Diff & Command Trac.

Hi, it is me again. Now that I understand the wheel thing I came up with another question.

I went to the LOST KJ main site, and went tot he newbi fourm and read about the differant diff's (open, slip and locked). I understand about locking and such. so here is my question, again I have an 06 sport with command trac.

If I place it into 4hi, the book (and the jeep web site) says that all four wheels are locked together and spin at the same rate, so does this mean that the diff is locked and I will not get any slippage?

thx (Aeh) :-k [-o<

nope...if one wheel has no traction or up in the air..that wheel will spin freely, and the others will stay still...

(open diff)

LSD's or limited slip, will put power on the wheels that grip from the wheels that slip..... (think subaru)

locked....you can have all 3 wheels up in the air, w/ one in contact w/ the ground......and still be able to get out...(possibly)...

if ur gonna go ******** wheeling, then having lockers or a locking diff would be ideal, but for weekend warriors, or just to get through that snow storm....the open diff or an LSD would be more than sufficient

The 2006 uses a four wheel break induced limited slip that is really not that bad. I can peel out in gravel with two wheels using it, and it does great in the sand. It is no real limited slip, but it works all right.

Limited slip is sufficient for most drivers (and the proper tires). Lockers are great for serious off-roading.

The video below is really good to see what lockers can do. These guys are going over big rocks, serious mud, and crossing Spring snow fields. Most of the 4x4's have front and rear lockers, but one I noticed has a locker in the front, and limited slip in the rear, then another Jeep has open differentials. They guy with open differentials has to get towed crossing the very slick snow field in one video as his wheels that lose grip just start spinning. It's a fun video to watch (actually all of Rick Russell's are!). But really, these guys are taking 4x4's places that no insane person would take a new Jeep. I never even see new TJ Rubicons (with it's stock front and rear lockers) on these videos. The newest Jeep I've seen on a video is a 2000 TJ X that's been lifted and lockers added.

I've got a limited slip rear in both my KJ and TJ. Now I have much better tires on the TJ (Revos), and it's amazing at how well it does in snow in just rear-wheel drive.

Video:
http://www.allthingsjeep.com/sid26110.html

The settings on the transfer case only control what happens between the transfer case and the differentials. They have no control over what happens between the differentials and the wheels. So "part time" will lock the driveshafts in a 50/50 split and force both of them to spin equally all the time. But what happens between the differentials and the wheels is a different story. You must control what happens there with a locker.

ok, that last explaination made sence to me now. I get it.

I am a photographer, long time hobbie. So this KJ will be used to get me to the places I can not get to becuase of my bad back. Not sure I will rock crawl, but I will go on lots of diferant types of trails with differant conditions. I have been hikng in snow, water (middle of a stream) and other placs. I have a 50lbs camera back pack when I did this. Now, the KJ is going to carry it. I have been to moab, in arches and trekked the trials with the backpack. But that is no going to happen any more.

So, now I am trying to get an understanding on this stuff. thx for putting up with my newbi questions.

Right now my plan is to get the Wrangle silent Armor tires, (p235/r7016) becuase I do not plan on lifting it soon.

Put on all the skid plates and rock rails. And then join a local 4x4 club and get some OTR (off the road) training. and then go from there.