I have a 02' 2500 ram, and everytime I go out to the sand dunes I get stuck. Only one tire is spinning and the other just stays put. This is getting old, so I want to upgrade my diff..

I've been (trying) to read up on different differentials but I'm getting confused about what these different diffs. do. You've got the anit-spin, limited slip, open diff., posi-trac, lockers, and so forth. Can anybody tell me the definitions of these types, and what would work for me? I know wider tires would work great but I think upgrading the diff. would work alot better.

 

you have an open differential........kinda sucks 'eh.


Limited slips and "positrac" are the same thing....they use clutch packs pressing on the side gears to equalize the axleshafts. these slip no matter what you do. these are not lockers.........but some are pretty good.


lockers....automatic or selectable

classic Detroit locker automatic full locking differential. positive locking action between the axle shafts, uses dogs. meaning if the driveshaft is turning the axle shafts are turning together. if you go into a turn the outside alxeshaft will unlock and allow the tire to rotate faster than the inner to complete the corner without binding. but that means that an axle will never turn SLOWER than the one with power..........no one legged smokeshows....


ARB air selecible locker.....
E-locker (tractech I think) electric selectibe....
OX loxker manual cable selctible... full lockers when engaged open diff when disengaged. usually much more expensive...


lincoln locker................spool........ you don't want one of these

 

Some limited slips use gears, not clutches, such as the Detroit Truetrac and the Dodge factory unit.

Avoid LSDs that use clutches. They usually require special diff oil and over time will wear out and need to be rebuilt.

 

I didn't mention lunch box lockers like those....its confusing to some. and I think they're junk. well I suppose they're OK in light duty rigs like jeeps and low powered trucks.

I don't believe those are considered L/S.....I think those are lockers as well. they just replace the side gears and spiders, a full locker replaces the differential houseing as well as the sidegears and spiders.......aside from the detroit No-spin for the GM 14bolt full floater which just replaces the sides & spiders........ getting confusing again........

 

Don't be confused. It is very possible you have the factory anti-spin diffential. Mine works as well as yours.

Posi trac, Sure grip, tracrite,ect are all just brand names for different anti-spin differentials.

Lockers and limited slips are considered "anti spin" differentials. As mentioned they use different methods (clutches, gears, screw type cones, cams, ect) to shift the torque to the wheel with traction.

Lockers, as the name describes, lock both axle together so both tires will spin the same.

Clutch type limited slips use spring pressure and the speading of the differential gears to load the clutches against the case to split the torque between the axles.

Gear type limited slips use the action of the gears (torque bias) to split the torque. They work well on the street were both tires have some traction. Some ricers have these in the front tranaxles.

Unfortunately, there is nothing aftermarket for your rear axle. Eaton makes an electronic locker for a Chevrolet that can be made to fit the Dodge front axle. Your owners manual say to use the brakes to try and trick the rear axle into spinning both wheels (this works on open differntials as well as the TracRite Gt). I think it is rediculous to install that type of differential in an off road truck.

I'm waiting on an aftermarket solution also.

 

Whoops, Second Gen?

That would be a Dana 70/80 axle. There are more aftermarket alternatives for the Dana.

 

the lo9cker in dana 70/80 use a lockrite from spicer, you can rebuild these units tho be tighter than stock. just find a GOOD differential shop and as for a clutch kit add one more clutch and steel into the packs and BAM! you have a tighter POSI!

 

Im in the same boat as c.ramster! But I 've got an 06..so there reall are no choices for me....I would have gotten the factory one but this used one was to good to pass up.
After driving in the rain for the past 2 days, some sort of locker is needed now!
Had a detroit in the rear of my jeep w ARB in the front. Both worked great and I'm missing the traction badly!
Any suggestions?
Chuck

 

Welcome to DTR


Are you in 4 wheel drive?

Fill out your signature so we know what you are driving.

 

I don't normally drive around in 4wd on the street!
and I thought I had my sig filled out...lets see....thats better

chuck

 

I think he was referring to the starter of this thread.

 

sen gen, Dana's front and back, front will be, or should be a Dana 60 i think , and same for rear, or if you have a 5 spd, then might be a Dana 70, or 80

 

I'd get my hands on a Detroit locker........you can get one for the D70 or D80. thats what you need for sand no ifs ands or buts about it.


you'll learn to deal with it on the street.........the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks.

you'll have a D60 CAD front and D70 in an auto & D80 in a stick

 

I put my Old Dana Power lok (properly setup) LSD up against a detroit any day.

Better street maners better ice and snow handling and worked great on the sand dunes.

That said.

Not all limited slips are the Same.

Trac-Lok which is the DC std limited slip uses lots of Flat clutches with two curved to put preload ont eh sidegears and has fixed shafts for the spiders. figure if your are lucky 25-50% functionalilty

Power Lok is older model by spicer uses 5 clutch discs per side these can be all flat of you can use curves to increase preload. Std. HD clutch kit has Two curves per side and three flats per side. Mine had 3 curves per side. the unique thing about the Plok is the spidergear shafts are allowed to ramp up once torque is applied. if one tire spins and then you tap your brake pedal while still lightly on the throttle the shafts ramp up and you can count on both tires continuing to spin even when one is WAY up in the Air.


though the detroit is tuff they have thier issues- drawbacks. as does everything. If you go Limited slip direction the power lok is far and above better than anything else out there including the Auburn. IMHO and years of 4wheeling

 

What kind of oil should I put in my rear differential? I have a 96 automatic which has a locker I guess.