Ok so I have talked with Justin and Shane about this and we all aren't 100% sure these will or won't work.

I found some 4.88 gears near me for $50. I asked shane if the spline count matters and he says it doesn't so that knocks out on reason I can't have them. But Justin brought up another question. I have a 31 spline Lvl 2 axle with the Torsen. Will the 4.88 Yukon's work with it? Is it at all possible? That's the only thing holding me back from regearing, at least the rear at this point...

Suggestions welcome guys! Thanks.

 

Here is what you can do:
Give me your axle you are unsure if it will work.
I give you my axle where you know it will work.

Deal?

 

No deal. I'm gonna keep goin Howie!

 

They will work fine.

 

dam. okay TrePaul. i would think as long as its for an 8.8, you're good. But i don't know everything about rear ends.

 

Ryan, would you stay away from it? I highly respect your opinion. Would you do it for $50 for the Yukon's?

 

No Bueno there TrePaul. Remember all those issues I had with mine at Austin's shop? Torsen + 4.88 fat *** ring gear = NO BUENO. The center block is so large that Wayyyyy toooo many teeth would be ground wayyyy tooo much to even hope to work. No grinding of that center block is allowed do to the helical gears riding on the block.

Why do I have a 38k Torsen sitting in a box at my shop? Cuz I couldn't run it with my 4.88 gears.

 

That's the answer I was lookin for man! Thanks!

So are 4.10's the only ones to work with the Torsen? Or will 4.56 work at least?

 

4.56 might work. I assume a little bit of teeth grinding is needed. I think that's what Jared ran in the '03....but i kinda think he upgraded the differential too. idk.

 

What exactly is so large on the torsen unit to prevent you from running that low of a gear? I personally have never seen one of those units but I figured grinding would be needed just like with my e-locker, no way around that. It just depends on how brave you are and how much of the gear you're willing to grind. lol

http://www.ringpinion.com/TipOfTheDay.aspx?TipID=7

Any pics of a Torsen unit in your stash Shane?

 

its the center block kinda like a center pin

 

this piece

 

Unbelieveably...i dont! lol. I tried it first hand on my truck. '05 31spline L2 axle with the torsen. Dropped the axle off for the gear swap(no shafts). Got it all done. Got the axle installed, time for the shafts to go in, it was impossible to remove the center block w/o removing half of the teeth height on about 6 teeth, and deep in to the teeth.....unallowed deepness from the inside to middle to outside of the teeth. So...out the carrier came, ring gear off, bolted the ring gear to an open diff, threw it back in the truck. Open FX4 FTW! lol. This was after calls to the manufacturer AND Randy's who my axle guy strictly deals with.

The center block is what I call it....it does the same thing the center pin does. Keeps the shafts away and keeps the c-clips planted properly.

I ground my 4.88 ring gear to un-install that notched center pin so i could install the aussie. Not much grinding on that one....but the center block on the torsen, it's huge. I could grab pics of the block in question, but I havn't a 4.88 ring gear to show the actual issue.

 

NICE PICS STONE!!!

 

Thanks Stone. I was not aware that the torsen used such an odd setup there. I don't believe I've ever seen anything like that lol.


So you'd have to grind like, what, 10 teeth to make that work? Or more....

 

n/p

 

ya the torsion isnt like any normal diff...

and yes its grinding not only alot of teeth but alot off the teeth. the 4.88 ring is so freaking large

 

Yes grinding many teeth, but deep grinding yes. Not only deep in tooth depth, but deep in tooth width. Which is a HUGE nono. Severly weakens the teeth.









I know these aren't very good comparisons at all...but.....

4.10 ring gear (torsen) (now that i'm seeing this pic after a long time, there really isn't much room between the block and the ring teeth as-is with the 4.10's. YES, this is the wrong side of the carrier, but it's all I got of the torsen installed)



4.88 ring gear (open)



4.88 ring gear(with aussie installed)

 

even that Aussie must have been a ***** to install

 

Thanks guys!

 

This has been a hugely helpful thread!!

as i have just found out myself.. i have the same setup in my truck!! I have the torsen with that stupidass block.. any more details of any 4.56 gears being installed and how many teeth to be grinded?? Ill be getting this done very soon if it can work!!