jon-d

what's the difference and is there any way to tell without pulling the rear cover off?

TRCM

locker - locks both axles together for traction

limited slip - lets 1 axle spin and the other not above a certain torque limit

most limited slips, you can spin 1 side while someone holds the other....not so with a locker

or better yet, spin the pinion by hand and see what the tires do. if it is a locker, both will spin the same amount in the same direction

jon-d

that is what I thought. I have not spun the pinion yet, but I have placed the jeep on a steep incline with loose material and asked my event planner to see if both wheels turn at the same time. they both spun in the loose material at the same rate, same time.

TRCM

that's not a real reliable test tho.....I've spun both rear tires on clay with an open diff

jon-d

so a good way to tell is to jack up the rear and put it in drive to see if both wheels spin?

TRCM

no, jack up 1 tire, and see if you can spin it by hand.....limited slip you can, but it will have some resistance

locker, you won't be able to spin it

if it's still in a vehicle, make some very tight turns at low speed on a high traction surface, and listen for the clicking from the rear axle (the locker unlocking 0

or, you could try power braking it on concrete or asphalt....any high traction surface

Jacobus

This or you could similate a turn.
If its a locker with both tires up in the air, if both tires spin the same way, you could chock one wheel and jolt the other in reverse direction to see if it unlocks to simulate a turn.

If the disks in your limited slip are wore out it could spin like an open differential. Left and right spin opposite directions. Then Only way to be sure is to look inside

TRCM

true.....but didn't want to explain how & why a locker works to get to that point.

best way is to look inside, assuming you know what to look for

jon-d

OK i will open it up to see what i got. what locker would you recommend and why?

TRCM

depends...if you go lunchbox, spartan...much easier to install

if you have to remove the carrier & re-set the gears, then detroit, or spartan with an aftermarket carrier (stock ones are weaker)

Jacobus

Good plan, I was in the same boat you were in when I first bought my jeep. wondering what kinda rear end does this thing have. I'm so glad I just bought a couple bottles of dif oil and a small tube of rtv. It took all the guess work out. Take pics and we'll help you out if you start second guessing anything.

andrewmp6

Do a burn out see if you leave one mark or two lol.From the factory you could have a lsd but with the jeeps age and mileage it might need to be rebuilt so its basicly a open diff.If you haven't changed the gear oil in the diffs since you owned it i would go a head and do it.Its something that should be done and a lot of people over look it.

Outlaw Star

If you end up with a Tracloc (LSD), you guys now know that Yukon Gear now sells different clutch packs for the LSD. You can choose Stock, Mild and Aggressive. I chose Agressive for my rebuild. It's almost like having a locker. (Sometimes it doesn't disengage around corners and chirps, and i have just a 4cyl).
Cost of said upgrades about 150 (depending on your vendor) allowing you to "upgrade" so you can have more time to save for a full locker if you wish.

tom0826

Not quite true...

With a clutch type limited slip, you probably will not be able to rotate one tire with the opposite fixed unless the clutches are very worn or you are using a breaker bar for added leverage.

With an auto locker, you will be able to easily rotate one tire with the opposite fixed, but you will hear it ratchet. The only time auto lockers are locked is under load from the pinion.

TRCM

Well, I have been easily able to rotate every LSD rear I have tested this way, from old maybe worn out to brand spanking new...some require a lot more force to do, but still doable

And as for auto lockers....sometimes I can not rotate mine this way without also rotating the driveshaft some... it depends on the meshing of the locker when the vehicle was stopped......and even when I can, the slamming required to unlock the locker isn't easy IMHO...I messed up my wrist trying to unlock it one day

The bold statement is not technically true...they are ALWAYS locked....the only time they won't UNLOCK is when power is coming from the driveshaft or pinion. Any other time, they will be locked, but can be unlocked. The springs that go between the 2 inner locker halves keep them locked by pushing them apart until there is a difference in tire rotation speeds that overcomes spring pressure to let one side move toward the center pin. If the pinion is forcing the inner gear halves out, you won't unlock them without spinning the tire faster than the gears are spinning.



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