I had a problem with much getting much use out of my anti-spin so I asked a auto writer about my problem and this is his answer.
I have a Dodge 4X4 with an anti-spin differential (limited slip rear end). > > Before that I had Ford Bronco with the same. > > > > With both vehicles I have had occasion to be off road in mud or gravel and > > had one rear wheel spin requiring me to engage 4wd to get out. I have heard > > to apply the brake to change power from one wheel to the next. This did not > > prove to be effective. So just what advantage am I getting off road? > > > > On other occasions (with both vehicles) I have spun out on ice when in 2wd. > > Could the limited slip rear end contribute to this happening? If this is so > > could people who have limited slip be at risk and not know it? > >
A: According to Isaac Steele, my off-roading enthusiast co-worker, > your problem is common: "Most hardcore off-roaders think a factory > limited-slip differential isn't much better than a standard > differential. Limited-slips are fine when there's not much traction > loss, but they're almost worthless when one tire loses traction > completely. " > > The differential splits the torque applied by the driveshaft and > delivers it to the two drive axles. When the vehicle turns a corner, > the outside wheel travels farther than the inside wheel, so the > differential must also allow the two drive axles to turn at different > speeds. Therein lies a conflict: how does the differential know the > difference between a wheel that's turning a corner and one that's > losing traction? > > Dozens of traction-enhancing differential designs address this > conflict. Some, such as the Torsen differential used by Hummer and > Audi, are factory equipment. Others are made by the aftermarket, and > may be retrofitted to most vehicles. Each can be rated on a "torque > bias ratio" scale of the differential's ability to transfer torque to > the wheel with traction when one wheel slips. > > The standard "open differential" is at the low end of the scale. It > has a torque bias ratio of zero -- it always transmits all the torque > to the wheel that's slipping. Limited-slip differentials improve upon > this. Those with clutch packs, like the one in your Dodge, transfer > some of the torque from the slipping wheel to the one with traction. > Those using viscous fluids or helical gear arrangements have more > aggressive torque bias ratios. > > At the top of the scale, a "locker" differential will lock, or > "spool," the two axles solidly together, so both wheels always receive > an equal amount of torque. A spooled differential won't leave you > stuck until both wheels completely lose traction, but it also won't > turn a corner without scrubbing the wheels. A vehicle with a spooled > differential can be impossible to maneuver on dry pavement, and unsafe > to drive at speed on icy roads. > > In general, the greater the torque bias ratio, the greater the > handling difficulty there will be at speed on ice. There are > exceptions however; the Torsen differential is stable under icy > conditions, and some locker differentials, such as the Toyota locking > differential, or the ARB Air Locker (
www.arb.com.au) allow the driver > to switch between a locked and a standard differential by pressing a > button on the dash. > > Factory limited-slip differentials don't generally have enough torque > bias to create problems in icy conditions. This low torque bias is > also why you haven't been helped by the trick of pressing the brake > lightly when a wheel spins. The trick works well when the torque bias > ratio is high.