open vs limited slip diferentials.
I have read about differentials overheating. Is this a problem 'almost' exclusive to limited slip? My new vehicle will be used a great amount of time on steep 2 lane winding mountain roads. I woul...
Forum Discussion
I have a 76 International Scout with ARB air lockers in the front and rear differentials. It is a serious trail rig I use for exploring the logging roads up in the Oregon hills. For this purpose air lockers are incredible.
When a locker is engaged the two wheels will spin the EXACT SAME SPEED. You definitely do NOT want this for slippery twisty roads! It will do worse in those situations than an open diff. With the diff locked when you make a turn one of the wheels is going to loose traction! The one wheel will be forced to loose traction because their is no differential action to allow one wheel to travel faster around a corner than the other wheel. Once one wheel looses traction, especially at speed, things go to hell really quick!
The proper way to use an air locker is to always leave it disengaged (unlocked) until you get stuck. When you get stuck engage the locking differential to get you unstuck then disengage it once you are moving. When you are stuck a locking differential is a great tool to have and can really save your bacon! But you do not want to drive with the differential locked.
With my front and rear differential locked on a slippery surface it is pretty common to have no ability to steer the truck. With the front diff locked the front 2 wheels will turn the exact same speed and pretty much force the vehicle in a straight line even though the tires are pointed in a different direction. I have locked both front and rear on my Scout a couple of dozen times and it has saved my butt! Even more important it has saved me from being pulled out of the muck by my buddies Jeep! But these situation have been pretty much trying hard to get stuck!
My Duramax comes with a well respected limited slip in the rear diff. I have to take a hard right out of my back driveway which is gravel. My Duramax pretty much always breaks loose in the gravel when taking this hard right turn. This almost always results in both wheels in the rear of my truck breaking loose and fishtailing a couple inches. I am happy I have a limited slip diff but in some situations it causes the rear to break loose and is an impediment to traction rather than a improvement.
The best traction for NORMAL driving conditions is AWD with a real differential in the transfer case. You will stay on the road much better with AWD than you will with 4wd. If you get stuck the best traction for getting you unstuck would be to have the transfer case locked (if it is an AWD t-case) and the front and rear diffs locked. Then as soon as you are moving unlock the front, rear and center t-case differential to maintain the best grip on the road.
I hope this helps you determine the best differential choice for you!
When a locker is engaged the two wheels will spin the EXACT SAME SPEED. You definitely do NOT want this for slippery twisty roads! It will do worse in those situations than an open diff. With the diff locked when you make a turn one of the wheels is going to loose traction! The one wheel will be forced to loose traction because their is no differential action to allow one wheel to travel faster around a corner than the other wheel. Once one wheel looses traction, especially at speed, things go to hell really quick!
The proper way to use an air locker is to always leave it disengaged (unlocked) until you get stuck. When you get stuck engage the locking differential to get you unstuck then disengage it once you are moving. When you are stuck a locking differential is a great tool to have and can really save your bacon! But you do not want to drive with the differential locked.
With my front and rear differential locked on a slippery surface it is pretty common to have no ability to steer the truck. With the front diff locked the front 2 wheels will turn the exact same speed and pretty much force the vehicle in a straight line even though the tires are pointed in a different direction. I have locked both front and rear on my Scout a couple of dozen times and it has saved my butt! Even more important it has saved me from being pulled out of the muck by my buddies Jeep! But these situation have been pretty much trying hard to get stuck!
My Duramax comes with a well respected limited slip in the rear diff. I have to take a hard right out of my back driveway which is gravel. My Duramax pretty much always breaks loose in the gravel when taking this hard right turn. This almost always results in both wheels in the rear of my truck breaking loose and fishtailing a couple inches. I am happy I have a limited slip diff but in some situations it causes the rear to break loose and is an impediment to traction rather than a improvement.
The best traction for NORMAL driving conditions is AWD with a real differential in the transfer case. You will stay on the road much better with AWD than you will with 4wd. If you get stuck the best traction for getting you unstuck would be to have the transfer case locked (if it is an AWD t-case) and the front and rear diffs locked. Then as soon as you are moving unlock the front, rear and center t-case differential to maintain the best grip on the road.
I hope this helps you determine the best differential choice for you!
