Limited Slip Diff Lockup Anomaly?

[suprmario96]

While making a U-turn the other day I had my rear tires lock up like when you drive a four-wheel drive vehicle and try to make a tight turn. I thought it was odd and so I drove very decently home. Once home I threw it up on the Jacks and inspected the differential and found that there was no severe leaks or any oil drips on the differential housing. I did see some dirt accumulated on one of the diff seals but it looks to be a small amount of oil. I checked the oil level and all was good. I know these differentials use clutches but has anyone had the same issue?

To be preventative my next action is going to be to replace both differential seals and replace fluid(oil/modifier).

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[markmurfie]

The limited slip means exactly that, Its designed to only allow so much slip. When one wheel spins faster than the other, the clutches are compressed to reduce the difference in speed. In normal driving its mostly goes unnoticed. If you were doing a very tight U turn the clutches could have limited the outer wheel speed too much. I wouldn't worry about it too much. Its easy enough, and If changing the oil and friction modifier gives you peace of mind by allowing you to look at the fluid, go for it. I suspected issues with my diff after only one wheel would spin during burnouts, and when I checked the fluid I had a spider gear tooth come out the drain hole.

 

[suprmario96]

The limited slip means exactly that, Its designed to only allow so much slip. When one wheel spins faster than the other, the clutches are compressed to reduce the difference in speed. In normal driving its mostly goes unnoticed. If you were doing a very tight U turn the clutches could have limited the outer wheel speed too much. I wouldn't worry about it too much. Its easy enough, and If changing the oil and friction modifier gives you peace of mind by allowing you to look at the fluid, go for it. I suspected issues with my diff after only one wheel would spin during burnouts, and when I checked the fluid I had a spider gear tooth come out the drain hole.

That's really my only worry, besides it's probably time to refresh that oil, I'll post an update when I do so.

Thanks for the reply

 

[BmacIL]

I think you experienced the diff just doing its thing. Did you have all the nannies on too? A lot of times Advancetrac will use the brakes to control slip and it can often make the diff do funny things. It's tried to kill me a few times, grabbing one side and thus forcing far more torque than necessary to the other while going in a straight line. I often drive with it full off as a result.

 

[suprmario96]

I think you experienced the diff just doing its thing. Did you have all the nannies on too? A lot of times Advancetrac will use the brakes to control slip and it can often make the diff do funny things. It's tried to kill me a few times, grabbing one side and thus forcing far more torque than necessary to the other while going in a straight line. I often drive with it full off as a result.

Could be, yes all nannies on. That's why I turn them completely off at the track, just takes one time trying to kill you to learn.

 

[TicTocTach]

I'd like to understand just what makes the nannies activate, especially at low speeds. Could also be that the Torsen in my car just feels strange from time to time - and is only noticeable when I'm going slow. In the parking garage, it's sometimes like the car shifts side to side in the rear when going around a corner. Other times backing out of the garage, it's almost like one of the brakes is dragging and kind of squeaking, but at a very low frequency. Strange stuff. I've always had a car with some sort of limited slip diff, and this is like nothing I've ever experienced before. The clutch-type diffs have always been smooth, even when they were tight - no funny noises or jerky transitions. I briefly used a Lock-Rite diff on the street, but that did not play well with the manual transmission. That was really brutal, and was going to kill some parts if it didn't kill me... The nannies are just strange.

 

[JCFoster]

My Tahoe has done it a few times. I’ve had to stop put it in reverse and as soon as I back up it released or whatever it does.

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