open diff traction

the1jferg · **Posted:** Wed Nov 09, 2005 10:04 am

Ain't it the passenger side wheel that usually drives when you have an open diff ??

Don't the spiders put power to the wheel with "least" resistance when in a slippery situation, so sometimes the other wheel could have power in theory?

If someone wanted to keep a vehicle moving in slippery stuff, one could disable the e-brake for the left side and when the right side spins uselessly could apply resistance with the e-brake to get the left side to power up???

Help me here pros

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Wed Nov 09, 2005 12:07 pm

power goes to the wheel with least resistance like u said. Not to the passenger side, it goes where ever it wants. so the ebrake trick ur thinking about would not work. A locker or LS is the only thing to help u get traction.

the1jferg · **Posted:** Wed Nov 09, 2005 12:25 pm

"traction" Nope, i'm not talking about 2 wheel traction, I'm talking about getting you moving again without a locker traction.

Ain't trying to debate the usfulness of the Locker or LSD.

I've shoved many a log under the passenger wheels over the years to force some power to the other wheel, so I know that for some reason (?) the passenger wheel seems to be the primary drive wheel.

bighause · **Posted:** Wed Nov 09, 2005 12:49 pm

It has to do with the rotation of the driveshaft, if tends to take some weight off of the passenger side tire. If you applied the E-brake to the paeesnger side only(somehow) if would have very little effect, the other wheel would just spin while the other one was locked up.

Lots of new vehicles use what is called ABLS (antilock brake limtied slip) to do essentially what you are thinking of, but it actually works (kind of). It detects wheelspin differences and uses the brakes to limit it.

If you really want to wheel it a powertrax noslip is the best $350 you'll ever spend.

the1jferg · **Posted:** Wed Nov 09, 2005 1:55 pm

"If you really want to wheel it a powertrax noslip is the best $350 you'll ever spend."

I have that "power crap" in my dana 35...remember? Waiting on the Auburn ECTED in January.

"other wheel would just spin while the other one was locked up" thats what i'm talking about...sometimes the first spinning wheel is too far gone so if you can put power to the other it may move, or it make stick worse!

Not trying to do nothing here except ponder the open diff. :wink:

krazz1e · **Posted:** Wed Nov 09, 2005 2:51 pm

Quote:

If someone wanted to keep a vehicle moving in slippery stuff, one could disable the e-brake for the left side and when the right side spins uselessly could apply resistance with the e-brake to get the left side to power up???

Yeah in 2 wheel drive, open don;t see why this wouldn't work. now doing it, don't think it's a good idea......

If you got the powertrax and don't like it then a LSD maybe a trutrac even would be a better option.

Or Fulltime 4wd?

the1jferg · **Posted:** Wed Nov 09, 2005 3:16 pm

You see what BigHoss wrote:

"Lots of new vehicles use what is called ABLS (antilock brake limtied slip) to do essentially what you are thinking of, but it actually works (kind of). It detects wheelspin differences and uses the brakes to limit it."

This is what I'm talking about...Expanded knowledge.

We all know the Lockers and LSD's are better...I don't have an open diff in any of my vehicles. Even my 1969 chevy back in the day had 4:11's and a spool! :wink:

Eddo · **Joined:** Thu Jul 07, 2005 7:01 pm **Posts:** 1214

Either wheel is just as likely to spin. The spider gears are identical on both sides. Plus appling the e-brake to just one side would cause it to pull pretty good to that side.

I guess you could rig a way to apply either right or left and use that if one wheel is spinning.

Also, eventhough some people say it dosen't work, just appling the e-brake with one wheel spinning will help if you do it right. You need to set the e-brake pretty darn tight. Yes this still works with an open diff. Not as good as if you had a LSD but it will actually work. I've done it plenty of times before.

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Wed Nov 09, 2005 5:44 pm

lol, what a thread! Whatever BigHoss said, ive never heard it called that, in the libbys its called traction control. Pulling the ebrake will not do a thing in 2wd with an open diff. The only thing u can do to get better "traction" in 2wd with an open diff, is to get a locker or ls. Very simple thing were talking about here.

And yes the new libbys have 4wd traction control so lockers or ls's are not needed anymore the the new libbys. Unless u want to do away with traction control, then u can get lockers.

bighause · **Posted:** Wed Nov 09, 2005 7:54 pm

The traction control systems I have used pretty much sucked. My 04 Nissan Titan had it but it would't allow much wheel spin which is fine for on road but not for mud, sand, and wheeling. My friends new 4runner also has it and they call it traction control, I think thats a pretty generic term used for many systems though.

AmericanMetal · **Posted:** Wed Nov 09, 2005 8:11 pm

Hey jferg, Got a question for you. I remember reading somewhere about your woes with the PowerTrax. We all know for a fact (anything) that is mass produced can have a manufacturing defect at one time or another. I myself have the PowerTrax in my 8.25. I ordered the jeep with the tow package so I got the 3.73 rear and I specifically ordered it (without) the limited slip that the dealer wanted $285.00 to install. I looked at it like I'd rather spend the extra 50-75 bucks on the aftermarket PowerTrax unit and get something that was 10 times better than what the factory unit could give me. I installed the PowerTrax myself in my driveway in an afternoon. I've read many guys have done the same.
So here's the question ? Why do you call it the PowerCrap ? Cause I don't know anyone who complains about it the way you do. I installed it, I've wheeled it, and down right locks in and drives right thrugh anything. I've never looked back once. It works flawlessly. So it clicks a bit around turns but I find comfort in that I know it's there and it's working.
Now for my 2 cents. 1- you got a defective unit, 2- the installer screwed up, 3- the d35 is crap put in an 8.25.
I mean no harm and no foul by that, I just don't understand your turmoil.

the1jferg · **Posted:** Wed Nov 09, 2005 8:48 pm

Wow, My post was not about this subject

"Now for my 2 cents. 1- you got a defective unit, 2- the installer screwed up, 3- the d35 is crap put in an 8.25.
I mean no harm and no foul by that, I just don't understand your turmoil."

Sure you do. :lol:

I agree something is wrong.

"defect, one time or another" Not the first install or device. I'm not even complaining anymore. Ask ARB or any other manufacturer,except power crax, and they'll tell you it can also wear the carrier.

I got a bad combo going on here like baking soda and vinager. I've always attested to its awsome offroad capability. Mine sux on road.
Mine is Power-trash hopefully solved by the ECTED in late January.

P.S. I've looked all over the country for an axle to install at (almost) ANY expense and so far I'm 0 for 0. All J was working the issue for me too for over a month...Ain't heard nothing back. If they can't swing it...Nobody can.
Every shop finds it Bizarre there are no 8.25's available.

Just wanted to know something about open diff that has pretty much been answered now.

Open= Useless

Eddo · **Joined:** Thu Jul 07, 2005 7:01 pm **Posts:** 1214

Jeepjeepster wrote:

lol, what a thread! Whatever BigHoss said, ive never heard it called that, in the libbys its called traction control. Pulling the ebrake will not do a thing in 2wd with an open diff. The only thing u can do to get better "traction" in 2wd with an open diff, is to get a locker or ls. Very simple thing were talking about here.

And yes the new libbys have 4wd traction control so lockers or ls's are not needed anymore the the new libbys. Unless u want to do away with traction control, then u can get lockers.

Actually the e-brake trick will work, anyone who says it dosen't has never tried. It is not going to be a like a locker, but it will make a difference if you yank it hard when you are crossed axled with an open diff. Sometimes it transfer just enough power by creating resistance on the spinning wheel to get you to move off.

Traction control is good for daily driving and light 4-wheeling, but it can have problems when you have wheels in the air alot. It's better then an open diff a million times over, but not as good as a locker. Talk to alot of the 4-runner owner who disable traction control so they can wheel. Traction control is nice if you can disable it and then lock it up for the more difficult stuff.

bighause · **Posted:** Wed Nov 09, 2005 9:53 pm

I don't know if the D35 would have anything to do with the lockers performance, but it is a slightly weaker axle than the 8.25. I ran a NoSlip in a XJ with a D35 and 5spd tranny for 2.5 years and never had a single issue with it on or offroad and it got wheeled hard at least once a month. I took it out when I sold the Jeep and it looked exactly the same as when I put it in except for the scuffing on the surfaces. Sucks that you had such a bad experience with it, that Etrack sound really sweet though hopefully it will be as good as it sounds.

open diff traction

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