Z71's locking rear vs. std limited slip?

[tealboy]

Can anyone explain the difference, if there is one, in how a std limited slip works, such as the one on my expedition 4x4 vs. a z71 which advertises a locking differential?

 

are these systems really the same or is the GM's version on the z71 better for true off road use? I used a Escalade off road with the all wheel drive and it was terrible. Got stuck in the first hole i hit. The rear free spinning wheel and the front free spinner would not transfer power to the other two wheels that had traction.

[Buggle_96]

Why in the hell were you offroading an Escalade for???

[OFF-RD]

The Z locking diff. works a lot better off road than the Ford limited slips.

[asilverblazer]

The G80 in simplest form is NOT a limited slip, it is a regular differential WITH an automatic locker. It performs just like any other open differential on normal road conditions. When rear wheel slippage occurs on one tire, the automatic locker locks the two rear wheels together with no difference in wheel speed between the two. They both delivery equal amounts of torque when engaged. A true limited slip will not achieve 100% full complete mechanical lock between the two rear tires, one will ALWAYS have the ability to spin a limited amount more than the other. The G80 engages in split second time going from open differential to locked differential almost instantly, with no prolonged limiting wheel spin of one tire, open to full lock, fractions of a second between the two.

 

In order to engage the G80 a wheel speed difference between the two rear wheels must exceed about 100 rpm while traveling under 20mph. If excessive wheel spin on one tire is not exceeded or you are traveling to quickly the locker will not engage.

 

Under normal condtions with stock size tires, mine has performed 100% flawlessly, and with some finesse I am able to lock and unlock it using throttle imput to achieve needed wheel spin to engage it. I could not ask for a better locker. Adding larger tires or dry pavement burnouts and such would likely lower the life expectancy of the unit, as well as other components.