Which limited slip in rear?

[JSanchez]

Does anyone know which limited slip came from the factory on 2004 4x4 2500, 48re? Is it a clutch- pack type, or a worm gear type? I'm curios about what is actually in there. I'd really appreciate any feedback. On a side note, does anyone have the Mag Hytec rear cover & does it rub the spare tire? I'm thinking about adding one if it doesn't rub.



Thanks,

J. S.

 

[OT-OF-HERE!!]

Mag HYtec

Does anyone know which limited slip came from the factory on 2004 4x4 2500, 48re? Is it a clutch- pack type, or a worm gear type? I'm curios about what is actually in there. I'd really appreciate any feedback. On a side note, does anyone have the Mag Hytec rear cover & does it rub the spare tire? I'm thinking about adding one if it doesn't rub.



Thanks,

J. S.

The Mag Hytec does not rub the tire and it puts more clearance around the gears for more cooling. Your limited slip is AAM.

 

[JSanchez]

Thanks for the reply. Do you happen to knopw what type of limited slip; either clutch or gear type?

 

[LMcCary]

gear type! Not the good ole clutch type.

 

[rbattelle]

clutch- pack type, or a worm gear type?

I've never heard of a worm gear type LSD.



As LMcCary says, ours is a Torsen-type limited slip. Axial loads generated by the helical side gears are absorbed in brake shoes which provide a limited slip action.



Ryan

 

[WhiteSheep]

Half Right

Ryan:



Our AAM LSDs are not torsens, but kind of a half breed. There are no clutch packs like a truetrack or even cone clutches like an Auburn. Here is the text from the shop manual for my 04.

When one wheel begins to spin the pinion gears on

that side are forced toward the pinion brake shoes.

The pinion brake shoes then cause frictional drag on

the opposite pinion gears and the side gear. These

friction forces transfer the power to the opposite

wheel. Once the frictional forces are overcome, differentiation

will occur. The torque will be continually

biased by the frictional forces to the high traction

wheel.​

Check out their web site here American Axle & Manufacturing - TracRite® Axle Differentials



This will explain it some more.



Our LSDs are very unappreciated. Why you would spend $500 plus to replace them is beyond me. I know some people have had bad experiences with them. In my experience, they just plain work.

 

[Grizzly]

Which Limited Slip is better, the AAM or the Dana 80 found on the 95 Dodge 3500?

 

[rbattelle]

Ryan:

Our AAM LSDs are not torsens, but kind of a half breed. There are no clutch packs like a truetrack or even cone clutches like an Auburn.

You're absolutely right, but they're very similar to a Torsen arrangement. As you can see from this basic description, it's quite similar to our differential.

No clutches, only brake shoes for the side gears (pinion gears in the manual).

Here's another nice description of the Torsen type.

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Ryan

 

[JSanchez]

Thanks for all of your input, fellas. And yes, I did mean to say helical gears. I really appreciate how members of this forum always come up with the best info.

-J. S.

 

[MHalloran]

Which Limited Slip is better, the AAM or the Dana 80 found on the 95 Dodge 3500?

Grizz, I guess it depends on which one ya have, IMO. I have the Dana 80 and have never had a problem.

 

[JKloppe]

The stock works if you driving "Miss Daisy," but I want to be able to slide either direction on dry pavement, do donuts ect...



I will put the Detroit TrueTrac in when it comes out.

 

[Grizzly]

Grizz, I guess it depends on which one ya have, IMO. I have the Dana 80 and have never had a problem.

I had a Dana 80 on my 95, which I liked better then the AAM on my 05.

 

[MickeyMiller]

I had a Detroit Locker in the last IHC Scout that I built (the 3rd) and I could hang the rear out at will! Loved it! I can do the same with my Dodge... just have to give a little more throttle to get the rear to hook, but the stock LS does a pretty damn good!

 

[LMcCary]

I don't know how good the Torsen AAM gear will work, but do know that they DO NOT work when one wheel is off of the ground or one wheel loses too much traction. I have driven the Clutch type in high HP cars and trucks for 40+ years and know that they work. I don't have to worry about crossing a ditch and hiking up one wheel and just sitting there spining one rear wheel. Now of course the torsen type is good for road racing as it will plant even torque while driving on realitive even ground. But just in cae you haven't noticed, our trucks primary purpose is not road racing.

Call me old fasion, just like the clutch type because it is predictable.

Thanks

 

[rbattelle]

they DO NOT work when one wheel is off of the ground or one wheel loses too much traction.

Exactly. It's a torque multiplying (or torque biasing) differential. Anything multiplied by 0 is... well, 0. So if one wheel has 0 torque on it, the differential multiplies that by the bias ratio and gets... 0.

In cases where one wheel has little or no traction at all, I use the parking brake to get moving again. In so doing, you give the differential some torque to multiply, which gets transmitted over to the wheel with more grip.

Works fine for me.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: Dodge inadvertently did themselves a disservice by going with this differential style. Not because it's inferior to the clutch type (it isn't), but because a lack of understanding its proper use is causing most people to think it's junk or that it just doesn't work well.

Personally I much prefer the torque biasing type of limited slip. No need for special fluid, and no clutches to wear out.

Ryan

 

[AH64ID]

The stock works if you driving "Miss Daisy," but I want to be able to slide either direction on dry pavement, do donuts ect...



I will put the Detroit TrueTrac in when it comes out.

A tru trac is essestially the same as the AAM GT Trac Rite. . this OEM LSD is the best OEM LSD, IME and IMO.

 

[JKloppe]

A tru trac is essestially the same as the AAM GT Trac Rite. . this OEM LSD is the best OEM LSD, IME and IMO.

Not even close!



The manufacturer can change the amount of torque biasing or lockup by simply changing the diameter of the gears, or the pitch and spiral of the teeth. A larger difference in the size for the worm wheels and side gears (smaller worm wheels and larger side gears) will increase the lockup force. Increasing the pitch and spiral of the teeth will also increase the lockup forces. Like everything, there is a limit as to how much lockup force is reasonable. Making the unit too "aggressive" will cause tire scrub during everyday driving and will cause the unit to wear out too quickly.

 

[AH64ID]

Whats not even close? That they are the same or that the OEM is the Best OEM LSD??

Well the TT and the OEM are the only two LSD's that I know of that are helical gear driven. . which makess them the same design. And Yes AAM claims the TracRite GT has an adjustable tq bias, but I have yet to see where you can get adjustability out of it...

IMO replacing the OEM with a TT would be a waste of money, I dount you see much difference.

I feel this is the best OEM LSD because its helical gear driven, and is predictable... unlike EVERY other LSD I have driven. I refused to run LSD's for years until I drove my dads 06 with the OEM LSD... amazing. It doest kick it sidways uncommanded, doest walk on off camber FS roads, doest wear and dirty up the gear lube... . For the last 7 years I have only run selectable locker, ARB or OEM to keep an open predictiable diff on the street... the AAM GT TracRite is the only OEM LSD I will run.

 

[betterthanstock]

Maybe those who consider the OEM inadequate, should change to a different brand oil. I was happy with the factory fill, and now with the Mobil1. My inside tire often spins when I turn right, on dry pavement, but it feels like a solid spool spinning at the same speed as the outside tire, not spinning out of control like an open diff.

 

[JKloppe]

It all comes down to how much tq bias is built into the lsd and with aggressive driving on or off road it is evidant that I need more than the AAM lsd has. The amount of torque biasing in the true tac better fits what I expect the lsd to do, closer to a locker. (expierence with this lsd comes from a 78 bronco with 35's stroked 351, c6, 9")



I will see what I can figure out about changing parts on AAM lsd to tighten it up a bit.



BTS- it is interesting that you noticed a difference with an oil change.