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It's always engaged. There are different types of limited slip differentials, but a clutch type uses a clutch pack to allow slippage between the wheels with some resistance, that's what the stocker is like.
Positraction is not a locker. Posi traction is a chevy term, limited slip is a ford term. Ford's unit is called the Traction Lok. The unit itself, is called a carrier. It is not something that a newbie should try and tackle. It's not very hard to just change carriers, but still better left to someone with experience. Most of the time limited slips (or LS for short) are put in the rear axle. You can put them in the front if you really wanted to.
if positraction is a chevy word than how come you can buy a ford positraction unit and get a truck from ford that has positraction i dont understand i thought positraction and limited slip where 2 different things
I think what has happened is: GM coined to terms "posi-trac" and "positraction" to describe the limited slip differential they use. The term became popular and has come to be used by people to refer to limited slips added to any differential added to any differential. This includes any make vehicle. It seems that, as use of the term "positraction" evolves, it's even coming to refer to different kinds of traction aids added to the differential, including lockers and maybe even spools.
Do you know what positraction unit you are refering to? Ford's Trac-lock is a clutch based limited slip (at least since the mid '80's). I have heard of a cone type limited slip used by Ford in the 7.5 in differential (and maybe others I just haven't worked with others) from the early '80's that has "issues". Aftermarket limited slips include clutch types, cone types, and even a few geared limited slips.