7.25 sure grip

sobiecam said
I'll confirm this later after I finish dismantling the truck, but early (87-90 or so) Dakota 4x4s use a 7-1/4 front diff and I believe it is a sure grip unit, after I get to pulling one out of the truck I'm tearing apart I'll see if it's a sure grip unit and check if it's spline'd to accept solid axles as 4x4 Dakotas had CV's. After that it'll likely make it's way to the classifieds here lol!

Okay, went out to check this out, the diff in this particular truck is open, BUT this truck also had an open 8-1/4 rear, so maybe there's an off chance that a Dakota that had the Limited Slip/SureGrip option would have both differentials with sure grip units, but I'd have to hunt down such an optioned truck, as neither of my trucks are fortunate enough to have SureGrip differentials. I have another 7-1/4 equipped Dakota that I'll check for a SureGrip later but it's highly doubtful that it has one (original 4cyl/5spd truck)

Also to the OP, though I'm sure it's cheaper to find bbp A body axles, you could always have a Dakota's cut down and resplined. 4cyl Dakotas (again talking 87-90 here, my general area of Dakota-expert-ness) had 7-1/4 solid axle units, and no 4cyl was built as a 4x4. 4x4 Dakotas, which are all v6 powered trucks, had 7-1/4 fronts with 8-1/4 rears and there was a "Limited Slip" option, though I can't verify that the option applied to both axles.

I'll check later to see if a Dakota front differential will accept solid axles so you and other FABO'ers can keep an eye out for them in the junkyard