Replacing clutches in a 7.5" LSD

[scoob8000]

First is a Ford 7.5 LSD rebuildable?

I know most Auburns are not, but I've never pulled a Ford rear end apart.

If it can be done, how tough of a job is it? Any special tools required?
Anyone on here done it before?


[edit]Okay, so I found the technical article on how to do the rebuild. Doesn't look too bad, getting the spider gears in and out is
the only part I'm not totally clear on. Once the cross pin and axle shafts are out, will they just wiggle out to access the clutches behind them?

Lasty a side question, what size (thread) are the cover bolts? I'm going to end up needing to drill at least two of them out. The heads on some of them are nothing more then globs of unidentifiable rust.

 

[MAKG]

You'll need a press if you have 3.73 gears or higher, as the diff guts (clutches, side gears, spiders) won't make it past the ring gear.

 

[Hahnsb2]

You'll need a press if you have 3.73 gears or higher, as the diff guts (clutches, side gears, spiders) won't make it past the ring gear.

Or a dremel to clearence the ring gear...

 

[scoob8000]

Well now I'm confused.

I don't have code tag on the cover, just a metal tag that I cant read. I always assumed it was a "use limited slip additive" tag. (Yeah, I'm a GM guy. haha)

The door tag shows code 84 which is open 3.45's.

But I swear before my parking brake cable siezed up last winter and I kept spinning the tire that both wheels would light up when I dumped the clutch.

Time to start a new thread about swapping in a LSD..

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

The LSD worked till last winter when my parking brake cable siezed up and I kept trying to rock it, thinking I was stuck in snow.

If both parking brakes were on evenly, and you were in snow, then even an open differential would likely try to spin both tires.

From the sounds of the cover bolts you need to change the fluid anyway, once you get the cover off you will know right away if it is open or L/S.

 

[scoob8000]

Yup, it's an open rear end.

I found a guy locally with a LSD he'll sell me for $100 with new clutches in it.

Sound like a reasonable price? The clutchs go for $90 some from Randys by themselves..

 

[Bent Bolt]

You'll need a press if you have 3.73 gears or higher, as the diff guts (clutches, side gears, spiders) won't make it past the ring gear.

Just for info, in order to replace the clutches on a 7.5 diff, you have to pull the ring gear off the carrier.

 

[Hahnsb2]

Just for info, in order to replace the clutches on a 7.5 diff, you have to pull the ring gear off the carrier.

Only on 3.73-up axles. Or grind the ring gear down, saves a lot of work.

 

[scoob8000]

Well, sorry to reply to this old thread but..

My truck was definietly an open rear ended one.

Just got done installing a new ford center section with fresh clutches.

The swap didn't take too long. Several hours, most of which was spent fishing out the broken cross pin bolt out.

Wow, I can make it out of my driveway now without digging a rut!

 

[AllanD]

Or a dremel to clearence the ring gear...

Ahhh... NO.

a dremel to "clearance" the ring gear works to make the cross shaft pin removeable is an easy thing to do.

But to actually get the axle pinions out of the carrier
involves removing the ring gear from the carrier, the
axle pinion literally won't fit out of the "window" past
3.73 or 4.10 ring gear teeth.

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