Open diff or limited slip
Im changing the rear axle on my 99 4x4 2500 Dodge to a dually Dana 80 I can get an open differential or a factory limited slip Ive had a 03 4x4 Dodge dually with open diff and my SRW truck now has ...
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I did a lot wading thru mountains of posts on LSD vs. Lockers vs. Open and found there is a lot of misinformation out there. I zeroed in on the Eaton/Detroit True trac differential to see what the applications were and what the user reports had to say. I have no experience with it. I found that the True trac is indeed a gear/worm or planetary limited slip that senses the difference in torque bias and applies more torque to the wheel with the most traction, by degrees. No clutch plates to wear out. Surprisingly, they have applications for Dana axles, at least the D-60, all spline counts, and front and rear apps, and D-80 w/35 and 37 splines. After searching all the Dodge Truck sites i could find no one who has the True trac in their pig. Whats more, Chevy has made available some of these as a factory item on bigger pickups. I found AAM aftermarket apps for all the AAM (American Axle Manufacturing) used in virtually everyone's 250/2500, 350/3500 pickup variously from the early 2000's. It does not stop there, however, as there are 3 different AAM TracRite traction devices: TracRite GT (a helical gear LSD, no clutches), the TracRite EL (electronic open to full lock), and the TracRite GTL (a combination of the two allowing open to torque biasing LSD to full locking with a switch). The thing about AAM axles vs. Dana's is how the AAM's are slightly heavier and bigger model for model. AAM took over the light truck axle market when Dana's management was on the skids for too long.
You have only to live in icy conditions with a pickup to KNOW how awful the traction is on slippery roads. This is why I cannot recommend a full, automatic locker for unloaded/icy road truck use (unless you increase the ground pressure over your rear axle with say, 600 pounds of cement blocks in the winter or have a TC back there). Most of the autos i see in the ditch during ice storms are pickup trucks.
My wife's 2011 Cherokee has what is called a vari-trac or vari-loc diff. Fairly transparent, but if you are stopped and try to go, nothing happens. While moving and one wheel slips, you get this ratcheting sound and you can feel the torque switch to the wheel with the most traction.
Truth be told, I am well out of the loop now on traction devices relying on older more proven technology to get me out of the ditch. If any of you have more experience to divulge, feel free. As TC-er's we have a different nitch than trailer pullers or empty truckers do.
regards, as always, jefe
You have only to live in icy conditions with a pickup to KNOW how awful the traction is on slippery roads. This is why I cannot recommend a full, automatic locker for unloaded/icy road truck use (unless you increase the ground pressure over your rear axle with say, 600 pounds of cement blocks in the winter or have a TC back there). Most of the autos i see in the ditch during ice storms are pickup trucks.
My wife's 2011 Cherokee has what is called a vari-trac or vari-loc diff. Fairly transparent, but if you are stopped and try to go, nothing happens. While moving and one wheel slips, you get this ratcheting sound and you can feel the torque switch to the wheel with the most traction.
Truth be told, I am well out of the loop now on traction devices relying on older more proven technology to get me out of the ditch. If any of you have more experience to divulge, feel free. As TC-er's we have a different nitch than trailer pullers or empty truckers do.
regards, as always, jefe
