Limited Slip/locking Differential

[SANDMAN91290]

Hi. I am new on the site and have found it very informative. I have a 2003 extended cab Silverado 5.3L. I was wondering do they come standard with limited slip? Thought some of you might know...thanks in advance for any help.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Limited Slip/locking Differential

I believe it is an option. If you leave outside the snow belt your truck probably does not have one. If you have a four wheel drive it might have. If you live in the snow belt, whether two or four wheel drive, chances are it will have as most trucks would have been ordered with the option.

 

[Shizzy]

Re: Limited Slip/locking Differential

I doubt standard, but depending on the package its possible. slide under the rear of the truck and look for a tag on the rear differential. it shoudl say something about limited slip if it has one.
My ford ranger in fact has a tag that says 8.8 limited slip 4:10 on it.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Limited Slip/locking Differential

Look in the glove box for the sticker that has all the RPO build codes. If you see G80 within all the 3 digit codes, you have the locking rear differential.

 

[SANDMAN91290]

Re: Limited Slip/locking Differential

Thanks for the info. I live in louisiana. It is not four wheel drive. I looked in the glove box and I don't see any codes that represent limited slip or locking differential. However, found out I have the Z85 towing/trailering suspension. I will crawl under when I get a chance and look.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Limited Slip/locking Differential

If G80 isn't in that list of codes, it doesn't have it. And crawling under the truck won't tell you anything.

Most 2wds don't have the G80 locker, yet most 4wds seem to get it. Kinda strange, huh? But that's the way it's been for years.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Limited Slip/locking Differential

Most 4 wheel drive vehicles get it because without it the best you have is still two wheel drive. Why? Put a 4WD vehicle on glare ice and hit the gas. You will notice one front wheel and one rear wheel will spin. I've seen 4WD vehicles on perfectly flat ground but ice covered, that can't move. A rear locker gives you 3 wheel drive. It would take a front locker as well to get true 4WD. As long as all four wheels have exactly equal traction, all four wheels will pull the same. Lose traction on one wheel and you are down to 2 wheel drive on the axle that has not lost traction. Lose traction on one front and one rear wheel and you are stuck. I would never own a 2WD vehicle without a locker even if I lived outside the snow belt and especially if I towed a trailer. It is cheap traction insurance.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Limited Slip/locking Differential

It was optional even on a 4WD in 2002. I had to order mine.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Limited Slip/locking Differential

Z85 is the towing/suspension package. If you have Z82 you also have the trailering package.

 

[AnonymousBoater]

Re: Limited Slip/locking Differential

I got a Detriot True Track on my old 88 F150 5spd muel. Great investment. Must have for 2wd. I'm 100% sure I would have gotten stuck already without it.

 

[SANDMAN91290]

Re: Limited Slip/locking Differential

What do you fellows recommend as far as upgrading to locking diff? And thanks for the info..I am still learning.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Limited Slip/locking Differential

Since you have a 2WD, the cheapest way to get a locker is to buy an entire rear end with a locker from a salvage yard and swap the entire rear end. Just make sure you get one with the same axle ratio you have now. You can install any ratio but the ECU would need to be recalibrated for the different ratio. If you cannot perform that swap, it will have to be done by a service shop. Special tools are needed to set pinion depth and backlash when reassembling the differential so adding an aftermarket locker is expensive as well since you cannot do that yourself.

 

[fishmen111]

Re: Limited Slip/locking Differential

Richmond Gear makes a unit called the PowerTrax that installs in under an hour without special tools or ring/pinion adjustment required. Runs about $420 for your application.

 

[MikDee]

Re: Limited Slip/locking Differential

This is off the Chevy S-10 website, it should also apply to your truck.
Look in the glove box for these codes, as bruceb & TilliamWe mentioned,
that is, if the rear is still stock, never been changed?

rear axle ratio RPO


GU4=3.08
GU5=3.23
GU6=3.42
GT4=3.73
GT5=4.10
HC4=4.56

G80 - locking differential


compare to the codes in your glove box to know which gear ratio you have

 

[109jb]

Re: Limited Slip/locking Differential

Richmond Gear makes a unit called the PowerTrax that installs in under an hour without special tools or ring/pinion adjustment required. Runs about $420 for your application.

Rather than go with the PowerTrax, which is a sort-of locker, I would go with the Eaton truetrack. This is a limited slip with helical gears and no clutches to wear out. The lockers are harsh in turns on solid ground and can be quite scary on wet or otherwise slippery pavement. The reason why is because the truetrax needs to ratchet going around corners and takes some force to do this which actually tries to make the car keep going straight. On slick roads, the front wheels haven't got enough bite to overcome the ratchet and they slip and the car keeps going straight. The eaton unit has helical gears that can provide differential power smoothly and still give power to both wheels when needed. It's only about $100 more than the powertrax, but you will have to have someone who knows how to set rear end ring and pinions up to do the install unless you know how to do it yourself.

Just my opinion.

 

[MikDee]

Re: Limited Slip/locking Differential

Rather than go with the PowerTrax, which is a sort-of locker, I would go with the Eaton truetrack. This is a limited slip with helical gears and no clutches to wear out. The lockers are harsh in turns on solid ground and can be quite scary on wet or otherwise slippery pavement. The reason why is because the truetrax needs to ratchet going around corners and takes some force to do this which actually tries to make the car keep going straight. On slick roads, the front wheels haven't got enough bite to overcome the ratchet and they slip and the car keeps going straight. The eaton unit has helical gears that can provide differential power smoothly and still give power to both wheels when needed. It's only about $100 more than the powertrax, but you will have to have someone who knows how to set rear end ring and pinions up to do the install unless you know how to do it yourself.

Just my opinion.

I Agree, I've heard this before over at the S-10 forum.

 

[109jb]

Re: Limited Slip/locking Differential

Rather than go with the PowerTrax, which is a sort-of locker, I would go with the Eaton truetrack. This is a limited slip with helical gears and no clutches to wear out. The lockers are harsh in turns on solid ground and can be quite scary on wet or otherwise slippery pavement. The reason why is because the truetrax needs to ratchet going around corners and takes some force to do this which actually tries to make the car keep going straight. On slick roads, the front wheels haven't got enough bite to overcome the ratchet and they slip and the car keeps going straight. The eaton unit has helical gears that can provide differential power smoothly and still give power to both wheels when needed. It's only about $100 more than the powertrax, but you will have to have someone who knows how to set rear end ring and pinions up to do the install unless you know how to do it yourself.

Just my opinion.

I had a slip of the keyboard. The Powertrax is the one that needs to ratchet and is hence scary. The Eaton truetrack is the smooth one that I would recommend.

 

[AnonymousBoater]

Re: Limited Slip/locking Differential

The truetrack and the eaton are the exact same. Helical gears. I will say mine cost me 1025 give or take some pennies. Of course I had to have both axles replaced along with some other things because some goober installed axle saver bearings.

 

[fishmen111]

Re: Limited Slip/locking Differential

Rather than go with the PowerTrax, which is a sort-of locker, I would go with the Eaton truetrack.
Just my opinion.

I agree fully. I have had TruTracks in almost every vehicle and love them. I was simply offering a low cost, diy alternative since most folks can't set up a rear.

 

[SANDMAN91290]

Re: Limited Slip/locking Differential

Thanks alot..I will check on these items as soon as I can