Diff questions?
Freshman User
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
From: Langdon Canada
Diff questions?
I just spun an axle on the rear of my 78 bronco. I figure that while I'm fixing that I will get rid of the crappy open diff. Right now it is my daily driver but by spring it will not. I can't decide what to do. I'm leaning towards a straight spool. I prefer the spool to detriot just because of locking and unlocking cornering issues. I figure with a spool it is more predictable once I get used to it. I don't think a limited slip will meet my needs in the future. An Air locker is more than I want to spend, but not out of the question.
I am just looking for feed back and opinions of anyone out there.
JB
I am just looking for feed back and opinions of anyone out there.
JB
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 268
Likes: 0
From: North Texas
Diff questions?
There is a simple means of making a factory limited slip work fairly well.
The reason it doesn't work worth stuff as-delivered is that there's not enough pre-load on the clutches to deliver any torque to the slipping wheel.
You can help this out by disassembling the LS unit and shimming the springs with suitable flat washers so the springs just go solid as they're re-assembled. This will probably take two flat washers per spring, but when you get into it you'll see what I mean.
Doing this will make the diff actually work in snow, ice, mud, or what-have-you. Without the tire-chirping etc. that you'll have with a spool.
BTW, you'll probably need a vise to re-assemble the carrier assembly with the springs shimmed.
The reason it doesn't work worth stuff as-delivered is that there's not enough pre-load on the clutches to deliver any torque to the slipping wheel.
You can help this out by disassembling the LS unit and shimming the springs with suitable flat washers so the springs just go solid as they're re-assembled. This will probably take two flat washers per spring, but when you get into it you'll see what I mean.
Doing this will make the diff actually work in snow, ice, mud, or what-have-you. Without the tire-chirping etc. that you'll have with a spool.
BTW, you'll probably need a vise to re-assemble the carrier assembly with the springs shimmed.
