Alternatives for factory AAM 11.5" open rear differential ?

[verk]

I have a growing list of work to do on 140,000 mile rear axle including discs, calipers, rear parking brake assembly, shocks, brake hose, maybe wheel bearings. Towards this end I would rather buy an axle from junk yard and put new stuff on at my leisure (without pressure to get truck working) and then swap axles when ready. This has me thinking about alternatives to my 3.73 ration open differential. I don't tow, but the plan is to start pulling a 12K GVW trailer occasionally. Limited slip would be nice, but I lived without using 4 wheel drive when necessary. Suggestions, thoughts ?

 

[lpennock]

Detroit Locker, Detroit TruTrac and I think ARB are options. I prefer the TruTrac for all around versatility. ARB and Detroit Locker provide better off road traction though. ARB provides no benefit unless you lock it in so it doesn't help with extra traction in rain. DL can be annoying on a street rig.



TruTrac provides almost twice the drive of the stock LSD, 3.5:1 compared to 2:1 torque bias ratio.

 

[Killer223]

the LSD in the GM is a great upgrade they call it a G80. it locks in nice. still keep the awesome 3.73 ratio.

 

[Prairie Dog]

the LSD in the GM is a great upgrade they call it a G80. it locks in nice. still keep the awesome 3.73 ratio.

That's interesting, the guy that owns a local well respected differential shop (NW Differential) hates those and changed out the one in his Durapad for one like ours. He recommends this to his customers and says it works much better.

 

[Killer223]

for ours to work you need to apply some brake, the GM unit will lock in and move you forward with no brake applied. my dad has a 09 duramax and he can go more places in 2wd then i. youtube videos... rather interesting.
its all in how you drive it i guess.

 

[Prairie Dog]

I don't know, it may kinda depend on the luck of the draw; mine has always worked perfectly and I've never had to use the brake trick but I know some others do. My buddies 06 works great too.

 

[lpennock]

My stock unit would go one wheel wonder coming off a stop light in the rain. don't have that problem with my trutrac.

 

[cerberusiam]

No need to apply brake to get off the line or make the LS work. Brakes are used to help balance the bias on switch surfaces and lack of throttle sensitivity. The GM' ones aren't any better behind the Cummins, the Dmax engine is just TQ challenged in the low end making it feel like it works better.

 

[Killer223]

youtube the g80 test. that dif it MUCH better then the stock ones we have.

 

[BILTIT]

I have had the g80 in an older truck of mine, it worked fine. Recently we had some icy weather hit our area and the stock AAM LSD works fine aswell. I personally think the AAM unit works smoother, the g80 takes about 120 rpm difference in wheelspeed to lock up and you feel it.