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Limited Slip Working?

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Old Dec 11, 2005 | 11:50 AM
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Limited Slip Working?

I have a 2001 F350 diesel. I should have a 3.73 rearend with a limited slip. This morning I was parked on a slight hill and one tire was one ice. When I tried to drive away, the tire on ice just sat there and spun. I had to actually lock it in 4wd to pull out. I have 35" tires. How can I check if I have a problem? Thanks,
Ron W.
 
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Old Dec 11, 2005 | 12:15 PM
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Limited slip really only works on dry pavement or conditions that cause both wheels to have a certain amount of friction. Ice or snow is a no go in most cases.


Dick
 
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Old Dec 11, 2005 | 12:49 PM
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Or try stomping on the brakes then tapping the throttle.
 
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Old Dec 11, 2005 | 02:13 PM
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the factory LS is not that great, it does take a good amound of torque on each tire to get it to engage. in the situation you descrided the only way to get it to lockup would be to slowly apply the parking brake, once the torque biais is high enough it will engage
 
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Old Dec 11, 2005 | 08:38 PM
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From: Phenix City, AL
bushman,

We just had a discussion about this earlier this week. Check out this thread, it may explain what's goin on with your LS.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...d.php?t=436535

BFR
 
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Old Dec 15, 2005 | 09:05 PM
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Thanks for all the info, and the previous thread.
Ron W.
 
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Old Dec 15, 2005 | 10:22 PM
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I had a similar experience with my F250 FX4. This is my first 4x4 so I had to try it out in the pasture behind our hunting cabin in the snow. Many times better than 4x2,however, I tried to go up a fairly steep really slick hill in the corner and no way. When I tried backing up it the left front and right rear broke free.

If I had applied brakes a little would the LS kick in?
 
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Old Dec 15, 2005 | 10:30 PM
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Yes, applying the brakes helps to get the LS to engage, to a point.

Here's the problem. Unlike a locker (or even gear driven LS units) the clutch pack setup that Ford uses, breaks away rather than locking up.

What I mean by this is that the LS is always engaged, so to speak, when one of the rear wheels gets more traction than the other and power is applied, the LS can only keep the axles together for so long. At a certain point the clutches ability to maintain friction fails and one wheel spins free.

What applying the brakes does is equalize this difference between the tires and helps the LS by keeping an equal load across the axles. It's not so much that it would kick in, but more that it would be able to maintain friction.

BFR
 
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Old Dec 16, 2005 | 07:52 AM
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Thanks BFR that makes sense to me. Would be nice it these trucks would lock all 4 when in 4 Low. I guess if you spend the $$ it will!
 
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Old Dec 16, 2005 | 08:03 AM
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Yeah, it would.

The thing is, and I can see Ford's point of view, they had to make a compromise between the real truck users (abusers) and the yuppies who think it's just cool to drive a truck.

I really like the setup on my wife's Rubicon. Has the selectable lockers from the factory. It would really be nice if Ford made that Hoss Edition. That would be an animal.

You would think that as much as we pay for these truck, they would have some useful options like that. I mean selectable lockers would definitely make these trucks worthy of having a the FX4 sticker. That is something that should be included on that package, rather than the bogus shocks, a sticker, and the skid plates that make up the current FX4 package.
 
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Old Dec 16, 2005 | 08:20 AM
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BFR250SD thanks for saving me all that typing. I agree 100%
 
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Old Dec 16, 2005 | 09:06 AM
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From: Seminole, FL
AMEN Brother!!! FX4 Off Road package should absolutely include lockers, especially with a MSRP of close to $50,000.00.
 
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