@012 Limited slip

[Joseph Donnelly]

I have run in sand with an open diff, hard, relatively narrow tires, stiff suspension, etc. but with 4WD. That makes a lot of the difference. . . along with very gentle driving style. There is not much you can do when most of the weight is on the front, very little weight on the back, rear wheel drive.

 

[Bob4x4]

How many of you that prefer the AAM 11. 5 factory differential have 4WD? My truck is 2WD and has been stuck in soft sand and mud. A vehicle with poor weight distribution, poor suspension geometry, and springs that are too hard to absorb any shock from quickly applied torque will get stuck in the silliest places. This could be avoided with a clutch style differential.

AAM says to use the emergency brake to get the left rear tire to drive. Some of you have suggested this. I have tried it. Please take a minute to consider the logic behind this. For this to work, the right rear emergency brake has to engage before the left rear. Otherwise the right rear continues to drive and bury itself. Of course the e-brake is intended to apply equal pressure to left and rear. If this works, it is coincidence and not design. A separate lever to apply pressure to only the right rear e-brake may correct this.

If the truck is moving and the right rear breaks loose, the left rear will then takeover and break loose. By then I have let off the throttle. This happens on wet pavement quite a bit. I would trade this for both tires driving from a dead stop. AAM has admitted that both rear wheels need to be turning at a slow rate for its differential to work as they intend. That can't happen when stuck in mud or sand.

This AAM 11. 5" differential cannot be an inexpensive piece. The benefit is so low that Chrysler could have just as well used an open differential in my truck.

I drive my 05 with factory lmtd slip damn near everywhere in 2 wd. I do have 35" tires on it. It takes skill to drive off road. Getting stuck off road is usually due to poor choices or lack of skill. I took my grandaughter out to the boonies to tech her how to drive. we spent a good 20 minutes with her learning the technique to drive through a dry water crossing that had a severe twist to it in 2wd. One rear tire was almost off the ground. Once she understood what was needed. She could repeat the performance at will.