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11/23/2024 7:54 AM  #1


Another Limited Slip question.

Many years ago I ordered a new Ranger and I made sure to order it with a 3.55 LS rear.  The reason was that where I lived had a long uphill gravel driveway which was always hard to get up if it snowed.  Well the first time after I got the truck it snowed and I thought I would be able to go right up the driveway, wrong.  Only one wheel would spin, it never pulled with both tires.  I would rev it up, I would rev with foot on the brake, trying to get both wheels to turn and it never did. So did I have a faulty rearend, or is that normal on ice for only one to pull?  I no longer have that truck and have never had another LS rear since.


66 Vert.  4.6 DOHC, 4R70 Auto, Heidt's M2 frontend
 

11/23/2024 2:09 PM  #2


Re: Another Limited Slip question.

What I learned years ago plowing snow was that a pickup truck, LS or not, is way too light in the rear.  When  expecting snow I would load the rear of mine with something (a pallet of concrete), or even just load it down with snow for traction.

Was the rear end faulty?  If you were on mostly ice, maybe not.  The problem with ice is that if there is more traction on one wheel than the other and you hammer it you can exceed the breakaway torque of the LS and it "thinks" you are turning, so only one tire spins.  This is why no serious off roader runs an LS: they are too unpredictable and will let you down when needed the most.  In that environment a locker is a much better choice, selectable or otherwise.  I know some guys that run mud bogs that run spools or welded rears. 

Now, on the street I find in a car an LS is usually less objectionable than a locker, which tend to clunk and bang.  I will say that the Traction Lock in the 8.8 was never a really great design.  They had too little surface area IMO.  They would wear out prematurely, or slip when you put real power in front of them.  If someone was dead set on a LS I would advise them to get a Yukon.  Much better than stock.  However, IMO a True Trac is an excellent choice for the street.  Nothing to wear out and they take plenty of power without complaint. 
 

 

11/24/2024 8:42 AM  #3


Re: Another Limited Slip question.

I guess it is too late now, but are you sure it did indeed come with LS? 
Years ago I had a 2-wheel drive pickup w/o LS.  It was horrible in the snow, even on paved level ground, w/o about 700 lbs placed over the rear wheels. 


65 Fastback, 351W, 5-speed, 4 wheel discs, 9" rear,  R&C Front End.
 

11/24/2024 1:25 PM  #4


Re: Another Limited Slip question.

I ordered the truck and it was supposed to come with a 3.55 LS.  It said it had one on the window sticker.  I don't think that I was ever under the truck to look at the tag on the rearend.   I just know that I was disappointed that both wheels wouldn't pull going up the driveway.
Yes when it snowed I always hoped that it would snow enough so that I could fill up the box with snow to put some weight over the wheels.  I've been driving a pickup since the 90's so I know all about the weight in the box.  That's the only way I could get up the driveway, and even then I occasionally had to leave it at the bottom of the hill and walk up to the house.  Used to tick me off when I couldn't get up the hill and my wife's front wheel drive car would cruise right up.


66 Vert.  4.6 DOHC, 4R70 Auto, Heidt's M2 frontend
     Thread Starter
 

11/24/2024 2:31 PM  #5


Re: Another Limited Slip question.

I too have a long, steep driveway shared by my neighbors and I, but I was almost always able to get up the driveway.  Making the off camber turn into my own driveway was the part I often found impossible.  Several times I had to go back down the hill and park at the bottom because I just couldn't make that turn.  That was when I was young and broke and most of my rides were beaters.  When I finally started making some decent money I vowed to only own a DD that's 4WD or AWD.  Of course now it rarely snows...

 

11/24/2024 4:22 PM  #6


Re: Another Limited Slip question.

Try holding your foot on the brake to preload both wheels. Some traction lock rear ends require a more even load applied to both aides to lock


Money you enjoy wasting is NOT wasted money... unless your wife finds out.
 

11/25/2024 10:41 AM  #7


Re: Another Limited Slip question.

MS wrote:

Try holding your foot on the brake to preload both wheels. Some traction lock rear ends require a more even load applied to both aides to lock

This does work. If'n you have a manual like me then application of the parking brake helps when the left foot is working the clutch. This also helps with OPEN differentials.
 

Last edited by RV6 (11/25/2024 10:42 AM)


Gary Zilik - Pine Junction, Colorado - 67 Coupe, 289-4V, T5
 

11/25/2024 3:36 PM  #8


Re: Another Limited Slip question.

RV6 wrote:

MS wrote:

Try holding your foot on the brake to preload both wheels. Some traction lock rear ends require a more even load applied to both aides to lock

This does work. If'n you have a manual like me then application of the parking brake helps when the left foot is working the clutch. This also helps with OPEN differentials.
 

I've seen guys off road with the ability to apply the parking brake to one side or the other (two levers) as an el cheapo way to get better traction. 
 

 

11/26/2024 3:47 PM  #9


Re: Another Limited Slip question.

The old school quick and easy way to check if you have an open vs an LS diff is to jack up the rear and with the car in neutral spin one rear tire. If they spin in oppo directions it's definitely an open. 


69 SCJ Mach1 Acapulco Blue/Black Ram Air  65 Fastback 422W C4 Disk brakes, 9in
 

Board footera


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