locking rear axle

THE BIGPUNN · October 26, 2001

i have no clue exactly what locking rear diff is or does. i just found out that my truck has it. anyone with some insight? :blush:

burgundyz71 · October 26, 2001

From what I understand whenever one wheel makes a revolution while the other does nothing it will then lock rear gears together supplying power to both rear wheels. A limited slip will only put partial power to the non-spinning wheel and locking is full power to both. This is my first locking so I dont know the pros and cons but have been told I will like it when pulling snowmobile trailer in bad weather.

Shaners · October 26, 2001

Polxc is right. It is a true locking design, giving a 50/50 split to the rear wheels. Pros: GREAT TRACTION

Cons: You can feel it "hit" when it locks. I'm not sure how long before it unlocks...

A couple days ago I was going around a corner on damp roads. I started to spin and the rearend locked. I kept my foot in it (maybe even tromped on it a little). That big crewcab had to look pretty cool crossed up!!! I spun probably 30-40 feet and let out of it to make a 90 degree left turn. I just rolled around this corner and the rear was still locked. How could I tell you ask??? I heard and felt 2-3 chirps from the rear tire while cornering... The next corner about 40 yards later, everything was "normal".

siume99 · October 26, 2001

Your right that you do get alot of traction (if the other wheel can get a grip). If both rear wheels have lost there grip, you have no traction for forward or reverse direction (and at the same time you have no traction sideways either). That means that if both wheels have lost traction and you are on any grade what so ever ("right hand rule" from Physics can argue that perfectly flat ground can cause this too) your truck will start drifting right (if in forward) and left if you are in reverse. This may seem like fun to do unless you have a ditch or a something else you want to avoid on a side. It's also possible to throw yourself into a spin on icey roads when one wheel has traction and the other doesn't. Much like wheen one wheel hits sand or the shoulder of the road. (That usually only happens when you are traveling on the quick side and are still trying to accelerate.)

Limited slip will usually keep one tire planted (no sideways motion = safer), but at the same time doesn't give the acceleration if the other tire has good traction (=stuck in the mud).