Limited Slip Dana 80... too much slip
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Jäger
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,491
Likes: 5
From: Northern Arizona
Limited Slip Dana 80... too much slip
Had my truck off-road and decided to see how tight the LS rear end is set. Started ascending a well-packed dirt hill with some silt on it in 2wd and did not get very far when the right rear broke loose and the truck started hopping badly.
The LS unit in my '05 was pretty good (replaced with an ARB) and the Trac-Lok in my '94 Bronco was great. Does this LS need some break-in time? I rarely travel in snow/icy conditions so I'd like it to be 'tighter' for off-road trail duty. Any thoughts or ideas?
I'd prefer an electronic, selectable locker, but they are apparently not available for the D-80 yet.
Qualifier: No, I'm not hard core wheeling my $60K truck.
The LS unit in my '05 was pretty good (replaced with an ARB) and the Trac-Lok in my '94 Bronco was great. Does this LS need some break-in time? I rarely travel in snow/icy conditions so I'd like it to be 'tighter' for off-road trail duty. Any thoughts or ideas?
I'd prefer an electronic, selectable locker, but they are apparently not available for the D-80 yet.
Qualifier: No, I'm not hard core wheeling my $60K truck.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 6,521
Likes: 11
From: Greenwood, SC
I know what you mean, my '08 was basically 1 wheel drive in bad places, irritated me to no end.
I have the factory E-lock on this '11, and, with it's tendency to just make both wheels spin there are drawbacks here as well but in 4X4 I'm pretty sure it will force more power to the ground via the front axle.
I have the factory E-lock on this '11, and, with it's tendency to just make both wheels spin there are drawbacks here as well but in 4X4 I'm pretty sure it will force more power to the ground via the front axle.
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 1,777
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Hey Russ, I have backed up my driveway a few times (it's on a hill) and have had both wheels do what you describe when hits some soft dirt. I have the ELD but did not have it engaged when it did it. I thought with the ELD it is an open diff unless you engage the electrons. Should I be getting power to both wheels with an ELD?
Thread Starter
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Jäger
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,491
Likes: 5
From: Northern Arizona
Hey Russ, I have backed up my driveway a few times (it's on a hill) and have had both wheels do what you describe when hits some soft dirt. I have the ELD but did not have it engaged when it did it. I thought with the ELD it is an open diff unless you engage the electrons. Should I be getting power to both wheels with an ELD?
Sam is correct, no ELD is available on DRW's as I don't think it's out yet, and may never be, for the Dana 80 axle.
I'm not sure what type/brand of LS unit comes in the Dana 80. I'm wondering if other have found the LS in the DRW's to be so weak. Of course, with 800 ft/lbs of torque, the LS unit may be fighting a losing battle!
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Hotshot
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,591
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From: Pflugerville, tx
mine (08 DRW) works as expected.. its only intended for up to 10mph.. get moving..
Sam
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Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,424
Likes: 12
From: BC Canada
One thing you can try is to drain the oil in the diff, add oil rewuired with no friction modifier, then add 1 ounce at a time until you get the necessary engagement. I did this with mine and its etter but like you say with 800 might be. Loosing battle. In these slippery sections though, you may get better engagement of both sides. Funny aside,p went to go gwt the trailer from off site storage. Guy already called twice to say wait another week, lots of snow and wet. Got there this weekend and had to pull.a chevy with his trailer out before i could get to mine. Then i backed mine the other side, got her all hooked up went to leave, yes its wet and am sinking. I swear, 3 tires turning, could have got out and walked around while the wheels turned in the mud, slowly, then fast, used a little e brake, finally got the whole rig movin. Very slowly got rolling and got to the road, bt didnt have to get the chevy guy to pull me....
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 6,521
Likes: 11
From: Greenwood, SC
Hey Russ, I have backed up my driveway a few times (it's on a hill) and have had both wheels do what you describe when hits some soft dirt. I have the ELD but did not have it engaged when it did it. I thought with the ELD it is an open diff unless you engage the electrons. Should I be getting power to both wheels with an ELD?
Problem is, to complicate things totally, what exactly does the traction control system do? I bet we are getting traction control.
Have to try to remember to turn that off and see what happens.
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 1,777
Likes: 0
You're right! I too have witnessed my rear wheels spin (forward and backward) together without the locker engaged. And never thought about it until you posted this.
Problem is, to complicate things totally, what exactly does the traction control system do? I bet we are getting traction control.
Have to try to remember to turn that off and see what happens.
Problem is, to complicate things totally, what exactly does the traction control system do? I bet we are getting traction control.
Have to try to remember to turn that off and see what happens.
Tuned
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 333
Likes: 2
From: NJ
Had my truck off-road and decided to see how tight the LS rear end is set. Started ascending a well-packed dirt hill with some silt on it in 2wd and did not get very far when the right rear broke loose and the truck started hopping badly.
The LS unit in my '05 was pretty good (replaced with an ARB) and the Trac-Lok in my '94 Bronco was great. Does this LS need some break-in time? I rarely travel in snow/icy conditions so I'd like it to be 'tighter' for off-road trail duty. Any thoughts or ideas?
I'd prefer an electronic, selectable locker, but they are apparently not available for the D-80 yet.
Qualifier: No, I'm not hard core wheeling my $60K truck.
The LS unit in my '05 was pretty good (replaced with an ARB) and the Trac-Lok in my '94 Bronco was great. Does this LS need some break-in time? I rarely travel in snow/icy conditions so I'd like it to be 'tighter' for off-road trail duty. Any thoughts or ideas?
I'd prefer an electronic, selectable locker, but they are apparently not available for the D-80 yet.
Qualifier: No, I'm not hard core wheeling my $60K truck.
Hotshot
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,591
Likes: 14
From: Pflugerville, tx
You're right! I too have witnessed my rear wheels spin (forward and backward) together without the locker engaged. And never thought about it until you posted this.
Problem is, to complicate things totally, what exactly does the traction control system do? I bet we are getting traction control.
Have to try to remember to turn that off and see what happens.
Problem is, to complicate things totally, what exactly does the traction control system do? I bet we are getting traction control.
Have to try to remember to turn that off and see what happens.
"The traction control system works by momentarily decreasing engine power to help regain traction at the tires. The system is particularly helpful while accelerating on a slippery surface. Using signals from the vehicle's anti-lock brakes, a computer algorithm -- embedded in the Powertrain Control Module -- detects if the drive wheels are slipping. Then, within milliseconds, the system adjusts the engine power to allow the tires to regain traction."
Sam
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