OK I screwed up and didn't get a limited slip when I bought my truck. Boy will tha sucker break loose on ice or snow

Hunting season and snow are on the way again here in Colo

Any one have input on limited slips, posi traction,lockers etc

would like a no brainer one no wires or pumps etc

Truck is an O4 4dr, sb auto 4x4

Love this truck have 22k on it and no problems, except the payment

Thanks

 

Randy's Ring and Pinion sells the Helical gear limited slip that comes from AAM for slightly over $500. That's all you can get for now. I believe it's the same one that come from the factory. Ordering one from the dealer will cost you over $1,000.

 

I had torson helical gear posi units front and rear in my 82 Toyota pick up . 4" lift 34" super swampers, that truck climbed like a mountain goat. They worked well until the rear unit let loose. Probably to much tire for that small rear. That was a long time ago, I hope these new units will hold up to a bombed Cummins 600. Back to my first thought.
Do they make a unit for the front diff, and could you run it without locking hubs or center disconnect ? At a minimum there might a mpg loss.

 

Why in the world would the factory not put a limited slip on a vehicle designed to tow? Especially a 4x4.

 

I thought 4x4 meant 4x4.
Didn't even think to check when I bought mine.
Took me gettin stuck to find out I didn't buy a 4x4,
but a 2x2 with a shifter to change it from 1 wheel drive to 2 wheel drive.
1 in front, 1 in back.

Luckily, I have the popular Dana axles with hundreds of options to lock them up.

It'll take the aftermarket companies a little time to get stuff out there for the 3rd gen axles.


phox

 

I though the same thing you did phox. 4X4 meant 4x4. Oh well. At least I have a limited slip in the back. That's saved my butt several times.

 

Anyone installed the helical setup?
Does this axle have a split case carrier or solid? Do we have to pull the carrier to install it?
I'm going to have to do this too. Mine has an open axle too and it sucks.....
I almost got hung up in some mud with my camper on and a small trailer behind me, Talk about having the wife and kids stressing playing the back and forth rocking game......

Greg

 

TXcatfish is right. The diff he is talking about is the only one offered for an AAM axle so far. This is one heavy duty posi and should last a long time with reasonably sized tires. This does require a whole carrier change and needs to be done at a good shop as the ring and pinion will need to be set up again. As for the front, the only options are to run a manually selectable locker or shell out the big bucks and call dynatrac for the full floating/hub conversion kit that allows you to run any carrier you want. Not sure if ARB makes a locker for this front end or not yet, but you can bet it is only a matter of time if they don't.

 

I have an air locker in the front of my 96. they work great.

 

AAM has a thorson style listed on their site,anyone know if Randy's can get them?It seems as though that would be a bigger seller than the rear set-up !

 

I ment to say for the front 9.5' !!!

 

yeah

that's what I thought I called a couple places locally

Not available

 

I looked into this some time back. Eaton makes an e-locker for the 9.25 GM IFS axle, which they said would work in the front 9.25 AA&M front axle with some "minor grinding". They are working on an e-locker for the 10.50 AA&M, and plan to do the 11.50 AA&M a year or so out. I'm just hoping I can get at least the front locker done before the snow flies!

 

OK, someone please enlighten those of us who mistakenly thought we were paying for 4x4 when we ordered 4x4. FYI, I did purchase the 4x4 with limited slip. Please explain how this drivetrain gets power to the wheels. Are you saying that there is only one powered wheel in front and one in back when in 4x4? Do other 4x4s work this way? I've had AWD vehicles with fulltime 4x4 that switched traction around dynamically depending on detected traction loss. I would have thought that a part-time 4x4 like this (with the limitations of low traction surface use only) would be putting power to all wheels. What exactly is this thing doing?

Thanks,
Neil

 

If you did get the limited slip, then you actually have a 3x4.
The front has no traction aid, so if it gets into some really slick stuff, only one side will spin.
The rear, if one decides to spin, the limited slip will apply power to both wheels.

Current AWD vehicles have the brains to move the traction around depending on which tire is slipping,
solid axle trucks such as ours, don't have the brains.
That's why we have to do the thinking for them and get traction devices such as lockers, limited slip, positraction,etc.

I will be getting a Detroit locker for the rear (automatic locker), and an ARB air locker (selectable) for the front, when funds allow.

You could always pay a visit to howstuffworks.com, to see how 4x4 and AWD are different, and how each gets the power to the ground.


phox