tips on rearends
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From: washington the state
limited slips and auto lockers are scary in hard packed snow and ice because they transmit power to the tire not spinning therefore the tire w/traction hooks up and the truck spins. Thats why I recommend the ARB so when your done plowing turn it off and your bronco drives like stock
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I drove in Northern Canada for ten years with limited slips in both diffs and didnt have any problem. Now I have lockers and I can see it may be a problem in snow. I moved to Florida, so I dont know. But, I can breack loose the back end on dry ground if I put my foot in it on a turn.
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From: Broken Arrow
A limited slip is the way to go because like the name suggests the wheel will only spin for a "limited" time before power is transferred, you know when it is about to change its not like it suddenly changes and sends you spinning out of control. Yes if you drive like an idiot you can loose control but no more than with an open diff. plus on steep hill or if you get into a snow bank a limited slip can “walk” you out of it
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From: Florida Hill Country
Originally Posted by Aciancio
A limited slip is the way to go because like the name suggests the wheel will only spin for a "limited" time before power is transferred, you know when it is about to change its not like it suddenly changes and sends you spinning out of control. Yes if you drive like an idiot you can loose control but no more than with an open diff. plus on steep hill or if you get into a snow bank a limited slip can “walk” you out of it
I'm running Eaton E-Locker in the 8.8 in my 1990. Off it is like an open diff and on it is a full spool. The ARB works the same way only it use air to operate.
The Auburn Ected is like a ls when off and locker when on. The same with the Detroit Electrac. In fact the Electrac is like the Detroit TrueTrac ls when off.
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From: Broken Arrow
I think we are on the same page there rlh. I am a big fan of the Ected because it is a LS when off and fully locked when on. What i was talking about on my last post was in response to abnormloffrd. Yes a locker may be a little unstable on ice but a LS is far better than an open Diff. The only reason I don’t have an Ected is because they don’t make one for the 9” yet.
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The statment If you are in a snowdrift, the limited slip will walk you out is incorrect. It may get you out. But if you are stopped (mud, snow or whatever) the locker is more likly to get you going. The limited slip is just more controlable than a locker when you are driving. The air lockers and e-lockers are great, but I got a soft locker and I like the idea its all automatic and protected. I've seen an air locker get it's lines riped off on the trail.
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From: North Texas
Originally Posted by abnormloffrd
...and i have installed cutting brakes so i can lock one rear wheel and skid around it using the other three.
Was it a kit or something you ginned up yourself?
I've often thought that "diff brakes" as they used to call them on dune buggies might be the real poor-man's locker, and something that wouldn't shock-load the drivetrain parts like for example a Detroit will.
Last edited by Redbob; Dec 20, 2006 at 10:14 PM.
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From: North Texas
Originally Posted by abnormloffrd
limited slips and auto lockers are scary in hard packed snow and ice because they transmit power to the tire not spinning therefore the tire w/traction hooks up and the truck spins.
My '78 came from Michigan Truck with the "Northland Special" package and limited slips at both ends, and it handled like a dream in snow or on ice from Day One.
On hard-acked snow especially it hooks up like it has chains, and just plain GOES!
I once drove I-75 from the Mackinac Bridge to Saginaw with foot-deep snow in the left lane, and cars driving about 25 in the plowed right lane. I was in the left lane driving 50 + with no problems at all.
Maybe your problem is tires.
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From: Broken Arrow
Originally Posted by helirich
The statment If you are in a snowdrift, the limited slip will walk you out is incorrect. It may get you out. But if you are stopped (mud, snow or whatever) the locker is more likly to get you going. The limited slip is just more controlable than a locker when you are driving. The air lockers and e-lockers are great, but I got a soft locker and I like the idea its all automatic and protected. I've seen an air locker get it's lines riped off on the trail.