Front Locker/LS harder on steering?

[85_Ranger4x4]

I heard it is supposed to be a lot harder on the pump, any truth to it?

 

[bIIjr]

I can't say for sure but I would assume so with the amount of effort it takes to turn a wheel when it is engaged.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

WAG [wild ass guess]; no. I can see it being harder on the drive axles, u-joints, t-case but not on the power steering components.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I am mainly gunning for a clutch limited slip. I can't see the spiders moving that much just from turning the wheels...

Probably a little harder on the powertrain but I think it would still have some give to help it out if a wheel is spinning and catches hard.

 

[59bisquik]

Depending on the type of locker, tire size and terrain, it can be alot harder on your power steering. I overheated my power steering unit in Moab.

Since then, I have upgraded to a Saginaw pump and cooler.

 

[gw33gp]

I can't speak for a locker but I do have experience with a front Torsen LSD. When 4WD is not engaged, there is no difference compared to an open differential. When 4WD is engaged, I can only feel more resistance in the steering when accelerating or under load. The greater the load or acceleration, the greater the resistance in the steering. The resistance is trying to pull the steering back to going straight. So of course, there is no resistance when going straight. The resistance is not that great and I think you would have to work the vehicle very hard to overload the pump. I have not encountered a problem with the pump with 4WD engaged.

I am sure a locker would cause more strain on the power steering pump.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I have the PS pump out of a 5.0 Explorer so it has a little more whoopy than the stock whine-o-matic pump.

 

[swynx]

I have an aussielocke locker in my front dana 35 with a limited slip in the 8.8.

From experience I can tell you that I don't even try to turn unless the wheels are spinning. TheRe is enough resistance I just feel like something is going to break.

I used to try and turn the wheel before rolling but I could hear the strain on my pump.

I would say it's like trying to turn the wheel with the truck powered off

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I wish there was a way to know if "overheating the ps pump" and "feels like the engine isn't running" when not moving or "only wants to pull straight under load" is locker vs limited slip or rack vs gearbox.

Getting two very different answers doesn't help but kinda helps at the same time.

 

[4x4junkie]

Try looking at it this way...

The wheel at the inside of a turn travels less distance than the wheel on the outside of a turn. If you understand how lockers and limited slip diffs work, they tend to bias more torque to the inside tire because it's turning slower. This causes the inside tire to pull or "drive" harder than the outside tire, which in turn wants to force your steering back toward straight (and is where the added steering effort comes from).

I think that if you added a PS cooler to your return, you'd be fine with anything but a spool or welded diff in the front axle.
If you're really worried about it, go with a selectable locker (there when you need it, not there when you don't).

 

[PlumCrazy]

I ran a mini spool up front without hydro assist once......it can smoke a pump and trash a steering box in no time flat even with a Saginaw pump and a cooler....

Added hydro assist and the issue was fixed. SAS version 3.0 is getting CV shafts and a selectable locker to take some abuse away from the steering system

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Try looking at it this way...

The wheel at the inside of a turn travels less distance than the wheel on the outside of a turn. If you understand how lockers and limited slip diffs work, they tend to bias more torque to the inside tire because it's turning slower. This causes the inside tire to pull or "drive" harder than the outside tire, which in turn wants to force your steering back toward straight (and is where the added steering effort comes from).

I think that if you added a PS cooler to your return, you'd be fine with anything but a spool or welded diff in the front axle.
If you're really worried about it, go with a selectable locker (there when you need it, not there when you don't).

Yeah, I know how a diff works. Just the one guy running a L/S that says it isn't that bad has a vastly different truck than mine. Everybody that has a truck somewhat like mine has a locker and they are reporting very different results.

Selectable is big $$. I am fine walking back to get the tractor for they cost. I only mess around in snow and a little mud on my acreage.

Like this past winter, I went charging into a big drift, right front quit turning. It is kinda hard to push a tire through 2'+ of snow... so there I sat. Thanks to my Gopro mounted on the PS door I can watch it in HD all night long. It would be nice to get some kind of attempt out of both fronts is all.

 

[59bisquik]

First off, a limited slip and locker are not even close to alike. So if you want a limited slip, talk to the limted slip guys etc...

Now, as for the locker, you talked about using the rig in the mud and snow. In those conditions, where there is alot of wheel slip, the locker probably wouldnt be all that hard on the steering. In my neck of the woods with rocks, rocks and more rocks, its a whole other story.

Grab a locker of choice, find a cooler to put on the return line and wheel away!

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Since my rear limited slip performs flawless in my wheeling that is why I am inclined to get one for the front. It does the same thing as a locker... spin two tires. I know they operate differently but for me the end result is the same in that when things get hairy I get two rooster tails.

And a rear L/S carrier out of a Jeep is probably cheaper than just about any new locker.

 

[bobbywalter]

put a saginaw pump on.



i hear 44 inch tires are hard on the stock ford pumps too even if you have a open front diff..


and they are.