Rear axle question
Junior User
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 67
Likes: 0
Rear axle question
I noticed this the other day. I had one rear wheel on ice and one on pavement. The wheel on ice was spinning but I was still getting forward progress (felt like full traction) from the wheel that was on the pavement. Does this mean I have a limited slip rear end??? Or is this normal for an open diff? Truck is '78 F100 shortbox 2wd. 302, c6 and 9" rear. Thanks!!
Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 2,281
Likes: 18
From: Northern California
Rear axle question
If you had one wheel spin and the other grab, that's a locker or limited slip, not an open diff. An open diff aka 'one legged pig' will give traction to one wheel if the other one slips. In other words, if you have one wheel on ice, you're stuck. To test this, jack up one wheel and try to turn it, if it turns several times, it's an open diff, otherwise it's some kind of limited or locker.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 326
Likes: 0
Rear axle question
A lot depends on how the truck was sitting when both wheels were spinning. If the truck was sitting with the back wheels relatively level (equal weight on both, equal traction on both) even an open diff will put power to both wheels. If you raise the back wheels clear and spin one wheel, the other will spin in the opposite direction if you have an open diff, otherwise both wheels will spin in the same direction.
RCC
RCC
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