I am in the process of getting my new Lariat SCrew 4x4 from my local dealer. Most of the trucks already on the lot have the limited slip diff. Is this a needed item? Does it create maintenance headaches over the long term? Thanks!

 

Short answer (sure to start a debate)...if you expect to spend all of your time on pavement vis-a-vis rockcrawling and will use 4X4 when, e.g. in occasional snow, LS may be an unneeded expense.

I've never experienced any maintenance issues with past Ford vehicles equipped with LS.

 

This may cause a lot of controversy, but I'll stand by it. Limited slip sucks for snow (other than the extremely deep, off road type of snow). Basically when both wheels break loose the rear end loses total control and kicks out with a limited slip. With non-limited slip only one wheel will spin, but the other wheel tracks and keeps the rear end heading straight. 4wd is a must though to get you moving forward. Summary: Everyday conditions of snow on paved roads, don't need limited slip. Extremely deep snow and don't mind fish tailing a lot, get limited slip.

Myself, I would only have limited slip. I don't mind fish tailing and have 4wd and also go offroad. Limited slip is a must if you want to go off road.

 

I have had 4x4's with and without LS. I believe that the LS option is well worth the money. My '01 did not have LS and I always was spinning my tires my '03 has the LS and gets much better traction. I believe it is only $285??

Joe

 

If you ever drive on wet roads, roads that have snow etc then limited slip is well worth the money.

If you live where it snows I would say it is a MUST item. I have had both non-limited slip and limit slip and you get much better traction with limited slip in the snow then non-limited slip.

Here is why, first you have traction with BOTH tires that is a plus over only one. If one wheel breaks loose then the other wheel will get the traction.

If you have non-limited slip there is only one wheel with traction. If that wheel looses traction you are STUCK in place.

Had many problems with my non-limited slip in the snow, never had one problem with the limited slip…

 

My 4x4 has LS and it does not spin at all in the rain. It is well worth the price. If you ever tow a boat, it will help 2wd trucks pull it out of the water. I dont think I would buy one with out it.

 

The dodge that I have right now is a one-legger and I hate it in the rain. I ordered a new screw with LS, because the one I drove, on a day that it was raining, was very impressive.

Dave

 

While the effects of LSD in the snow are what Hbibs says, I would not say it sucks. In fact, up until the point where both tires slip, you have twice the force/traction to move the vehicle than a vehicle without LSD.

Try a search in this forum for limited slip or differential. I'mm sum up my thoughts like this.

Every vehicle should be equipped with an LSD. It turns a one wheel drive vehicle into two. It is the single cheapest performacne upgrade for any traction limited situation (dry, wet, snow, whatever).

 

LS is most beneficial, drive and you will see. Why else would it be an upgrade? Enough said?

 

"until the point where both tires slip, you have twice the force/traction to move the vehicle than a vehicle without LSD. "


This is 100% true. All I'm saying is when they do both break loose you lose a bit of control. If it was for my wife or someone who's gonna freak out if the truck kicks out around a corner I wouldn't get the LS.

 

I thnk the best information for LS was addressed a few weeks ago. Try a search and then read up. After doing the same I opted for the LS too.

 

That is a really good point, like if someone gunned it and lost traction to both tires it does kick around a bit and if not expected, or not experienced with it someone could find themselves in trouble quick…

But, overall I think the LS is better then non-LS.

 

One thing to remember about Limited slip is that it is NOT a locking differential. It is Limited slip meaning that it uses clutches to control torque bias. This makes both wheels grab to an extent. This helps in snow and slick roads. The complaints about about it when both wheels spin is due to the fact that if both are spining you don't have anything grabbing in the back so the rear of the truck will yaw around and "drift" This isn't as much of a problem with a Limited slip as a Locker as the limited slip will still allow one wheel to turn more than the other.

Also Limited slip clutches do wear out. Its not hard to wear one out in 30K miles. As they wear you loose torque bias until its very easy to spin one tire. In the Mustang I autocross, I put new clutches in the factory limited slip and had them cooked in one season (but I'm abusive).

Locking diferentials mean just that, they lock the axles togeather for no slip. They usually don't wear out, but are much noisier and cause more of the sideways "yaw" problems if you spin them.

If I was ordering a new truck, I'd probably order Limited slip, but If I was buying a used on or one off the lot and it didn't have it, it wouldn't stop me from buying.

 

XCR440SP:

Question for you,

When you say wear out and not hard to wear them out in 30k is that from normal driving? From what I understand, and very well could be wrong, is under normal conditions such as dry road you wouldn’t have traction to both wheels, and thus the clutches would not be engaged, is this correct? That only when one wheel starts to lose traction is when the clutches come into play and engage, or are they, the clutches, always engaged?

 

No when I say it's not hard to wear them out in 30K, I mean you don't have to intentianally try. However, you do have to pretend your driving the 24 hours of Le Mans at every corner or play John Force at every stop light. For most people Limited slip will hold up fine, but after 50K miles it won't be as effective and after 100 usually their not very effective. Still good enough to help on slick roads, but not enough to take off roading or racing.