02 suburban rear end 4.10 l/s ?

[Bronson357]

OK so I have an 02 burb 246000 miles or so. Rather than getting another one,I would rather make this one nice again.

1st step is rear end gears,has a 4.10 no g-80, I would love opinions on a good L/S diff. Any opinions? I will go through and replace all, it whines in corners and I have loaded this thing heavy several times but the rear axle needs attention.

I would like to keep 4.10s and a nice limited slip diff.
OK so I'm reading about different lockers but I would like a light duty limited slip and not a locker, what do you think would be a good comprise?

 

[Marky Dissod]

As a former Caprice 9C1-LT1 enthusiast, we tended to replace our GM OE Auburn limited slips with Torque Sensing (TorSen) limited slips.
One wheel on ice or up in the air, gotta use the left foot on the brake to get both wheels turning again, but anything else, they're pretty good 'limited-slip' diffs.

That said, if your bubba has an 8.625" 10-bolt, you may want to seriously consider upgrading to a 12-bolt or 14-bolt.

 

[Bronson357]

I love the semi float 14 but honestly the factory 10 did fine for 250000 miles loaded heavy. If I was wheeling I would slap ff 10
5 in but thank you

 

[swathdiver]

I love the semi float 14 but honestly the factory 10 did fine for 250000 miles loaded heavy. If I was wheeling I would slap ff 10
5 in but thank you

The thing with the GMT900 9.5" 14-bolt Semi-Floaters is that they come from vehicles that were not likely dogged out from racing or towing, especially the Escalades. Another thing to consider is cost of a used unit, they go for cheap on LKQ. (This axle bolts right up, has a 1 inch wider track than yours and would probably need a conversion joint to mate the pinion yoke to your driveshaft.

Regardless, both differentials have the Trutrac limited slip available to replace the G80 carrier and of course the 4.10s.

When I went down this path one of the things that concerned me about the other limited slips is that they did not seem to last a long time under a truck before needing to be rebuilt. Several of the vendors advertised prominently that they were easy and quick to rebuild. Well, I don't want to rebuild one periodically so stayed with the G80.

 

[Bronson357]

It's tough to find a coil spring 4.10 out of a 900.
Don't want to mess with the front,plus I like 4.10 gears. Seems I can find 3.08 and 3.42 all day.
Thanks

 

[strutaeng]

The ring gear ratio is independent of the differential mechanism (open differential, G80, LSD, locker), unless if the differential has ratio breaks. The 14 bolt 10.5, for example, for carrier breaks (4.10 and numerically smaller vs 4.56 and numerically larger).

So in your 10 bolt, you basically remove your open differential, removed the ring gear, and bolt it to the new differential. Of course, you'll need to set it up properly, like preload and backlash.
Looks like this is what you need:

EATON 913A481 Eaton Detroit Truetrac Differentials | Summit Racing

Free Shipping - Eaton Detroit Truetrac Differentials with qualifying orders of $109. Shop Differential Carriers at Summit Racing.

www.summitracing.com

Your traditional LSD usually has clutches that wear out (often 40k miles), then you have to service it. This is a thorsen-style helical gear LSD, so it's the one to get to avoid that. The only "downside" I have read is if you get one wheel in the air, you have to momentarily hit the brake pedal to get it to engage. Not really a downside as long as you know that TBH.

 

[SpareParts]

I like the G80s but im not trying to do burnouts with 600hp. My van has the 8.5 ring gear 2wd and the G80 in it works perfect, summer and winter.
The problem with G80 is the way it locks up. Slamming with into lockup repeatedly will break it.
Normal DD it will probably last forever with no more failure rate than any other factory part.

 

[Marky Dissod]

I like the G80s but im not trying to do burnouts with 600hp. My van has the 8.5" ring gear 2wd and the G80 in it works perfect, summer and winter.
The problem with G80 is the way it locks up. Slamming with into lockup repeatedly will break it.
Normal DD it will probably last forever with no more failure rate than any other factory part.

I BELIEVE, but have not yet confirmed, that there may be a way to reduce how hard it locks up ... ?
(looking for the 'Idunno' smiley ...)

 

[Bronson357]

I'm not opposed to a g-80(best price) I don't wanna mess with it for as long as possible. I also like that the g-80 doesn't need special lube and have wearing clutches.
Does a g-80 replace the carrier?
I plan on ordering all the parts and having a shop install them. I'm thinking new ring and pinion,master installed kit and differential of choice,definitely open to opinion on that one.
Anything else you can think thanks

 

[strutaeng]

I'm not opposed to a g-80(best price) I don't wanna mess with it for as long as possible. I also like that the g-80 doesn't need special lube and have wearing clutches.
Does a g-80 replace the carrier?
I plan on ordering all the parts and having a shop install them. I'm thinking new ring and pinion,master installed kit and differential of choice,definitely open to opinion on that one.
Anything else you can think thanks

You could source a G80 differential/carrier from the junkyard, then swap your 4.10 gears or buy new ones and install it on your truck.

G80 is basically the diffential carrier...

Just find a truck that looks stock and doesn't look beat to hell. Any 10 bolt from a 6 lug pickup or SUV will work.

 

[Bronson357]

Not really looking to go used on this stuff I want it to last, g-80s are hit and miss. If it costs to much I'll go open carrier. Thank you all