Locking Diff.

[burgundyz71]

My 99has the locking diff. and my friends Ranger has the limited slip I was wondering what the difference is in the 2

[Shaners]

The GM rear gear is a true locking design by "Eaton".  

[vhato]

Yes he is right.  You have a true (but real weak) locking differential.  Your Diff is manufactured by Eaton.

http://torquecontrol.eaton.com/prodinfo/products/index.html

There you will find all the info about your diff and the competitors diff's.  

Anyway a quick breakdown is the G80 Locker (What you have) LOCKS both axles together when the difference between rear wheel speeds exceeds 100 rpm.  A limited slip merely applies pressure (some torque transfer, but not 100% torque transfer like locking) to the opposite non spinning wheel.  Not ideal when off-roading.  Some videos on the above site demonstrate the differences off-road and when pulling a boat.  

[Shaners]

That's a good site vhato, for those that would like to see some demos.  That 100RPM difference is incorrect though.  Here is what I found on the Eaton site...

Quote:

"This animated clip demonstrates the performance of the Eaton Locker in a scenario where drive wheel slip occurs due to icy or rainy conditions. By watching the yellow stripes on the tires you can see how, in less than one revolution of the slipping wheel, the Eaton Locker locks the rear axle which transfers torque to the non-slipping wheel. This locking action gives the vehicle maximum drivepower to both wheels. "

 

I've heard the 100 RPM wheelspin theory before, and if you think about it, it would be a tremendous joult to the drive-train when it locked.  So according to Eaton the number is less than 1 revolution...  and I did a short stab on the gas in the driveway and proved it to myself.  One black mark was just a few inches longer than the other and both were less than 18".

Thanks for the link...