How do I confirm LSD is working?

[rbattelle]

I had a chance to give the LSD a good testing today when I got one wheel on wet pavement and the other on ice. I used to think this was a good torque biasing differential, now I'm not so convinced it's that good. I purposely hung up one wheel (happened to be the right rear both times) on two different snow banks. The other wheel was on wet pavement. Both front wheels were clear of snow/ice, but were on wet pavement. Nearly-level ground in both cases.



On the first snow bank, I could not move the truck without 4wd. I was completely stuck. I put it in first, put the RPM around 2000, and pressed the brake pedal to the floor. No lockup. The wheel in the snow happily kept spinning.



On the second snow bank, I was able to get the other wheel to engage with about 50% brake application (that's a lot of brakes!).



I found this a rather paltry performance. Question: should I have used the parking brake instead of the service brakes?

 

[lil red cummins]

well i am glad i am not alone with this "full slip" differential. i pulled into a friends driveway last week that was solid ice. i got the front wheel in a small rut and could not move!!



i put it in reverse and got out while it was in gear. when i looked at the rear end, only the right was spinning, the left was stationary. what the heck good is this?? i would rather have the friction clutches that may wear out in 100,000 miles. yes the truck launches well on semi-dry pavement, but i don't need it then



so whats the answer - we really cant ever get on ice or low friction surfaces?????



this is not what i thought i paid for.



jim

 

[rbattelle]

I've pretty much resolved myself to getting a Detroit or ARB locker sometime in the future.

 

[JHardwick]

Detroits do what they are supposed too for sure, but man are they noisy on dry pavement.



Basically, they amount to a cervic coupling with heavy die springs holding them together ... ... ... ... ..... when they disengage and "slip" on dry pavement, you'll think the rear end is coming apart!

 

[Rocket]

I sent a letter to OX Trax begging them to make a locker for the American Axles. It's the best method I've seen. Cable actuated no worries about air/elec/etc. I will let you know their response. If we generate enough interest it may push them over the edge.

 

[JHardwick]

The Detroit Locker is the most failproof for sure, but with all the posts about wind noise, gear whine etc, a locker would go over like a lead baloon here!

 

[Chris N5CWM]

Hmmm.

I was looking at a couple of new Cummins Rams today. Some of them didn't have the "anti-spin" diff. At first I thought, hey that sux! But then I remembered this topic and decided if I get a new Ram, I'll look for a wrecked/junkyard GM with the AAM 11. 5 axle in it and swap out the locker. Problem solved.

 

[Big_Daddy_T]

I can usually tell that the lsd is working when jesus stops by to contemplate the silent freeway with me.







My clutch packs on my 98 lasted a very long time. Even with abuse you guys couldnt even imagine. They finally lost all their friction material. Side effect was it doubled as a locker if you got it hot enough to weld the plates together. I bought a cone style but never had the funds to install it.



The deal with a lsd to me is I need it to get going not once im going. So whats the point. I presently have a 99 with an open rear diff and HATE IT. I miss that dana anti spin. Get stuck on level ground. lucky you, I get stuck going downhill. LOL



Actually ive been snowmachining in powder so deep that getting stuck going downhill was common. I dropped a cornice into a bowl and the snow was over my head. I was worried the engine would cut out from lack of oxygen. I just held it wide open and it didnt miss a beat. After a minute or two of full throttle blind driving I popped out. I had heard of kids drowning in powder that deep.

 

[Chris N5CWM]

G80 (g-eighty)

The best OEM limited slip/locking differential available today is an option called G80 which is available in most GM vehicles. The Chevy and GMC Duramax trucks are one such line of vehicles. The GM axles are made by AAM. The Dodge (03, 04) axles are made by AAM. The exact same axles so it will be possible to install this in our differentials. That is if one is so inclined to do so, spending the money for parts and labor.

In my opinion we got gyped out of a good locking diff! The G80 will work in situations where one wheel is off the ground, or one wheel is on ice and the other on pavement. It is a limited slip all the time, and a locker in low/no tracktion situations.

I've had the G80 in a couple of different vehicles (94 Chevy K2500 4x4 and currently a new Chev TrailBlazer). Once while driving my K2500, had one wheel on a white paint stripe after a rain storm on a city street. Spun a tire, locked up the G80. Went half a block, turned left, and the truck was bucking and jerking. I though I'd broken something but it was the G80, it was locked up solid! Also I've put one wheel on pinestraw off the side of a country road, and the left tire on dry pavement. Floored it, the locker went CLUNK and the left tire left rubber were it spun.



Trust me, the G80 (made by Eaton, relabeled TrakRite LK to be specific) works.



So does the Detroit Locker, and the ARB. But for an OEM diff that is readily available, priced right, and proven, the G80 is what I want. Too bad our trucks don't come with them as an option.

I wonder how much consumer demand would sway DC to make the change?



Here is a video clip showing the diff working with one wheel completely unloaded and in the air, going through a ditch at a 45 degree angle which would leave most vehicles stuck.

Click here.





Here is a video clip showing how it does it's job.





The TrakRite LK is what we should be getting in our trucks.