4WD & Tire Question

[the_Journeyman]

Chances are you're LSD or similar out back and open up front if all is stock

JM

[DCXCV]

Chances are you're LSD or similar out back and open up front if all is stock

JM

They really put LSD's in those?  Your front is certainly open.  Put it on pavement and gun it.  If there's only one skid mark it's open in the rear.


And to the OP - 4x4's that are all open don't need all the tires to match exactly.  As Mother pointed out, the AWD and 4WD systems work a bit differently.  there's no computer to jack up your 4WD system.  It's not a bad idea to replace two at this point, though, since you should have a matching spare which you currently do not.  So here's another vote for ditching your off-size spare and keeping your good front as an extra.

[the_Journeyman]

They really put LSD's in those?  Your front is certainly open.  Put it on pavement and gun it.  If there's only one skid mark it's open in the rear.


And to the OP - 4x4's that are all open don't need all the tires to match exactly.  As Mother pointed out, the AWD and 4WD systems work a bit differently.  there's no computer to jack up your 4WD system.  It's not a bad idea to replace two at this point, though, since you should have a matching spare which you currently do not.  So here's another vote for ditching your off-size spare and keeping your good front as an extra.

Possible.  My Dad's stock '99 Silverado had a type of delayed locker in the rear, and many of them have something to help out on the rear axle.  Be it LSD, posi-traction etc. 

JM

[Triple J]

Dumb question alert:  How does one know if one has open differentials?  (I have an '01 Chevy Silverado Z71)

Go wheelin' and get a tire off the ground. If the one that is off the ground spins, and the one making contact (same axle) remains useless as a fart in a windstorm...that axle has an open diff.

My '94 Chevy 1/2 ton had open diffs front and rear. The rear might have had some half ass limited slip or something, but it was fairly worthless off road. I'd have to shift into 4WD pretty quickly off road, whereas my buddy in his Tacoma with an electric locking rear didn't have to shift until things got fairly hairy.

[Smokescreen]

The easiest way to tell if your vehicle has open difs is to look at the monrony.  LSDs cost moneys.  They cost more than lockers usually, as LSDs have more moving parts, and have to be built to not wear out despite allowing slip.  A locker is highly unusual and on a road goer not a great idea in the rear and you're more likely to drag your outer tyre than actually get the ratchet effect that most manufacturers claim.

Triple J- Good call.  I doubt you'll run into any problems.

[silentbob]

Dumb question alert:  How does one know if one has open differentials?  (I have an '01 Chevy Silverado Z71)

Jack it up and spin one wheel by hand.  If the other wheel spins in the same direction you have a LSD if it spins backwards you have an open diff.