 pm
by BDKW1
I have run, factory limited slip, open and Truetrac. Liked the Truetrac the best.

Re: Dana 44- Open, LS - Thoughts on your setup??

Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2016 4:52 pm
by baja-chris
Agree, Trutrack works well up front. Ford agrees and starting putting one in the front of the Raptor in 2013.

Re: Dana 44- Open, LS - Thoughts on your setup??

Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2016 11:14 pm
by VintageIronFab
Just bought a new True trac :-) Its the older 2 pinion unit but according to the Eaton tech line, they found the 2 pinion unit to be very reliable and for the $255 shipped and being new I figure what the hell. Thanks for the input!

Re: Dana 44- Open, LS - Thoughts on your setup??

Posted: Sat Feb 06, 2016 3:36 pm
by baja-chris
Top tip, pull the cap bolts from it and put them back together with red locktite and a torque wrench. We had one come lose in the race bronco.
The ones in the fronts of Ole Yellar and my dads bronco have been working great for years and years.

Re: Dana 44- Open, LS - Thoughts on your setup??

Posted: Sat Feb 06, 2016 9:09 pm
by VintageIronFab
Thx Chris -- I'll make sure to do that!!

Re: Dana 44- Open, LS - Thoughts on your setup??

Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2016 8:28 am
by Mr. VanDii
I'm going crazy here, but I ended up with a spool in the front. It works great, but you certainly don't want to drive on the road while your hubs are locked in.

Also, I haven't run on go fast stuff yet.

Re: Dana 44- Open, LS - Thoughts on your setup??

Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2016 8:56 am
by S00TLYFE
Mr. VanDii wrote:I'm going crazy here, but I ended up with a spool in the front. It works great, but you certainly don't want to drive on the road while your hubs are locked in.

Also, I haven't run on go fast stuff yet.
Was thinking of going with a spool in the front with a Detroit or true trac in the rear, still searching for information on the trac loc, because if it works well enough im going to just keep it in the front when I do my gears, provided it can go in with 4.56's, anyone know if that's the case or not? haven't found much good info on them other than a lot of guys run them because theyre cheap.

Re: Dana 44- Open, LS - Thoughts on your setup??

Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2016 10:57 am
by funinthesun95
you will not like front locked all the time.... great for dirt to get unstuck..... sucks ever place other then that.

Re: Dana 44- Open, LS - Thoughts on your setup??

Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2016 11:21 am
by S00TLYFE
funinthesun95 wrote:you will not like front locked all the time.... great for dirt to get unstuck..... sucks ever place other then that.

forgive the noobish question but if I have manual hubs I wont have to deal with it right?

Re: Dana 44- Open, LS - Thoughts on your setup??

Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2016 4:48 pm
by funinthesun95
not a noobish question.... you are correct unlock hubs no issue.

Re: Dana 44- Open, LS - Thoughts on your setup??

Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2016 6:17 pm
by S00TLYFE
funinthesun95 wrote:not a noobish question.... you are correct unlock hubs no issue.
cool, so that's a viable and cheaper option. that will save me like 3-600 on not having to put a locker or true trac in the front.

Re: Dana 44- Open, LS - Thoughts on your setup??

Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2016 8:42 pm
by damon1272
I think Willie was referring to once you unlock the hubs the spool does not come into play. Pretty much a spool sucks to drive. True Trac are the way to go. Stock limited slip works too.

Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2016 8:57 pm
by Wrightracing.net
I will chime in, I ran a open for years, but the Tru-trac is a much better option. To spool or lock the front end is OK for a crawler but everywhere else is the pits.

David...

Re: Dana 44- Open, LS - Thoughts on your setup??

Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2016 9:07 pm
by VintageIronFab
I ended up with a Trutrac and am pretty happy with the decision.

Re: Dana 44- Open, LS - Thoughts on your setup??

Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2016 10:09 pm
by S00TLYFE
Got you. Appreciate the input guys. I'm all
For spending the extra money if it means being happy in the long run. I will stick with original truetrac/dt locker plan

Re: Dana 44- Open, LS - Thoughts on your setup??

Posted: Sun Aug 28, 2016 9:40 am
by arse_sidewards
So far I'm very happy with lunch-box lockers in both ends. No feedback from the front when not on the throttle in 4, can't say the same for an LS. Seems to be a significant improvement over open front with a lunch-box out back but I haven't gone wheeling very much since I put it in.

Re: Dana 44- Open, LS - Thoughts on your setup??

Posted: Sun Aug 28, 2016 5:48 pm
by S00TLYFE
arse_sidewards wrote:So far I'm very happy with lunch-box lockers in both ends. No feedback from the front when not on the throttle in 4, can't say the same for an LS. Seems to be a significant improvement over open front with a lunch-box out back but I haven't gone wheeling very much since I put it in.
I considered a lunch box in the front but haven't heard enough feed back from people to know for sure, keep me updated on how it's working for you.

Re: Dana 44- Open, LS - Thoughts on your setup??

Posted: Mon Aug 29, 2016 2:48 pm
by Phoenix0783
I also really liked the TrueTrac in the front when I had it

Re: Dana 44- Open, LS - Thoughts on your setup??

Posted: Mon Aug 29, 2016 8:20 pm
by LvSteve
I run a TrueTrac it works great