How does a limited slip rear end work when your truck is engaged in 4wd?

 

4WD or in 2WD the rear differential works the same. If your truck has the limited slip it applies power to one wheel until a certain amount of torque, or slip is applied, and then it locks in the second wheel.

 

How does it differ from a locker than? Like the 09 fx4 has?

 

the 09' has an electronic locker that when the switch is put in 4X4 it sends signal to the rearend to lock the differential so both tires get power at all times. the only down side to that is it can make it hard to steer sometimes, but it's nice to have the extra traction.

 

Just a clairification...it doesn't actually lock in the second wheel....it attempts to limit that slippage through a set of clutches in the differential, but if there is not adaquate torque the wheel with the least amount of traction will still slip.....a locker is very different as it will actually LOCK the wheels together.....Limited slips work well on wet pavement, but once your on ice or in mud they wont' do much for ya....

 

Here are some explanations;
Open differential
HowStuffWorks "Open Differentials"

Limited slip (clutch type like an F150 might have)
HowStuffWorks "Clutch-type Limited Slip Differential"

Locking differential
HowStuffWorks "Locking and Torsen"

There are also automatic locking differentials like an Aussie locker
Aussie Lockers: Lockers, aussie lockers, torq-masters technology, automatic positive locking differentials, automatic precision locker differentials, off road, off-road



Basically, like Ryan said, a limited slip is better than an open differential. But it has it's limitations. Where an open differential will send all the torque to the wheel with least resistance, a limited slip will send most of it's traction to the wheel with the least resistance. But with a limited slip, if one wheel is has no traction (in the air), it will still only spin that tire with no resistance.
A locker, when engaged, would drive both wheels at the exact same speed. A locker is preferred offroading for maximum traction.

 

That said...i really wish ford would offer a locker in every model...i'd have gotten it....my limited slip is annoying on ice...as its almost as bad as an open diff...i've been considering pulling it appart and seeing if I can slip an extra clutch disk in to tighten it up like you could do on the old 8.8's

 

Should be able to tighten it up just the same. Or re-working the clutch packs in a different sequence. I just picked up an 06 FX4 and was driving around on ice today. The limited slip works, but sucks compared to the aussie lockers I had in front and back of my sport trac. Though no where near as bad as the open differentials that came factory on the sport trac. Couldn't hardly get around on gravel roads with an open diff in 2wd. I may look into re-building the limited slip on this thing for now.

 

OK OK....maybe they're not as bad as an open diff.....but i miss my 95 every winter as it would make it around in 2wd better than my 07 in 4wd...LOL....so maybe it wouldn't ride as well....but it still was better in snow

 

Not to hijack, but Brian, i still love that picture of your sport trak. I just love the background setting that the picture was taken in. Anyway back to the topic!

 

talking about open/LS diffs, could someone tell me what #11 is in the following diagram, from one the FTE sponsors: #11 points to the side gear and another part, can't tell what it is. I know its a generic pic, but still curios.
Bob Utter Genuine Ford Parts www.bobutterfordparts.com

 

I guess the whole link didnt come thru, its in the rear axle section, pick some part that shows an illustration, w/LS packs. paul

 

11 is pointing to the spring that keeps the clutches under pressure....its an s shaped spring that goes between the two side gears

 

thanks...how about the 975? mine doesn't have that spring. (05 XLT scab) ....I was wondering what kept tension against the clutch discs....I can see the clutch packs,,, this one has 4 discs per side w/the 2 tangs. Does the 2 spider gears hold force against the side gears? They are all tight, but the cross pin is free to move up and down just a little. How would you pull a c- clip w/out everything coming apart, unless theres a special tool to use? Maybe 8.8 only has this spring? thanks..paul

 

Not to highjack but I don't know much about limited slip diff. or lockers... I know they greatly improve traction though and with my truck being 2wd traction is always good. Are lockers or limited slips worth the money? Where is a good place to get the setup for it?