conflict

[professor229]

Hi.... With winter here I have been driving my 2004 Ranger. I added sandbags over the rear wheels for weight. I wondered if I had a limited slip axle and researched it a bit on this site and others and got some good information. Today I took a picture of the door sticker and then tried to decode it from the listing on this site.... the code 86 seems to indicate one gear ratio and the R7 indicates another (4.10 with LS) .... Can anybody look at the attachment and tell me what gears I have and if it is limited slip (positraction)? And PS... Is it worth the time to decode the VIN number? What will it tell me? Thanks

 

[superj]

its not positraction, thats for sure. unless someone took it apart and welded the gears or something like that. posi is not good for street driving

 

[professor229]

I guess I don't understand.... R7 says that it is a 4.10 limited slip.... Axle code 86 says 3.73 gears... not 4.10... How can it be both?

 

[Shran]

R7 is not your axle code. 86 is.

R is Radio Code

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

The R is over the 7. Not an axle code. The 86 is your axle code.

 

[superj]

i did a vin decoder for mine and it says 3.73-4.10. i think mine is 4.10 though

 

[rusty ol ranger]

You have an open (no limited slip) 3.73

Wasnt "Posi Trac" just what GM named their limted slip? Like Chryslers "Sure Grip" and fords "trac-lok"?

 

[sgtsandman]

its not positraction, thats for sure. unless someone took it apart and welded the gears or something like that. posi is not good for street driving

Limited slip is good for street driving and so-so to ok for off road. An axle locker is less street friendly. It can be used but with both sides being locked together causes binding and tire scrub and is much more prone to having the rear end spin you around than limited slip will. I think Rusty is correct on the terms each domestic maker names it but regardless, it's still limited slip.

 

[superj]

Limited slip is way better than posi for daily, thats for sure. I will take limited slip all day on a vehicle

 

[Shran]

I'm gonna invite @19Walt93 to this thread to shake a fist at y'all for your traction device terms.

 

[2011Supercab]

Ford = Trac-Loc
Lincoln = Directed Power System
Chevy = Posi-Trac
Pontiac = Safe-T-Trac
Olds = Anti-Spin
Mopar = Sure-Grip


They are all the same thing, Limited Slip differentials with clutch packs

 

[19Walt93]

Ford = Trac-Loc
Lincoln = Directed Power System
Chevy = Posi-Trac
Pontiac = Safe-T-Trac
Olds = Anti-Spin
Mopar = Sure-Grip


They are all the same thing, Limited Slip differentials with clutch packs

Close, the Ford unit is a Traction-Lok and it's what the GM guys swap in after they get sick of breaking their weak kneed factory rears. The Mopar 8 3/4 is a good piece, their Dana 60 is rugged but heavy and miserable to set up. They are the same in that they are clutch type but comparing a Ford rear to anything that came with a posi is like comparing Jennifer Lopez to Whoopie Goldberg and saying they're the same.