So I was pretty sure that when the time comes in the next few months to buy my F150, that I was gonna go with a 3.73 Limited Slip. Now I'm starting to wonder.

Is it worth it to go with the limited slip (and the extra maintenance) if I really have almost no intentions of offroading it and rarely tow anything? Most of what I'll be doing would be hauling my motorcycle in the bed, and occasionally I may tow a small trailer (think uhaul).

So I'm wondering if the LS is worth it.

I have a 4.10 non limited in my sport trac right now, so honestly I've never driven a LS truck before.

Thanks.

 

Not sure what the option costs. However, my .02 on it is, you cant tell the difference from an open diff to a limited slip......until you need both rear wheels turning. Now you say that you dont do alot of offroading, mudding, etc, but if you need the extra traction for whatever reason may arise, it sure is nice to have. I would say yes, it is worth it. I have it on my 05(same thing you are looking at), LS with 3.73, and love it.

 

I had an '04 with LS. The right wheel would spin on ice and the left wheel would turn 1/4 turn and stop turning and would not hook up. When I ordered my '07 Screw, I ordered it without LS. I can't tell any difference.

 

Well worth it IMO. Not much extra maintenance, a bottle of friction modifier at lube change time.

 

The best deal on the option sheet bar none.

I believe factory LS is around $250.
Aftermarket installed is from $800 - $1200.

Do a search here over the last ten years of how many bought off the lot and got an open rear end then wanted to do a swap to LS.

Not a single thread about wishing the truck didn't have LS.

If you have the oppurtunity to order, the LS should be the first option checked on the order sheet.

 

Limitted slips are definitely more fun for those who like to get it rear-sideways. (Mine only does it when I punch it into a turn in the rain or snow) With both wheels spinning you can get a nice drift action.

On a more useful note...even getting out of wet grass can be an easier experience with LS. Sometimes "one wheel drive" on a light truck rear is no fun.

 

I was once on some soft wet grass & sunk a bit, the rear tire started to spin & then they were both spinning, & I got out of that spot without going into 4WD, I like the LS with 3.73 gears well worth it!......

 

The option is only like $300. Heck yea its worth it. Can't beat it.

 

If you guys have had good luck with LS, then I guess mine never did work right. The rear end howled and was rebuilt with 8,000 miles, then totally replaced with 12,000 miles. I had other issues with that truck, so I traded. I will try LS again on the next one!

 

Thanks guys, that helps alot. I guess my last question on this issue is whether to go with 3.55 or 3.73 gearing. Like I said, right now I have 4.10 on the Trac, but don't know what to do on the 150. I'm going to buy a 4x4 Lariat but at the current moment don't do alot of towing. Is there a huge difference in the way the truck produces power between the two, and also is there a huge difference in gas mileage? Regardless, what would be normal expected MPG's for the two gearings?

Thanks again. This site rocks

 

OEM limited slip diff is the cheapest performance-improving option you can buy. It has nothing to do with towing (except boat launches). Turns a 1-wheel drive truck into a 2wd truck.

3.73 vs. 3.55, you won't notice any fuel economy difference in an F-150. Get the 3.73.

That said, my OEM clutches wore out and where shuddering by 30k miles on my current truck and Ford repalced them under warranty. My 99 F-150 didn't have any problem in the 69k miels I had it, though.

 

My truck has developed a 'clunk' on low speed turns both right and left.
I suspect the clutches.
Occured at 105k.

 

Yeah, tell me about it... I once got stuck in wet grass with my front wheels on the pavement in my Ranger.
Had to have a few friends get in the bed and jump to get me out. I was SO embarassed. :o
That's when I knew I needed to get back in a F150, with 4WD. And a LS.

 

My '94 4X2 did not have limited slip and that darn truck would get stuck in less than 4 inches of sand or mud. In '97, I got a 4X2 with .355 LS and I could go almost anywhere in the desert our up in the mountains with no problem. Is a LS worth an extra few bucks? Hell yes!

I'd go with the .373 LS. Even if you don't haul anything, it feels like the .373 has a bit more umph when you hit the gas than a .355. As far as gas mileage, I didn't notice any change going from a .355 to a .373. I seem to be an odd ball here since I didn't lose any MPG going from 18 inch to 20 inch wheels either. The 20's handle much better on paved road than 18's. The big truck is just a heck of a lot more stable on 20's.

 

Seems like my 04 will get stuck in anything from wet grass to almost a foot of snow. It sucks watching that one wheel spin and spin and dig deeper and deeper .