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GM 14 Bolt 10.5": 4:10 vs 4:56 Carrier With A Detroit Locker

B

Bohemian

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I have a GM 14 Bolt 10.5" with the 4:10 and down open carrier that I'm looking to put a Detroit Locker in.
I'm wondering IF a 4:56 Carrier will fit in the same housing and if it will is there any advantage to using it over the 4:10 carrier?

Or is it just a waste of money, since the 14b Detroit locker fits in either carrier, similar to a lunch box locker.

As far as I can tell I can get a 5:13 or a 5:38 ring & pinion in the thick or non-thick version, which is what I'm also changing.

thanks in advance
 
I would use the more common and available 4.10 case with thick cut gears only for that reason.
 
Just keep the carrier and buy thick cut gears. No point in spending money you don't need to spend.
 
I can't help but wonder if the 4:56 carrier is any stronger than the 4:10 carrier and if the 4:56 carrier will fit in the 4:10 housing I already have.

Also is there a downside to using a thick ring gear?

On just about every 4x4 diff worth having the carrier is pitched when you put in a Detroit Locker, not so with the GM 14 Bolt. And there's only one Detroit Locker for the 14b regardless of the carrier break.

Used 4:56 carriers are readily available and not that expensive so therein lies my conundrum.

Thanks in advance
 
The reason why 14b carriers arent replaced is because it's already a fully enclosed 4 pinion carrier. Not half open 2 pinion like most other carriers. No reason to replace something that is strong enough.

The two carrier brakes will install into any housing. The only difference is the mounting height of the ring gear surface. The only reason why this is different is to make up for pinion head sizes in the different gear ratios. There is only so much adjustment allowed in the housing. It can't accommodate everything on one carrier

The whole reason why thick cut gears were invented was to replace the need to get a new carrier. The difference in ring gear mounting height made up in the ring gear thickness. Hence "thick" cut gears.

If you want to buy a different carrier go for it. No reason to.
 
OEMs use carrier brakes because steel used to make gears is expensive. It doesn't cost them much to cast or in some cases simply machine the ring gear surface in a different spot to accept a different gear. How much more is thick gears? 20 bucks? Multiply that by a few million gear sets and OEMs save (make) money. If you can get a 4.56 carrier for 20 bucks do it otherwise just go thick cut then the carrier you have (4.10) will take any gear you want to put on it.
 
What @TreeFarm said is correct. It's almost exactly the same carrier. Mounting height is different.

Zero reason to get a 4.56 carrier for new gears.

There is no strength difference. If I remember right they even weigh the same
 
heck i have a set of broken axle shaft planet gears out of a 14ff for a paper weight and the carrier showed no damage at all . even the axle spline on the gear had a bit of funky wear but was still usable . use what ya got + save money = order gear thickness for that carrier .
 
Absolutely no reason to change carriers. From my research the thick cut gears (which use the 4.10 carrier) were more common and the price was about the same.
 
I seem to remember there being an issue with 5.13 and/or 5.38 for the 4.56 carrier. Either really expensive or not available.

I will concur just stick with the 4.10 and down carrier.
 
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