Quick limited slip question... please pitch in.
Member
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 61
Likes: 0
From: Jacksonville, AR
Back to the original question of 2004-Screw, I think he'll be fine without the limited slip. I've had several trucks, with and without it. A 2-wheel drive definately should have it; if I were king of the options list it would be standard.
A 4wd does just fine without it, if the front axle is engaged. If the truck is in 2wd and driving in rain, the rear wheels may spin starting up wet hills.
A smart guy looks ahead, and if the future road looks "sloppy", the 4wd should be engaged before the traction is lost.
If one often drives in soft sloppy stuff, such as mud and sand, then the limited slip is a MUST.
I almost got stuck in a river crossing. I thought the river bed was rock, but that turned into pea-gravel, and about half way across, where the current was strongest, I felt the rear of the truck sinking into the sand. I gunned the truck and felt the rear axle lock and the truck was able to plow its way way out of the soft stuff. Fortunately the front axle was already engaged, or the rear axle would have dug two holes rapidly.
Some say a 4wd truck gets stuck more often because naive drivers take the truck into sloppy conditions thinking that they can't get stuck. Makes you wonder why most 4wd trucks have tow hooks on the front as standard equipment.
If you don't make a habit of putting the truck in soft turf, you'll not need the limited slip.
A 4wd does just fine without it, if the front axle is engaged. If the truck is in 2wd and driving in rain, the rear wheels may spin starting up wet hills.
A smart guy looks ahead, and if the future road looks "sloppy", the 4wd should be engaged before the traction is lost.
If one often drives in soft sloppy stuff, such as mud and sand, then the limited slip is a MUST.
I almost got stuck in a river crossing. I thought the river bed was rock, but that turned into pea-gravel, and about half way across, where the current was strongest, I felt the rear of the truck sinking into the sand. I gunned the truck and felt the rear axle lock and the truck was able to plow its way way out of the soft stuff. Fortunately the front axle was already engaged, or the rear axle would have dug two holes rapidly.
Some say a 4wd truck gets stuck more often because naive drivers take the truck into sloppy conditions thinking that they can't get stuck. Makes you wonder why most 4wd trucks have tow hooks on the front as standard equipment.
If you don't make a habit of putting the truck in soft turf, you'll not need the limited slip.
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Hi Greencrew,
I had the same experience with my '97 F150 without limited slip. When it was wet or slippery on regular roads, it was almost hard not to spin the tires from a dead stop. When I got the 99 with limited slip, that all went away.
Alas, I found the perfect 04 F150 on a dealer lot with every option I wanted except limited slip. I followed this thread with interest to see if I really still needed it, as I don't want to pay 36K+ to have a car that going to spin out every time it rains, but I REALLY like this truck too.....decisions, decisions....
I had the same experience with my '97 F150 without limited slip. When it was wet or slippery on regular roads, it was almost hard not to spin the tires from a dead stop. When I got the 99 with limited slip, that all went away.
Alas, I found the perfect 04 F150 on a dealer lot with every option I wanted except limited slip. I followed this thread with interest to see if I really still needed it, as I don't want to pay 36K+ to have a car that going to spin out every time it rains, but I REALLY like this truck too.....decisions, decisions....
