hey guys,
i live on a steep gravel road with very tight switchbacks. my longbed/xtra-cab is almost too long to make it around at all, but it's even worse going up in 4x4, when what i'm guessing is the limited slip causes it to lurch and buck. wondering if anyone knows of an aftermarket diff or any other fix for this problem?

 

Unless you have replaced the front diff, or a previous owner has, it is almost nil that you have one. Most stock front diffs are open. The lurch and buck could be coming from the fact that you have the steering wheel cranked all the way, trying to make it around the turn. Try backing off it a bit and see if there is any improvement. If not, a easy thing to do is change the oil and additive, but this is only if you know that the diff is a LS.

 

Big heay truck(diesel) making tight turns in 4x4 will lurch unless the road is pretty slippery. Even then you are going to feel tire spin- they have to no matter what your diff is, open or LS.

I too would be surprised if someone made the front a LS.

Considering the weight of the engine above a gasser adding to the front traction I doubt you are going to see any improvement- it is what it is.

Big Jimmy

 

duh...shows you what i know...
i pretty much have to keep the steering wheel cranked if i want to not drive up a cliff wall or off the mountain...
so if the diff if free (it's stock, as far as i know), what causes that lurching? it doesn't do it in 2wd (just can't use 2wd unless i have a heavy load in the back)

 

Each wheel is on a different turning radius.
The outside wheel has the larger, the inside wheel the smaller.
Somewhere that difference has to be adjusted for (the axle/diff can't do it) so the wheel that is turning faster "spins" (slips) to stay in tune with the slower spinning wheel.
Thats why they say do not drive your 4x4 on dry pavement. The road surface needs to be slippery enough to let the wheels stay in tune by one of them slipping, depending on which way you turn.

Some cars have constant velocity axles, which solve this issue. Our trucks don't have them. Our trucks are using a technology that is at least 70 years old.

It does not do it in 2wd because the wheels have been disconnected from the rest of the drive train in such a way so they can spin at their own rates.

big Jimmy

 

arroyojim,
your u-joints are binding. Even new ones will do it, but if yours are old and worn, it will be worse. Kind of a pop-clunk sound that tries to turn the wheel back toward straight, right? As stated above, newer constant-velocity joints solve this problem, which is why you can turn tight in a front wheel drive toyota with no problem. But, your dodge ain't a toyota, so you'll jsut have to take it easy around those corners! Just hold the wheel gently at full lock, allowing it to 'pulse' with the u-joint. As long as you don't get too slap happy with the loud pedal, you should be ok.

 

I too would be surprised if someone made the front a LS.

You can get a LS for the front end quite easily, I have one, a Dana Power Loc, wouldn't leave the pavement without it, it makes a huge difference.