Limited Slip Question.

[slravene]

OK, i have a stupid question...I dont know much about drivetrains and such, so i come for help How do i know if i have a Limited Slip in my rear... I have a 95 XLT 4x4 4DR. Is it even possible to have LS in that combonation... My 4wd knob has 2wd 4 and 4lo (if that helps to determine). Can someone do the favor of explaining this to me. (I have searched and come up with nothing useful). Thanks.

 

[snoborder42]

The easy way to see if you have a limited slip is easy. Find a gravel or dirt road. Come to a stop leave it in 2wd and floor it . If you see two tire tracks behind you, then you have a limited slip, if there is only one you have an open differential.

 

[slravene]

What is the main differences, pros/cons of the two. And another dumb question, can i put manual locking hubs on my ex as well?

 

[snoborder42]

The open differential is usually put in 2wd vehicles but they are put in cheaper 4x4's too.
The pros of an open diff: Better gas mileage and thats about it.
Cons of an open diff, You have one tire fire, meaning that there is only one drive tire on that axle
Pros of a Limited Slip: Better off road capibility, better traction in slippery conditions, wont have to go to 4x4 as often.
Cons of a Limited Slip: The actual differential can go bad over time and become an open diff.

As for the locking hubs, I believe that the 95 is the 2nd generation of explorers and therefore you cannot have manual hubs on it.

 

[unclemeat]

Here is a little more info. A Limited slip differential will send power to both wheels. Meaning that if one tire is off the ground or on a slipery surface, the other tire will recieve power and move the vehicle. An open differential is good for pavement because when you go around a sharp corner it allows the wheel on the outside to travel a different amout of rotation, independently if the inside tire.

It is not the differential that "goes bad". The stock limited slip differential (LSD) has clutches. Over time the clutches wear out and need to be replace 20 to 50,000-miles. The best way to tell if you have a LSD is to read the rear axle code on the driver side door sticker. You can do a search on this site for axle codes and determine axle ration and differential.

 

[dman726749]

read around here, lots of good info on "how stuff works" haha

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/differential8.htm

 

[ExplorerDMB]

A lot of people love their Limited Slips/Lockers. I am just in love with my LSD. I installed it 3 months ago and have loved it ever since. It's fun sometimes, cause I'll have to take a 90 degree left turn to get infront of some traffic when I get out of work and when I'm almost going straight, you can punch it and those wheels will just bite the road and launch you straight. I was very impressed with it and glad I upgraded. There is no carrier break for these in the 8.8" rear (which you have)....so any LSD with a 31 spline axle cutting for a 8.8" will work. Hope you get one - they're wonderful.

-Drew

 

[Doug]

Factory L/S is garbage. If you want something decent get an aftermarket limited slip an auburn. However Limited slip does have it's limitations. If you plan on 4wheeling Limited slip isn't the best option, you're going to want a locker. If you lift a tire off the ground with limites slip the tire in the air will spin and the other will do nothing. A limited slip will slip when the difference in traction between the two tires is great enough. There aren't manual locking hubs available for 95+ explorers. There aren't traditional hubs and bearings like in most older 4wd. Hub/Bearing assembly is a sealed unit and the CV stub shaft bolts right to that.

 

[Lloyd10977]

OK, i have a stupid question...I dont know much about drivetrains and such, so i come for help How do i know if i have a Limited Slip in my rear... I have a 95 XLT 4x4 4DR. Is it even possible to have LS in that combonation... My 4wd knob has 2wd 4 and 4lo (if that helps to determine). Can someone do the favor of explaining this to me. (I have searched and come up with nothing useful). Thanks.

In order to find outwhat your X was originally equipped with, look at the label in yout driver's door jamb that showa the tire pressures. at the bottom of the label just under the bar code is a figure under the word AXLE. the code indicates the differential type and axle ratio:
41 = conventional axle w/3.27 ratio
43 = conventional w/ 3.08 ratio
46 = conventional w/ 3.73 ratio
D4 = Ford Traction-Lok w/ 3.73 ratio

 

[slravene]

wait...is control-trac 4wd the same thing? badge on the back of the car underneath "Explorer" says control trac 4wd....Am I an idiot?

 

[dreamr]

Sorry, but I have to add my.02 as I am a L/S hater

The limited slip I feel is more of an advantage on a street rig as it has very good streetability, and it allows for a much more consistent launch as torque is applied to both tires typically, though it will shift to one depending on traction differences at the tire.

In an offroad situation the open diff allows the tire with the least resistance to spin. The L/S allows the tire with the most resistance to spin.

The inherent problem with the L/S comes in when you are on a slick off camber road. With L/S the downhill facing tire will spin and you will slide sideways (into a tree or off the road). With an open dif the downhill tire will remain stationary providing side to side grip, while the up hill tire will be trying to move you a long.

In short I highly rercommend a selectable locker that is open in the off position and fully locked when on.

 

[dreamr]

wait...is control-trac 4wd the same thing? badge on the back of the car underneath "Explorer" says control trac 4wd....Am I an idiot?

Control track means that you have an auto 4x4 setting. When the speed sensors in the T-case detect a difference in front and rear driveline speed they apply torque to the front end to eliminate the rear wheel slip.

Kinda spooky when off road Nice on wet roads though

Actually I just noticed that you have a 95 so the sensors are located differently, but the effect is the same.