08 Rear End Stuttering

[Thunderflight]

I have a Z71 08 crew cab and today I turned to the wheel lock and the rear end started locking up and stuttering. Is this a problem or normal it only has 11000 miles.

 

Thanks,

Allan

[bill190]

I assume you mean you have a locking rear differential and you turned on a switch which activates the lock?

 

Were you turning or going in a straight line?

 

Were you in mud or slippery conditions or on a dry paved surface?

[asilverblazer]

Sounds like he was turning real sharp with the rear locker engaged, if he induced the wheel spin to engage the locker it is normal, if there was no wheel spin, then it is abnormal.

[Thunderflight]

I was in the middle lane on a five lane road and was making a uturn. didn't hit any switch. Was all the way to the turn stop. I did it kinda fast due to traffic. I do have the limited slip rear end. Pavement was dry. Sounded like the rear end was popping and chirping.

 

Thanks,

Allan

[cj95hokie]

Mine only does it when one of the rear tires loses traction and the traction control takes over. The tire that lost traction will stutter briefly until it regains traction.

[bill190]

What happens when you have a locking differential is both wheels lock and turn at the same speed.

 

But when turning a corner, the outer wheel needs to rotate faster than the inside tire.

 

With a limited slip, if one wheel turns a lot faster than the other, this causes friction on the locking mechanism (heat) and causes the wheels to lock.

 

So in theory turning slower would cause less friction/heat and less locking action.

[Z45]

Making a U turn is more likely to engage the locker than not. Whenever one wheel turns more than 100 rpm more then the other, it is designed to engage.

 

If its a truck, you have a locker and not a limited slip differential. Limited slip differentials are normally installed in cars. (note-only referring to GM vehicles)

[bill190]

"2009 GMC Sierra 3500HD... Add parking assist or a limited slip differential device for just a bit more"

 

http://www.newcars.com/gmc/sierra-3500hd/index.html

[asilverblazer]

"Limited slip" is just the terminology for naming the device in the rear end, not describing the function of that device. It is an automatic locker, when it is engaged there is no "slip", both rear wheels are "locked" together. If you want to be technical about it, it "limits" "slipping" wheels by "locking" them together.

 

As was stated, in general limited slips allow some difference in wheel speed between the rear wheels even when engaged. Where as the device in the trucks mechanically locks the rear wheels together for no difference in wheel speed when engaged. This, in my opinion, determines whether it is limited slip, or locker. The end result to the wheels, are they locked or limited? In this case locked=locker.