Hello all! I was hoping for some knowledgeable opinions regarding the Trak-Lok LSD. I am curious how capeable it is as an option for moderate off-roading. Any informative info on this would be appreciated.

Thanks!!!

 

I have used LSD on many occasions, and don't have anything negative to say about it, other than the odd flashback here and there. You'll find the technical info you seek on this thread. Enjoy, and remember: the baggage your bring along affects your trip.

A little more info for you on how and why you'd want to use LSD, from "HowStuffWorks.com":

On Thin Ice
If you've ever driven on ice, you may know of a trick that makes acceleration easier: If you start out in second gear, or even third gear, instead of first, because of the gearing in the transmission you will have less torque available to the wheels. This will make it easier to accelerate without spinning the wheels.

Now what happens if one of the drive wheels has good traction, and the other one is on ice? This is where the problem with open differentials comes in.

Remember that the open differential always applies the same torque to both wheels, and the maximum amount of torque is limited to the greatest amount that will not make the wheels slip. It doesn't take much torque to make a tire slip on ice. And when the wheel with good traction is only getting the very small amount of torque that can be applied to the wheel with less traction, your car isn't going to move very much.

Off Road
Another time open differentials might get you into trouble is when you are driving off-road. If you have a four-wheel drive truck, or an SUV, with an open differential on both the front and the back, you could get stuck. Now, remember -- as we mentioned on the previous page, the open differential always applies the same torque to both wheels. If one of the front tires and one of the back tires comes off the ground, they will just spin helplessly in the air, and you won't be able to move at all.

The solution to these problems is the limited slip differential (LSD), sometimes called positraction. Limited slip differentials use various mechanisms to allow normal differential action when going around turns. When a wheel slips, they allow more torque to be transferred to the non-slipping wheel.

 

Not sure if it's the same Trac-Lok from previous years but if it is I'm sure it will retain the nick name "Trash-Loc"

 

I had a trac-loc in my lifted Liberty. It is better than an open differential. It helps in snow and mud. However, if a wheel is lifted, then it does not help like a locker does.

 

with the new braking system i had offset tires off the ground and the computer compensated well and i got around fine without lockers.. i'll stick with open until i need a more aggresive set up.

 

Why has it been reefered to as "Trash-Loc"?

 

All the LSD's that I have had have eventually stopped working. My truck has lasted the longest without becoming a totally open diff. I don't know if I would order one and spend the extra but if there was one on the lot I would be fine buying it. I really haven't seen much difference in having them or not.

Bryan

 

Its called trash-loc because it will stop working. There are a lot of parts in there that move around and eventually they bind up and won't allow the diff to lock. This just results in an open diff. I have heard that if you replace the diff fluid regularly and make sure to use the special additive that mopar makes for it the LSD will last longer. Just what I have heard. All I know is the one in my Cherokee didn't last too long.

Bryan

 

And really liked it for the off roading I did, light fire roads and such. It worked great (IMHO) for what it is in those conditions and I went places I could not go in my first TJ whcih had an open diff.

As dunslider said it does help to keep the fluid changed more often and make sure to ALWAYS add the special additive. If not the rear end will chirp when you go around corners.

Marc
2dr Black Sahara

 

I had a trac-lock in my '98 TJ and the BLD feature on the JKs blows that thing away. I definately wouldn't spend money for it. It could also limit the possibility of adding a "lunch box " locker. I know not all of them are compatible with the LSD case.