I have an 08 Fx4 with 3.73 limited slip...This is my first new 4x4 truck. The only other 4x4 i have used is a 74 bronco. Now I know 4 high and 4 low and etc, but I when we go out we always have to get out of the truck and lock the hubs.

My question is how does the limited slip work?

Is at a locker?

Can you add lockers to these trucks?

 

If you take a 2WD truck that doesn't have a limited slip differential, the wheel on the rear axle(drive axle) with the least traction will get all the power, which means if you get into some ice or something with one wheel, that wheel will slip, and no matter how hard you push the gas pedal you wont move.

With a limited slip, it sort of delivers power to both wheels, however if you are on dry pavement, and going around a turn (you know the wheel on the outside of the turn, must rotate faster) the limited slip does what its name implies, it will allow one wheel to rotate faster than the other in those conditions.

A locker delivers 100 percent of the power to both wheels, this means if you are ever off road, in low traction conditions, both wheels will have power. So one tire can be on slippery ice while the other on dry pavement and you will still be able to move forward, however if you have a locker when on dry pavement, and you try to turn, the locker will not allow th outside wheel to rotate faster than the inside wheel, so it makes turning very hard to impossible and will squeal the tires(not to mention be extremly hard on the truck). Thats why most lockers are selectable, so you can have a fully locked axle or a nothing at all. Some are air actuated, other electrically actuated and some are even manual.

Check this link out(its from jegs), right below the paragraph explaining the locker, there are three videos, the second one "Traction Demonstration" shows exactly what I just said. The dodge however has a worn out Limited slip, they typically do a little bit better than that.

http://www.jegs.com/p/Powertrax/744476/12052/-1

 

you shouldn't have to get out and lock any hubs. They are self locking when 4X4 is engaged.

John

 

i have a locker in my truck and i drive it everyday on the street. there is no squealing and its not impossible to turn. even with the locker and 6" procomp lift the truck turns just as sharp as it did when its stock. the only thing you have to be careful of when you have a locker on the street is not to punch the throttle while making sharp turns because this will cause the locker to engage and one wheel will skip a little.

 

Hmm maybe I am mistaken, we welded the axle solid in an old jeep and it was awesome traction wise offroad, but you couldnt corner worth crap on a good surface like dry pavement or it made that outside wheel and inside wheel have problems with each other.

I think the locker you have may only lock when under power, otherwise it stays unlocked, I dont think you would be able to take a ARB Air locker and turn it on an turn the truck on dry pavement very successfully, but who knows, maybe your right. Im going to go do a little searching about that.

 

ya when you weld up the spyder gears (i.e building a lincoln locker) its not really a locker its called a "spool". spools are common in all out drag cars because they dont need to make frequent turns. a locker only locks the wheels together when under power. so if you coast around sharp turns youll be fine because it wont lock

my budy runs a spool in his cougar. its hard to make sharp turns and since its not a daily driver is not really that bad to put up with on the street

 

Thanks for explaining the limited slip to me

So any ideas on my original question?

Ive taken from this the limited slip is not a locker. I know I dont have to get out and turn anything, which is why I was wondering if my truck had self lockers.

Can I add lockers to my 08 Fx4?

El Paso Texas is popular for red sands...Which is probably like glamis (never been there) I know for a fact it is as soft as white sands new mexico.

 

Well I am 100% sure you can't have a Limited slip and a Locker at the same time, its one or the other. The FX4 comes with a Limited Slip, so you would have to remove that and replace it with a Locker. You can add a locker to a FX4 as long as they make one, which I would say the FX4 has some standard Axle, so they probably do make one for that axle, but I am not sure.

 

I just looked at the jeggs page...Can one of those be added to a limited slip

 

Does anyone know a link where we can see some DIY article or videos for this specific prob?