Limited slip working properly?

[blitzk]

Hey guys... just want to double check something.

I tow jetski's and launch directly from the beach. Sometimes the sand is "fluffy" and I tend to get stuck. I have it lowered and have lowprofile tires/big rims. I know those 2 things dont help at all!

I have 2wd, 3.73LS (tow package)....

When it gets stuck, just one wheel spins. I thought the LS should stop that spinning tire and transfer it to the one not spinning, no?

I have not tried the "parking brake method" yet... basically I should engage the parking brake a few clicks and then try it?

 

[piperRonnie]

I had LS diff in my Cherokee, to check it: raise the rear wheels off of the ground, tranny in N, spin one wheel forward, it should be difficult and the other tire should move forward also. In an open diff, as one tire spins forward, the other spins backwards.

For the brake coaxing to work, you still need some traction under the spinning tire.

 

[James909]

If just one wheel spins when you get stuck it sounds like the clutches in the LS are worn out. Here is the way to test the LS courtesy of MrShorty:

Standard "by the book" test for the LS clutches has been described here before, but it's been a year or so.

1) Jack up one wheel: transmission in N
2) Put a torque wrench on a lug nut. Technically you're supposed to use a special gizmo that centers the torque wrench over the axle, but for our purposes it will be "close enough" just attached to a lug nut.
3) Use the torque wrench to turn the wheel and measure the amount of torque required to "overcome" the clutches. Spec is at least 20 ft lbs.

You could try using the parking brake but that doesn't always work. Basically just give it gas and slowly depress the parking brake until the other wheel starts to spin.

 

[Thelt]

Lowering your tire pressure helps a lot with sand. Most people run 20psi or less at the beach at Hatteras. I am not sure how well that would work with your setup though.

 

[James909]

Lowering your tire pressure helps a lot with sand. Most people run 20psi or less at the beach at Hatteras. I am not sure how well that would work with your setup though.

This is definitely a good idea. When I drive on the beach I run 17psi and you'd be surprised at how much it helps. Also even though you have 2wd you should lower the pressure in all 4 tires anyway. It gives the tires more surface area and helps them "float" on top of the sand better. But make sure that you fill them up again before you drive home or you run the risk of breaking a bead on one of the tires.

 

[JohnJ]

Keep in mind when reducing pressure in low profile tires:

1) It won't help as much as with a higher profile tire because your firm sidewall with minimal area won't allow for as much squish as a higher profile tire.

2) Reducing your tire pressure reduced the load carrying capacity of the tire. Consider the max tire inflation pressure and max load capacity of the tires you have and divide by the weight you're putting on that tire to determine the lowest safe pressure to avoid giving yourself an additional problem.