Can someone spell out so an idiot can understand how LS on a 4x4 works,

how you can tell if it's not working right,

how to fix it,

and how to tell if I have it on my truck.

Somone posted something the other day that got me thinking (happens sometimes) about how bad my truck goes in mud and how a LandRover I drove not long ago just walked up a greasy hill. Two different systems maybe?

Thanks, Dave

 

Limited slip differential - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

One way to tell is to look for the tag on the diff.
Write down the info and post it here.

OR

you and jack the truck up
wheels off the ground
neutral
release parking brake

turn wheel BY HAND

if wheels spin opposite direction - OPEN
same direction - traclok/LS

But badly worn clutch packs can act like a open diff. Look for tag.

Landrovers have a completely different 4x system.

 

Limited slip uses clutches to get both axles to turn. The clutches allow slip so that you can make a turn on dry concrete, but when you get into low traction it holds enough to turn both axles. After a while the clutches will ware down to the point where they can no longer hold.

Land Rovers use a totally different system. They use an all wheel drive system and tractions control. The traction control allows the computer to apply braking to different wheels, say your in mud and both of the passenger side wheels are just spinning. Normally youd be stuck unless you had a locker. The land rover will apply brakes to the two passenger side wheels so that they stop spinning, now that the two wheels that were spinning are stopped, the power from the engine is sent to the other two wheels. The land rovers traction control also adjusts different components so that the weight of the vehicle and the power being applied is in the optimum spot for traction. It really is amazing, they handle incredibly well in all conditions.

We have two land rovers and if you have them set up right, including the locker for the center diff, then they truly are vary capable vehicles, they just arnt vary reliable, all the computer stuff works great till it breaks. haha

 

While we're on LS rears, I have the 10.25 Sterling open, and am wondering if there are any good aftermarket upgrades for it. My uncle got the PowerTrax system for his rear Dana, and it's vicious. But, they don't make the PowerTrax system for the Sterling rears. Any ideas?

 

Jack up one tire of suspected LS and try to turn it by hand. If it doesn't turn its LS. If it does turn easy then either it isn't LS or it is broke. You would fix it by taking the ring gear carrier apart and replacing the clutches and setting the proper load on them.