Why no Lim Slip in the front?

[Jason_25]

Hi,
is there anyway that you could call them and ask them exactly what they used to put it all together? I'd love to have a l/s in the front, it's exactly what i've been looking for.

Thanks

 

[go off road]

OK I am going to go to Jack-it and check this out, I live about 5 miles from that shop this sounds cool if it works.

Wade

 

[SteveVB]

back to the original question.

I believe the reason that the factory doesnt put LS units in front axles (other than cost) is that in some conditions(snow,ice, mud) the driver would have little or no directional control. LS units need some grip to know when to slip and with a very slick surface they wont unlock at all. Vehicles equipt with LS units are more prone to side slip and are a bit more sensitive to crowned roads. Locked axles are even worse. Also 99.5% of the time a rear unit is more than enough to get the (stock) vehicle through.

 

[BUCHVILLEMAN]

spiritwolf,
thanks for the info. im going to go this week to a local guy who works on offroad vehicles all of the time and see what he can do.

jason_25,
let us know if you get any info as well. we're in the same boat, stranded on the east coast without a lot of options.

ill hook up if my man comes through.
hes out today but ill catch him tommorro.

gabe

 

[Sport (no trac)]

back to the original question

SteveVB: Thanks! That's what I was looking for.

 

[ExplorerEB96]

Well there is a way

I inquired to Powertrax and this is the email I recieved back from Ken Hammond at Powertrax....


Karol,

The No-Slip Traction System would be the best choice for the front diff. the 4.10 gears may be a problem with the cross shaft being blocked by the ring gear. If the ring rear does block access to the cross shaft more than a 1/16" - 1/8", you
can file down the ring gear to pull the shaft out. If you would need to remove more than a 1/8" from the ring gear to pull the shaft out you will have to remove the case, pull the ring gear off the case, install our unit, put the ring gear back on and reinstall the case. This might sound like a lot of work, but our instructions explain how to do this in detail.

Thanks,

Ken

-----Original Message-----
From: Karol Oconnor [mailto:explorereb96@peoplepc.com]
Sent: Friday, August 31, 2001 11:51 AM
To: info@powertrax.com
Subject: No slip diff question


I'm a total novice at this but was presented with a question.... I have a 96 Ford Explorer with a factory LSD in the rear with 4:10 gears... I was wondering if there is an LSD that can be placed in my front diff (which is now an open diff) my guess is that I will have to get new gearing in the front or am I way off track?


Karol

 

[justin146]

The other day i parked off the side of the road halfway in a muddy ditch. I had to put it into 4wd to get out. When I turn out of the ditch, one front wheel is in the mud while the other is on pavement. Both back tires are in the mud. As I hit the throttle the wheel on the pavement spins making smoke while the muddy wheel spins too (deep muddy ditch). Why is this? If I have no LSD, why was the one on the pavement spinning? Is my front end somehow siezed up?

 

[BUCHVILLEMAN]

you have an open dif front end and the tire on the road was actually getting less traction so it was spinning more readily. i imagine the weight shift of the truck was on the other wheel and that allowed the wheel on the road to spin freely. if your diff was siezed i dont thin that it would soin at all. i might be wrong.

 

[Sport (no trac)]

Still have a question

I now understand the purpose of an open front diff, but what good does it do. Just say you are stuck, like Justin146 was, but you have 2 open diffs. The wheels are on slick surfaces so you put the truck in 4x4 and hit the gas. What good is 4x4 if the wheels with the least traction spin?

A similar situation happened in a prior life when I had a Toyota pick-up. I managed to park with my left front wheel on pavement, right front on icey snow, and vice versa in the rear. I tried to drive away and the left rear tire which was on the snow, spun. I put it in 4x4, and the right front tire spun. I was stuck in the middle of a manicured grass parking lot, in front of a outdoors store full of people!! Talk about embarassing.

So, what good is 4x4 in the snow/ice/sand if the front wheel with the least traction spins? It seems like a front open diff is only good if both wheels have equal traction, after that, good luck. Obviously it doesn't seem to be the case when you are driving through snowy shtuff. Hopefully someone will help me understand this better.

 

[BUCHVILLEMAN]

the 2 open diffs are useful when all four wheel are flat on the ground like driving on a beach or something. it sucks but that is why so many are in search for limited slip front or a locker. there has been much discussion on this topic. im waiting for an email from powertrax on a limited slip price.

 

[GJarrett]

Originally posted by spiritwolf68
Ok I tested it. It's LS. I just got off the phone with the 4X4 place they said they started with a Eaton style kit and some parts from some other kits and few custom parts. It definatly works. Believe it or not. Don't much care if anyone believes it. I know it works.;

I am going to Moab in November and decided to take an early leave to go to SLC to Jack-It 4x4 and have them install this system in my Explorer. I have just gotten off of the phone with them. He mentioned that he had talked with you or some young man about this and the theory that it is possible but was very adamant and crystal clear in assuring me that his shop has not actually performed an install on a late model Explorer. Maybe you could help explain this rather glaring discrepancy in information? I've got the cash and time and want to get this done to my Explorer too.

PS: You mention a 3" TT in your sig line. How did you do a 3" torsion twist without binding the CVs?

 

[spiritwolf68]

Well maybe you called the wrong jack-it because they installed it and charged me and even that guy told you it was posible so you can pretty much kiss my a$$.

 

[spiritwolf68]

Maybe if you going to Moab in november you could meet me somewhere if you think you are man enough.

 

[spiritwolf68]

I like how you edited your message from calling me a liar.

 

[GJarrett]

Originally posted by GJarrett
Maybe you could help explain this rather glaring discrepancy in information? I've got the cash and time and want to get this done to my Explorer too.

By all means please help clear this up. I want to have it done. Who did it and what is his number? I can be there in four weeks to have the job done. I'd like to pre-schedule so he will have the parts ready when I get there and all he'll have to do is start the work.

 

[Ray Lobato]

Hey spiritwolf68,
Do you have the number and name of the guy that installed your front limited slip? I would like to have him do my front diffy also. You can PM, Email or bettter yet post it here. Much appreciated

 

[spiritwolf68]

I don't have any thing to prove to any one I know what I have and I know what I paid for I've noticed every one on this web site has to try and start some kind of arguement about something and most of you hide behind the computer because you wouldn't say half the stuff you do to some ones face because you know what would happen so screw this web site I don't want to be a part of it you figure out how to get what I know what I already have I took my explorer down to ford and paid them to verify that there is ls in the front and they verified what I already knew that I had they said that I deffinately have ls in the front and that it is possible you just have to make a few modifications to the diff and install the kit so have fun and keep your web site I'm no longer a part of it.

 

[BUCHVILLEMAN]

if you want to talk about hiding behind a computer whats up with changing your vehicle in profile? everbody knows that we can find lockers for the front of an early model ex. if you remember some of us gave you the benefit of the doubt, yet when CANT provide any information and when someone else tries to follow the proposed path that you have claimed to take only to find that it is invalid you get pissed. I believe that Gerald called your bluff and you are the one that isnt man enough to admit it. You are still welcome to this site and you will find that people will be understanding because it is to exagerate when you dont have to be accountable to anyone and we for the most part can understand that. It seems that you have your pride hurt but when you make an ignorant statement like "if your man enough..." and so on all you do is hurt your credibility. Im not going to counter your remarks but I do want to remind you that you need to know who you are talking to before you shoot your mouth off. I don't know any of these guys except for what they reveal on-line but I think I know them well enough to say that they (we) woulndt back down from a little man making little threats. I am sorry that you feel the need to insult Fords and our online community, if you things have gotten bad, its nobody's fault but your own.

I hope you find whatever it is you are looking for.

Gabe Simpson

buchvilleman@yahoo.com

 

[ExplorerEB96]

ROFL

OH man oh man... I feel like I'm on some kind of online version of a twisted Jerry Springer show now!!! Oh guys come aaaaawwwwwnnnn you all sound like a bunch of whiney girls.... who cares let him say and do what he wants.... I posted some info on the email that powertrax sent to me.... from what I understand ....the L/S is available for the late models up to 2001 so far...some modification (they say very little) is necessary... The Powertrax no slip is not a locker, it is their version of a limited slip.... Now all I have to do is find out how in the world it's going to work with our control trac system.... but like I told them and am telling you....I don't know anything about this stuff and I go to the experts... Sometimes it takes me a whole year to just figure out what brand I want because I ask so many questions and make a PIA of myself just asking and studying this and that....

So I have been looking into this for some time....any help is appreciated..(that is when the new engine is in lol)

oh yeah here is what I have been looking at

Dead Link Removed
Karol

 

[SteveVB]

Karol,

LOL on the Jerry Springer!!

I think the point is that a bunch of people want the information about the LS unit for the front, and spiritwolf said he/she had it cant(or for some reason wont) post information that would be helpful to others. Confronted with questions SW gets defensive, and changes his ID, threatens people- too damn funny IMO. Sad for those wanting some info, but I guess thats how it goes. The whole beauty of this board is the experience of the users and the ability of everyone to share their knowledge. We all know how hard it is to get information on Explorers since most of the time anyone modifiying one is looked at as crazy and told it cant be done.

I think you should do a search for the front end and see what is what , I think that Powertrax thinks the front is a Dana 35,(which is what everyparts book Ive looked at thinks it is) but it appearantly is not from the posts on this board about real world experiences. Until someone cracks open that sterling/ Dana 35 hybrid and puts something in it to see if it fits this will be an open question. That may take awhile since no one wants to pay the cash for parts that might not work. If the case sizes are similar then I could see it working but if its off by a thou or two it will take some serious machine work to make them fit. Has PowerTrax actually done an install in a late model- from the e-mail it doesnt appear so, seemed more concerned with the cross shaft and the 4.10s than the case.

Just thought Id throw my nickel in!.