I recently purchased a 2000 F150 4x4 with limited slip. Sunday while crossing a small ditch I got the right rear and the left front tires off the ground. Both tires were spinning and no power was going to the other two. I always thought that with limited slip that once a tire lost traction and rotated a few rounds the power was transfered to the other tire. Can someone explain this for me? Thanks.

 

From what I understand, torque differential is what initiates the power transfer. A little brake pressure may have helped to get the "other" wheel going.

 

I had this same problem in the snow today. No matter how you shift or apply the gas only one wheel spins while the other has a knocking sound but no motion. Finally by chance I held with the brake then applied gas and let off the brake - it grabbed. The description in the manual says nothing about how to make it work. Im very pleased with the 4wd, I got right up to where I wanted to go while other 2wd SUVs got left behind sliding. Oh yea and they had chains beating up their wheelwells while I didn't have any on.

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'99 EB Expy 4x4, 5.4L, 3.73LS w/tow pkg, Ox White, 4WAS Air Suspended
Stock except for: Auxiliary Battery, Re-located CD Player

 

With FORD's limited slip, It works alittle different than what you think. When the rear drive tire (right) is spinning, it is bassically telling the diff that everything is o.k. This goes the same for mud and ice. The biggest mistake is romping on the throttle right away. You don't give the diff any time to transfer torque. If you gently apply throttle, the drive tire won't start spinning right away and gives the other tire a chance to kick in. This works best in situations where you are in the yard etc. when it is wet. If you're going through mud hole then you have to get momentum, and apply the brake along with the throttle sometimes. That gives the diff enough restriction to transfer torque to the other side.

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1999 F-250LD 4X4 XLT Supercab, Short Bed, 5.4L, AT, 3.73LS, 33"Wrangler ATS, Dual Exhaust, Custom Air Intake, Superchip, Color: Harvest Gold cc "Ready to Farm"