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(HELP!) 4x2 Open Diff to LSD?? 03 Dakota (3.55)

2K views 2 replies 3 participants last post by  RalphP 
#1 ·
Alright so today we had our first heavy snow fall and on my way to work i got stuck on a slight incline where my passenger side wheel just spun and spun and spun. I had to throw my hazards on and let people go around me, where I eventually spun a 180 and made my way back home and was VERY late for work lol

So thats my little back story to why I am so motivated to make my 2 wheel drive 4.7l dodge dakota more reliable in the snow.

First off, my glove compartment info sticker thing tells me I have 3.55 gearing. If I were to look for something that would assist me better in the snow, is it possible to just grab a 3.95 LSD out of another dakota? (Since 3.55s never had lsd, just open?) And if that is the solution to just take the LSD out of another dakota is the swap difficult to perform? Id be tackling it at my shop if possible to save horrendous shop charges somewhere else.

Any information is much appreciated, thanks for the help!

-Tyler
 
#2 ·
It might help a little, but 2wd is never going to be good in the snow. I live in southeast Virginia and we usually only get significant snow two or three times a year. I have learned to take my wife's fwd Hyundai Sonata when the roads are slick. I don't change to snow tires on my Dakota, and it has NO traction in the snow. I even throw about 300 pounds of concrete in the back, but very little difference.
I love my 2wd for the fuel mileage, uncomplicated maintenance, and riding comfort, but there is a reason that resale values for 4wd are much higher than for 2wd.
 
#3 ·
To answer a few questions - Yes, you can take the LSD out of another axle of the same size (as in 8.25", 9.25", DANA 60, etc.) and swap it into yours.

There will be some measurements and some shimming required.

I'd find a good differential rebuild manual and peruse it, locating the tools required first, then tackle it.

'Course, if you find a complete rear end that's got the LSD in it (hint: You should have a tag that says 3 55 on it now; a LSD will be 3L55 on the tag) and don't mind redoing the spring mount U-bolts (I'd never reuse one personally! Bit paranoid about that) you could just swap the whole rear axle out; I'd redo the brakes on the "new" axle, plus I'd seriously consider the axle bearings while it's out.

Don't forget to plan on all new axle bearings, seals, and to rebuild the brakes if you just swap the LSD out between the donor rear end and yours.

RwP
 
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