changing open diff to limited slip for ice and snow

[k0ua]

Most of us didn't say not to get it but this is more of a case of having turf tires and trying to drive in the soft ground. The diff lock is pretty much useless. Put R1s on the tractor now the diff lock might be useful but you probably won't need it. Last spring My neighbor could not get his tractor in 4wd with turfs up a hill in the woods behind our houses. i climbed the hill in 2wd without the diff lock. Then pulled him out with a chain. I used 4 wd to unstick him not sure if i needed 4wd but i had it so i used it

Exactly, we are saying do the stuff (the tires) that will do the most good for the least amount of money. But my experience with 2wd vehicle and LS differential is they are a "little different" on ice and snow, and not a big help, or at least not a big as a tire upgrade would be. Dont forget the Blizzak tires or the studs are going to help with stopping the vehicle also on these slippery surfaces.. and the LS differential is not going to help one little bit there.

 

[aczlan]

I'm so sorry is there a large difference between mud and snow and all season tires?? I know my mud and snow tires work well

HUGE difference. We have a '97 Dodge 1500 4x4 with open diffs and all season M&S tires on it and a '97 Volvo V90 (RWD wagon with IRS and a LSD that unlocks at 25MPH) with studded snow tires on it.
As long as the snow isn't high enough to high center the Volvo, it will go anywhere on winter roads that the Dodge will go in 4wd and then some.
About the only time I use the LSD on the Volvo is when I pull out of an uphill driveway or street. I have tried to run the same Volvo with 2 year old "M&S" rated tires and just spun all over the place.
If it doesn't have the mountain/snowflake on the side, it doesn't get used on our daily drivers during the winter (the truck is not a daily driver). See: http://www.tirerack.com/winter/tech/techpage.jsp?techid=125 for some more info on the mountain/snowflake symbol.

Aaron Z

 

[lostcause]

I will think about adding studs but those are illegal around here. I'm not too worried about legal issues but what about pavement issues running them on straight pavement? We have a very scattered winter here

assuming the location you listed is correct, a quick search tells me that studded tires are legal in the state of indiana between oct. 1 and may 1.

the first thing to consider is what you drive on. there's no such thing as one perfect tire for every situation. if you have mealy snow, then larger gaps between lug will help clear it out better. this is where combination mud and snow tires are valid. if you have hard pack/ice more often then smaller lugs or a lot of good deep siping will give you more traction. also, on ice and hardpack, studs rule. if you look at specific snow tires you will see many small lugs. as a tire rotates, big lugs and / or large voids will cause you to lose traction, whereas many small lugs will ensure a nearly constant contact between a complete lug and the ice. good siping will do a similar thing. as others have noted, snow tires are a softer compound than all season tires. that compound helps with winter traction too. if you try running them in the summer on hot pavement you'll see that they wear down like butter in that condition.

around here a fair amount of people have fully mounted second sets of studded winter tires. many others mount and remount at the start and end of the season. i will say that it is a lot less common to see people with trucks running second sets of tires in the winter because so many are 4wd. seeing winter tires on a 2wd is reasonably common though.

i am not ignoring the question of replacing an open differential. i do believe that they allow a great amount of extra traction. i do feel that they are a way distant second to proper tires for the condition. i currently have a limited slip differential in my truck, and i will always opt for limited slip if i can (buying used doesn't always allow the perfect choice of options). i grew up driving many one-wheel drive cars, and a proper winter tire always solved the problem. tires first, differential a distant second.

 

[LD1]

I agree with pretty much everyone else here, and go for the snow tires first. It will make more of a difference. And if that isnt enough for you, I still wouldn't waste the money on a LS cause you aint gonna be happy till you have 4wd if thats the case.

Oh, and one other note, Just because you have an open diff, and possibly only one wheel spinning, that doesn't mean that the other wheel isnt getting power, or trying to help you out. In-fact it is getting exactly the SAME amount of power as the tire that is spinning.

 

[V1Rotate]

I agree with pretty much everyone else here, and go for the snow tires first. It will make more of a difference. And if that isnt enough for you, I still wouldn't waste the money on a LS cause you aint gonna be happy till you have 4wd if thats the case.

Oh, and one other note, Just because you have an open diff, and possibly only one wheel spinning, that doesn't mean that the other wheel isnt getting power, or trying to help you out. In-fact it is getting exactly the SAME amount of power as the tire that is spinning.

This is true, with an open diff, both wheels receive equal torque. It's just that one tire usually has less traction than the other so it will spin. However, the tire that is not spinning is still putting torque to the ground.

 

[LD1]

However, the tire that is not spinning is still putting torque to the ground.

Bingo.

Open diff is equal torque, unequal speed.

Limited slips, lockers, and spools are equal speed and unequal torque.


The notion that a 2wd truck with an open diff as being a "1 wheel drive" is incorrect. Same goes for a 4wd with open diffs, and calling it a 2wd. Hogwash.

Most times, for most vehicles, traction is nearly the same, and this a limited slip is of little use, and is likely to make things worse setting you sideways when they do spin.

Now for offroading, where one tire may have really good traction and the other in a hole or not even on the ground, that is where anything but an open diff shines.

 

[HHR]

I run winter tires on three vehicles and the difference is night and day. I have a set of Bridgestone Blizzak W965 10 ply tires on my 4x4 Excursion and I notice the biggest difference while towing. Steep hills are no longer a problem and the wear on dry roads isn't very noticeable. As long as the tire stays cool, you won't have excessive wear.

 

[diesel lover]

Hello all!! I am glad to say your guys helped me decide what to do to help me out this icey and heavy snow winter.

I went to tractor supply company, I bought the last 4 bags of tube sand for under 20$. The bags are 60 pounds a piece. A total weight of 240 pounds. I also have a kitty liter container filled with 50 pounds of salt ( no the salt is not in the back of my bed).

The traction has been restored!!! I have great tires but did not have enough weight on them. I have 290 pounds in the bed between the axle and tailgate. Its a good ballabce in weight and does not remove too much weight off the front end of the truck. I have a base model pickup with an 8 foot bed. One of the worst things about my truck is there are two leaf springs and one main leaf. That Is it!! It works okay but the two leaf springs are rather thin the suspention 17 years old. I will be beefing it up or adding air bags in the years to come but for right now it is OK.

The road salt in a container serves others very well. When I find a stuck vehicle I assist them with my straight blade metal shovel by digging all the tires out. If nessiary I use a 3 pound hammer to break the ice from around the tires as the tires will some times sink in the ice. Ones ice is broken from around the tire I take road salt and pack it with my shovel in front and behind the tire. Once the tire drives over the salt it is free from the ice and packed snow. Works quite well.

So far 300 pounds +/- of weight has proved to work well with traction concerns. Its like a new truck! People here fill their beds with snow. This may work for them but it does not work for me at all. I still need to use my truck bed to haul things around. The tube sand will not moved much in the case if an accident unlike tractor weights bricks or firewood in the back of my truck could kill me in the case of an accident.

Thank you again!!

Trent

 

[V1Rotate]

Glad you found a solution to your problem.