Trac-Lok, does it help in snow with 4x4?

[ford46guy]

Thinking about adding it to a non-awd 4x4 control trac explorer. I had some issues in deep snow in the past, right now there are 2 open diffs.

My only concern is locking up on slippery turns(and massive oversteer) or hitting a slick spot on the road. I don't know if the ford trac-locks fully lock. I am going to be installing the carbon fiber unit. The open diff always has a margin of safety (as does Traction control which this truck could never have). T/C has its own set of issues, namely power loss with braking. The Thunderbird has a system that does not cut power to the engine, and with studs will get out of anything.

Seems many 4x4 vehicles have this option. The videos I've seen on YT don't make it look that impressive. I'm interested in the stock track lok carrier setup with carbon fiber because of the cost. There are other options but it is not worth adding to an older truck.

 

[exranger06]

I had a Trac Lok in my Ranger, which is practically weightless in the rear and much more prone to oversteer than your Explorer, and I didn't really have any issues with oversteer in the snow. You just need to be easy on the throttle going around corners. I could easily make the back end come around if I wanted to, but I could also easily keep it under control if I wanted to.

Even with the Trac Lok, using 4wd in the snow was mandatory. Just the limited slip alone would not make me not get stuck. But I don't bother with putting any weight in the bed (aside from snow that I don't bother shoveling out) and I use all-season tires.

I currently have an open diff in the Ranger, because I had to swap out the rear axle due to a bad pinion bearing, and I could only find open diffs in the junkyard. I miss having the limited slip. There was a time where I got stuck with the open diff, and even 4wd wouldn't get me out. I think if I had a limited slip, I probably would not have gotten stuck. I still have my original rear axle and I plan to rebuild it, although I'm probably going to upgrade to a Detroit TrueTrac.

 

[Kuato]

Yes it will and as exranger06 said, very controllable.

 

[Hokiefyd]

I found the GM limited slip-type differential to be very helpful with my RWD Cutlass I had as a teen. It came from the factory with an open diff axle, and I swapped in a posi-traction axle from a Grand Prix. It made a tremendous difference in the snow. You could get the rear end to step out, but it was very controllable. It certainly didn't make it undriveable. To the contrary, I was much more mobile in the white stuff with it than without it.

 

[IndyIan]

Do you have snow tires? I'd get those before a locking diff. My cousin had an aggressive locking diff for off roading in his old Toyota pickup and it was nearly undrivable in 2wd in the snow, and often exciting in 4wd...
My wife drove a 4wd Tracker for years and ran it in 4wd anytime the road was even wet in the winter and had no issues with anything in the drivetrain.
We ran snows on the Tracker only got stuck once in the snow, in our driveway, got high centered on a hard drift with ice underneath... The tracker had no TC or ABS but I never really missed those anyways with the snow tires.

 

[exranger06]

A Trac Lok is not an "aggressive locking diff," it's a limited slip.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

Once you get enough weight in the back, or on the wheel with traction, it's going to spin just like an open differential.

I recommend snow tires.

An automatic locker would be .. fun. Less likely to get stuck but automatically locking when on the throttle would spice things up a bit

 

[AlaskaMike]

It doesn't matter that it's a Ford limited slip--what defines how aggressive it is lies in how the clutch pack is set up. Personally, I like them set up as stiff as possible, but then I grew up driving on snow and ice and have never had a problem dealing with skid recovery.

As everyone else says, it'll definitely help in 4wd too.

 

[ARCOgraphite]

easier to get around corners with the locking diff in the back - if you know how to drive.

 

[IndyIan]

Originally Posted By: ARCOgraphite
easier to get around corners with the locking diff in the back - if you know how to drive.

All depends on the surface conditions and what kind of tires you have. For regular city street driving, if you have a surface with much lower sliding friction, than static friction, having the rear tires fight each other going around the corner isn't helping you.

 

[ford46guy]

Well I went for it. This with snow tires will be unstoppable. Timken bearings for carrier and axles to follow...

Have to transfer the ABS ring.

It is the Ford Racing carbon fiber. Somewhere between stock and something more aggressive. Was $240 with the bolts and FM modifier shipped. The CF rebuild kit is 120.

I was told by a dealer to install it as is without taking it apart and soaking the clutches. They said they install that product on somewhat newer Mustangs, Exes, F150s for repair or upgrade (there is a cutoff year where they don't use 8.8, and some come with e-lockers now).

They said to reuse the old shims and stop by for $70 worth of 75W140.

That spring looks intimidating to remove.

 

[edyvw]

All that is useless if you do not have good winter tires.