changing open diff to limited slip for ice and snow

[diesel lover]

My daily driver is a 1997 Ford f150, 3.08 open rear end, long bed, 2wd, auto, 4.2 V6.

The open differential and 1 wheel drive has always been okay in snow and ice. My other 2 pickups have been this way (open diffs) and I lived in northern Michigan with them. The large difference is that in Michigan I could go go go. Here I'm driving to Indianapolis to go to work and people are going 10 mph and zero. I'm having trouble going going again because I stopped moving. At -14ｰF the ice was 2 inches think from when it was +34ｰ and snowing heavily. I got into sticky situations due to city traffic and 95% unprepared drivers. Wouldn't want this to happen again last April I needed a replacement vehicle for my totaled car and this is exactly what I found. It had 120,000 miles and 2000$. 4wd were 4x as much money and had 200xxx miles. Anyways

Would it be worth it to switch this diff to a limited slip for starting out in slippery conditions. Open diffs are the worse case. They get you stuck when your stopped because they give all the power to the wheel that's free to spin with least resistance. Road vs solid ice the tire on ice will always spin and with double the speed as if both wheels were turning.

What kind of cost am I looking at for changing this to limited slip? Is it worth it? Will 75w140 synthetic still be my gear oil?

What's the difference between "positrac" and a limited slip? I'm firmilar with locking diffs but don't need to go that extensive. That will cost too much money

 

[NoTrespassing]

Just from my own personal experience, a limited slip differential 2 wheel drive vehicle was very squirrely in the snow and rain, especially around corners. If I didn't lock the fronts in with my old 4x4 bronco it would spin on a dime without much warning on slick surfaces. The same held true for 2 cars I had with limited slip differentials.

Positraction is Chevrolet and GMC's name for limited slip differentials.

Limited-slip differential - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Kevin

 

[PsRumors]

I run True Trac in the front and rear of my '97 F250. Rarely do I have to put it in 4wd. Like stated above the rear can get squirrelly if you're not careful but just be careful.

Should cost around $800 or less installed and you will still run the factory specced gear oil.

 

[xring100]

Have you considered a set of snow tires they are amazing my Saturn and grand prix have them my dad run snows on his s10 he claims it made a huge difference. My 2wd S10 has an unlimited slip differential (open) and my silveradi z71 has a G80 locker. The locker does slightly better for traction very slight. and it's still very easy to stick it in a very small amount of snow. As mentioned the limited slip let's you fish tail very easy which I find entertaining. The bad thing is that on snow if you spin one tire generally the 2nd one is right behind and both will spin losing all lateral traction. Allowing donuts or 2 wheel drifting.

I'd try snows first I believe its better bang for the buck.

 

[timinsanborn]

i would get some good snow tires and add weight to the rear, limited slips can help, but won`t do much good if the tires can`t get traction. just my opinion.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Get a junk yard LS rear end if you want to change. Easy DIY project.

Chris

 

[Looking4new]

I put these on my Jeep and they do a good job on polished snow over pavement, as well as a good job in snow. I run an open diff in the rear and the only time this winter that I have been in 4 wheel drive is when I deliberately drove off the lane to let a load of wood in.http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Dunlop&tireModel=Radial+Mud+Rover

 

[RedNeckRacin]

i would get some good snow tires and add weight to the rear, limited slips can help, but won`t do much good if the tires can`t get traction. just my opinion.

X2 I have only ever run 4wd pickups and its quite a bit of difference if you get some good snow tires (Studs are a good option and can be had relatively cheaply) and some weight in the bed. I currently have 600lbs of sand in the bed of my 2500. I used to carry about 800lbs in my 1 ton diesel.

 

[diesel lover]

I am currently running Kelly trex all terrain tires with 10/32 tread on them. I ran snow tires on my 1988 f150 and was very pleased with them. The problem is when someone pulls out or stops in front of me I only spin one tire so even if it was a snow tire it still isn't fun. If I was still in Michigan I would have waited for a 4x4. Here in Indiana we may have snow 4 days than that's it. 2 weeks at max at least near central Indiana. I did strongly think about studding my tires but studding for 4 days than removing the studs is a pain! In Michigan I could probably leave them in one to 4 months. Most high quality all season tires do almost as well as snow tires and trust me I do know there's a difference.

I just thought having a limited slip diff and having both tires spin instead of one on icy starts when people cut me off at lights.

I do agree I might find one at a junk yard to change out. This will be a summer project if nothing else.

 

[RedNeckRacin]

I wasn't suggesting removing the studs, I was suggesting a dedicated winter studded tire. Run them during the winter, then trade them back out for your summer tires. I think it would be cheaper than having the locker/posi/limited slip installed. (Especially since you could get away with only buying 2 tires/wheels)

IMO all season tires are garbage and a poor excuse for a winter tire.(Brand new they will get you through most of it but I wouldn't trust them for a 2nd winter) A dedicated winter tire is far better and since you stated you were "very pleased with them" that you would be looking at them again. Even an all terrain with a decent amount of siping is much better than an all season tire.



I'm not trying to be argumentative, but it really sounds like you want to get both tires spinning and I can understand why. I do think you will be better served by getting better traction than by simply powering both tires. If your dead set on it, by all means do it.