The "LS" rear ends - Drivetrain Tech - Tech Section

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Posted: Sat Oct 5th, 2019 10:10 pm

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JAMMAN

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I have 2 LS rear ends, a R7 native ranger and a D2 expo that needs perches and shock mounts. They both mechanically seem to be in excellent shape.

My question is... well I had a LS rear in an 86 mustang GT that when I first got it I could light both tires up but after a winter of running 2 different diameter tires (REAL long story) it acted just like an open rear and I could only annihilate one piece of rubber at a time. Am I wasting my time with a LS? I want every time I press on the gas for both wheels to break loose for the life of the car but don't want a spool, I had to drive a car for a while with welded spider gears and it was a pain on turns.

A torsen or trutrac seems like the answer but if these LS's do work I will proceed with the perches on the 31 spline and use it.

How well does a LS hold both axles together in real life from those of you that have felt it? My experience was not prime but I might be responsible for destroying it with the tires.

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Posted: Sun Oct 6th, 2019 10:37 am

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410customs

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I can watch explorers drive around in the dirt out front, I can see the factory limited slip working
It will hold both tires together pretty well, but its not going to hold them together during a burn out....just during low speed low torque applications
The factory limited slip is a VERY good unit, but it uses clutches and they do wear out.
I have seen them worn out by 100K miles and I have seen them still working with 250K miles, it just depends on the driver and diff service history.

The factory limited slips are VERY GOOD
I have also heard you can stack the frictions and steel plates slightly different stuff an additional friction pad int he factory LS, use the S spring from a F150 (stronger spring) and thus more grip then stock after you rebuild them this way.
I would run the explorer axle, 31 spline, disc brake, rebuild the factory LS with the "grip tricks" and run that...... for the win!! For most peoples use the factory LS can work wonders.....

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Posted: Sun Oct 6th, 2019 10:38 am

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Tsquare
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The LS chunk has spring packs and clutches. The spring pack pushes the gears against the clutches that are attached to a cage assembly. Both gears in the cage spin equally when both wheels are moving at the same speed. The clutches aren't really needed then. When they spin at a different speed the clutches and spring pack are slipping. They are designed to slip a little under low torque situations.

By running a different sized tires on the rear the clutch material may have worn out or the anti-friction additive is shot. Get the same size tires on it and service the rear adding the anti-friction additive and the LS might start working again.

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Posted: Sun Oct 6th, 2019 09:04 pm

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JAMMAN

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OK I will proceed with the 31 spline LS, I'll bring it home and play with it over the winter when the wife is working. I did read about a few tricks I'll research the crap out of it but hen I get in there I may have some ideas of my own. I bet it is in decent shape, it was behind a 4.0 in an expo (only way to get the 4.10 31 spline since all V8 expos had a 3.73) and I could tell it wasn't beat on too hard.

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01 XLT 2WD RC Steppie 3.0 auto Silver
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Posted: Mon Oct 7th, 2019 05:55 am

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Bird76Mojo
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If you order the necessary rebuild kits (I believe it takes two of them if my memory serves me from when I rebuilt mine) then you can use a couple of the "steels" stacked in the clutch pack to tighten up the limited slip more than it would be in factory form.

The one in my 2001 Ranger 4.0 4x4 was worn out by 90,000 miles easily. After rebuilding it, it's still working well at 185,000 miles. I can light up both tires on dry pavement.

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