Everyone can think of a situation where some particular differential design has a problem. From extreme rock crawling to highway black ice to wet grass! And so many are waiting for the pie-in-the-sky magic selectable locker. Cool. And while you're waiting I've been all over the desert, mountain highways in the snow, steep slippery driveways, mud, sand etc. And while I agree that these diffs could often do something a little better, they do a whole lot very well and I am very glad I ordered mine. An open diff may not spin out as easily on ice but you'll be stuck more often and a selectable might get you through a situation where a wheel is off the ground, but the stock LS works a lot of the time very well in real world situations and with zero hassle. I definately do not want an open diff. A selectable will only be useful to get out of a situation and can not be left locked, therefore it can't help in mild situations. And a locked diff on a heavily loaded truck where traction is good is an invitation for a broken axle.

I say get the LS and learn to use it, or just forget it and let it serve you. If you find you're always getting stuck (which you won't) then get the manual locker if and when they become available. If I had it to do over LS would be even higher on my list of priorities.

Wetspirit

 

I agree with WetSpirit - he's absolutely right.

I have the Dana 80 clutch-style posi in my '98 and of course the planetary-gear style AAM posi in my '05. They both have worked well for me in all situations, but the service trucks have lots of traction at @ 10K #!

The biggest difference I've seen is that the rear tires wear much faster on the AAM since it doesn't slip as much around the turns as the Dana on dry pavement.

Dear Dodge - I just wish the front diffs weren't open!

 

LMMFAO!

 

"A selectable will only be useful to get out of a situation and can not be left locked, therefore it can't help in mild situations. And a locked diff on a heavily loaded truck where traction is good is an invitation for a broken axle."

A limited slip will only be useful in mild situations, and harm you in some extreme ones. If it does work as well as a selectable in extreme situations then it is as prone to breaking an axle as a selectable, as a limited slip turns on and of as it wishes, regardless of what you want or what makes sense, obvioulsy regardless of what load you have. I don't want anymore 'automatic stuff' making decisions for me, but I know that most people do.

A brother in Alaska was able to talk to a state trooper who was doing a survey of winter accidents where vehicles ended up off the road, and the trooper noted that pickups typically ended up bass ackwards. I commented that it was probably due to the light rear ends, and the 'must have' limited slips.

 

A limited slip will only be useful in mild situations, and harm you in some extreme ones. If it does work as well as a selectable in extreme situations then it is as prone to breaking an axle as a selectable, as a limited slip turns on and of as it wishes, regardless of what you want or what makes sense, obvioulsy regardless of what load you have. I don't want anymore 'automatic stuff' making decisions for me, but I know that most people do.



1sttruck,

I guess you'd better not get one. But don't worry, if I see you stuck somewhere I'll stop as I usually do.

Since you don't want any more "automatic stuff" making decisions for you how are you going to cope with the engine ECM? It makes thousands of decisions based on a lot of information every second. Better just throw that away too.

Wetspirit

 

I'd say the (relatively) light rear end of a pickup has as much to do with 180's on slick roads as a limited slip would in the pumpkin... this sort of thing always reminds me of the perennial debates over evils such as ABS foisted on the consumer.

Bottom line - choose how you want to get yer lunch eaten & roll wid it, 'cause after all... there is NO FREE LUNCH ( a little Einstein lingo, there!)

 

"Since you don't want any more "automatic stuff" making decisions for you how are you going to cope with the engine ECM? It makes thousands of decisions based on a lot of information every second. Better just throw that away too."

If the ECM was likely to hole a piston, say when ambient temps hit 100F, then I wouldn't want one. I don't like 'automatic stuff' if it's not as durable, and/or it results in accidents. If something is going to fail it should 'fail gracefully', with some warning.

 

Yeah, kinda like my prostrate...

 

"Yeah, kinda like my prostrate... "

Sorry to hear about the prostate problems, I don't have any issues there.

 

Well, yer lucky - just wait 'til ya get to be an ol codger....

 

as for the remarks on college english courses - guess your remarks make you feel really big now!

Some people don't have as much time as you.. may be typing online between doing 10 other things... may have posted while talking on the phone... etc. etc... if you can't help out - then don't.. I sure one can find many problems/faults/issues/etc in you..

 

Aw c'mon - I don't think HandyManTim meant to hurt his feelings!

"Why can't we all just get along" - Rodney King

 

"Well, yer lucky - just wait 'til ya get to be an ol codger...."

I bought a Look magazine for my slightly younger wife at a garage sale that was her year and month of birth, and when the kids were looking thru it on the way home they kept saying things like 'look at how old that is', 'that's really old', 'look at those old cars, what kind are they ?' :^)