rebuilding powr-lok lsd's

[Mhannink]

looking to rebuild a powr-lok d80 carrier, the clutch packs look pretty good(see photo) and are the all metal style clutches. i hear these are the better ones to have. what i am wondering is should i rebuild with new clutches or just restack these? how do they hold up to abuse. the carrier is out of a different truck and it was a couple years ago i bought it so i dont know the mileage on it. im looking to make the lsd as aggressive and rugged as possible, so should i run these or get new ones and stack as is normal, or just restack these and go with it?



second thing. i have a powr-loc 60 carrier for the front. here i dont have a choice the clutch packs look pretty rough and need to be replaced. this carrier is out of a 68 ford d60 rear. i know i need to change the side gears to the 30 spline used in the dodges. what i am wondering is it possible to get the old style clutches, or only the new style fiber ones? from what i read the old style clutches are the ones to have. anyone have any experience with both styles?

 

[Mhannink]

no one? im sure someone has dealt with these and has some information

 

[jhenderson]

I rebuilt the rear trac loc in my 02. I used new clutches because the diff wasn't locking well. I put in 1 extra plate of each to tighten up the clutch pacs. Big mistake. Too tight. I wouldn't put a trac loc in the front end unless I had locking hubs. Even if you are in 2 wheel, you will be fighting the steering wheel every time you turn.

 

[Mhannink]

I rebuilt the rear trac loc in my 02. I used new clutches because the diff wasn't locking well. I put in 1 extra plate of each to tighten up the clutch pacs. Big mistake. Too tight. I wouldn't put a trac loc in the front end unless I had locking hubs. Even if you are in 2 wheel, you will be fighting the steering wheel every time you turn.

im not thinking about adding extra clutches just restacking. also there is a big difference between the powr-lok and the trac-lok. from what i have gathered the powr-lok is the better of the 2.



as for the front, first i can stack 2 ways, aggressive and not aggressive. that would make a big difference in the front in relation to how it steers. the powr-lok is very tuneable, dana spec and be as little as 25 ft-lbs of rolling torque at the wheel to 200 ft-lbs. all based on how the clutches are stacked and how many are used.



i dont think i will be fighting the steering wheel much as all when in 2wd, with the cad the wheels will be disconected from each other and allow turning as normal. when locked in 4wd i could see the steering being tough. we will find out if that is the case or not. i suspect it might be, but maybe not so bad that it bothers me.

 

[NIsaacs]

When I rebuild one I just install what they send so I can't help on choices. For a customer I use the limited slip additive, however on my own I do not. It seems to be more aggressive this way.



Nick

 

[Mhannink]

When I rebuild one I just install what they send so I can't help on choices. For a customer I use the limited slip additive, however on my own I do not. It seems to be more aggressive this way.



Nick

do you have a spec for the steel clutches? im wondering at what point they wear out and dont work well. if they were fiber i would replace them no doubt, but the all steel set up im wondering about the need to replace them. the fact that they have rebuild kits means that its possible, but i have not found much related to that.



the limited slip additive is going to make a difference on aggressiveness no doubt. with additive it will allow more slip, without additive it will allow less slip. the trade off is longevity, the more aggressive it is the faster its going to wear out when it does slip.



the fluid i use has a high moly content that allows me to not use ls additive and as far as i can tell there are no adverse affects from it. however with the set up i am contemplating its use. i will probably use it to help tune the limited slip. since the amount changes how aggressive it is, i can stack the clutches to be very aggressive and then adjust it with varying amounts of additive.