2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission limited slip in front???

[Cummins Cowboy]

Does the front of our stock 4x4 trucks have some sort of limited slip unit that engages when we shift into 4x4, or is it an open diff aka really only 3 wheel drive and that is if we have the anti slip option in the rear or then it would really still only be 2wd????

 

[rspinks]

No limited slip in front, it needs to be totally open because with no hubs the drivers side axle shaft has to constantly spin the side gears around the ring gear. If there were limited slip clutches or a locker over-running clutch in the front it would be constantly working even in 2wd. That said I know there are guys with LSD's in the front of Rams with no immediate obvious problems. I wouldn't do it myself however. An ARB or OX locker would be a perfect albeit expensive solution.



Here's my take on the "X"wd definitions:



1wd - factory 2wd with open rear

1. 5wd - factory 2wd with LSD

2wd type A - factory 2wd with locker

2wd type B - factory 4wd with open f/r

2. 5wd - factory 4wd with rear LSD

3wd - factory 4wd with rear locker

4wd - factory 4wd with f/r lockers



How's that for complicating a simple issue? I've got 2. 5wd right now, my last Ram had 3wd and there's a HUGE difference between 2. 5wd and 3wd, especially when the axles start articulating in different directions when off-roading.

 

[tarussell]

All second Gen. trucks leave DC with a open diff. up front.

 

[Cummins Cowboy]

So us guys with '02's that don't have axle disconnect what gears are still spinning when not in 4wd??? I would think the spider gears would wear out if they where only being turned by one wheel

 

[tarussell]

C C On the non C. A. D. 02 trucks the whole ring and pinion turns all of the time in two wheel drive. On the C. A. D. trucks only the side gears and the small spider gears turn in two wheel drive;it seems the spider gears would wear out faster on a C. A. D truck. Thomas

 

[CumminsPower98]

rspinks, I like your list there. That's just how I have always thought of it. I wish I had a true 4wd but rather I just have a 2wd. Some day when money allows I want lockers.

 

[Bigramguy]

Only problem with a limited slip in the front dif is they won't turn on slippery surfaces,like snow,ice,mud,etc. With both front wheels locked together they just keep on plowing forward when you turn the wheel. Most people will use an ARB Airlocker so you can only lock it when needed.

 

[Blakers]

My 88 F-150 had factory limited slip in the front. It worked just great in mud or on an ice or snow coverted road - no problem IF the road was COVERED with ice and snow. But, if the center of the road was clear or salted and the other half of the lane was ice, snow or slush, the truck wanted to pull to one side or the other like mad. Made it very scary to drive. And, if the hubs were locked, it did it whether you were in 4x4 or not.



Blake

 

[M Barnett]

Why does mine crab so bad when I turn in sand or soft surface?

Michael

 

[benhall]

M Barnett,



That's one of the down falls of having a solid front axle. The U-joints start to bind up a little. :{ I had the same problem with my 99 2500 V10 and I have the same problem on my 02 with the Cummins.

 

[Blakers]

Originally posted by M Barnett

Why does mine crab so bad when I turn in sand or soft surface?

Michael

I'm not sure exactly what you mean by crabbing.



Blake

 

[illflem]

Mine crabs also (wants to go straight when you want it to turn) leads me to believe both front wheels are locked under power.

 

[wtrenholm]

Crabbing is basically driveline "wind up" from each wheel/tire wanting to turn a different speed when going around corners, the front wheel joints make it even more pronounced with the speed-up / slow-down associated with a conventional u-joint. At some point you must have some tire slip to relieve the wind-up.



In the shop where I teach I take our shop Chev 4X4 (in 4 low) and turn while driving over the floor drain and it'll flip the grates right off of the trench. The boys get the idea of what it is from there.



Putting a locker / LSD in the front without some form of lock outs usually results in some wicked handling issues on the street.



HTH

Wayne

 

[emjay]

Locker in the front, like Wayne said, makes for poor handling on the street. A lock-right or similar device lets one wheel spin faster than the other, which virtually guarantees pulling to one side under load, which means you'd have to steer against it to keep it straight. Let off the pedal, and it goes the other way. Very scary, but handy for lane changes I guess . I don't have first hand experience for limited slips, but I would think they would tend to understeer or "plow" with torque applied on a soft surface. To further elaborate on Wayne's post, crabbing is caused by a bind between front and rear with good traction on all. An air-locker or some other disconnectable locker would be best, IMHO.

 

[Dave MacArthur]

I've asked this before but never gotten an answer. Why not put a locker/LS in the front and install a manual cable disconnect for the CAD switch. That way you could shift the transfer case into 4x4 and basically be in 3 wheel drive. You would still have good steering (maybe a little torque steer when accelerating). When needed, you shift the cable and lock the other axle and now you have true 4 wheel drive to use in tough situations at slow speeds. Any reason not to do this?



Thanks,



Dave

 

[benhall]

Dave,



If you have a set up like what your talking about, you would be tearing up that one side of the axle whenever you turn, by putting a lot more stress on that axle. I saw the fix for our Ram's (1500-3500) in a Four Wheeler magazine. It's a manual locking hub conversion from Dynatrac, that looks like it can be done in one day, easily depending on your mechanical abilities. The cost of the low end kit is about $1700 with the high end being $3500 , so this is not a cheap conversion, but well worth it in my eyes and something that will happen on my truck.



Hope this helps.

 

[tarussell]

Dave M. The front drive shaft would turn all of the time ( no applied power to it, but it would turn ). This might not be a problem since some of the 2002 trucks don't have the C. A. D. system and thier drive shaft spins constantly. I wonder if the T/C would need an oiling improvement with the chain always spinning?

 

[tarussell]

Benhall before You spend good money on the manual hub kit make sure that it will work w/ the A. B. S. sensor. I really like the Dynatrac kit but was told that it is not compatible w/ the A. B. S. system that is on the later trucks. If You have new info from Dynatrac please let us know ; the last time that I checked with them was about six months ago and they said if A. B. S. is a concern than thier kit would not work.

 

[benhall]

tarussell,



From the information that Dynatrac emailed me, and my interpretation of it, the ABS is not affected at all by their conversion. I don't quite remember where the sensor is on the front of the truck, but if it reads the speed off the rotors, there won't be a problem, since the stock rotors are used. You might want to email them and ask for the same information they gave me, or if you want, i can email the specs for the three different systems they have.

 

[tarussell]

Benhall, I sent You a PM ( if I did it right ) . Thanks for the new info, Thomas