What are traction lock rear ends?

[glenn201]

i found a 8.8 rear end for my ranger according to the tag it says it a 3.L73 the L stands for traction lock what is traction lock thank you

[cgrey8]

Traction Lock is Ford's name for Limited Slip. If you aren't familiar with Limited Slip differentials, it's a clutch arrangement in the rearend that allows the wheels to spin independently, but when they spin, the clutches transfer some torque to the other wheel that isn't spinning.

An "open" rearend you could lift one wheel off the ground and the engine would spin that tire without any torque getting to the wheel still on the ground.

A limited slip rearend would allow the wheel in the air to spin, but some torque would transfer to the wheel on the ground. The amount of torque that transfers over is dependent on the bias of the limited slip clutches. Stock clutches transfer a fair amount. There are aftermarket springs that add more pressure to the clutches to transfer more torque. Aftermarket rearend kits will transfer even more torque.

And then there are Lockers & spools that are not based on clutches at all. Spools lock both wheels together so they ALWAYS spin at the same speed and CANNOT spin independent of each other. The downside the spools is they are annoying to drive in parking lots and in wet weather because in turns, you kind of want the inside tire to spin slower or it chatters around the turn and eats tires up like crazy. Lockers come in manual and automatics. Manuals lock both tires together on command from the driver like Ox or Detroit Lockers. Automatic lockers, like the Richmond Powertrax locker, will lock the wheels together if one slips. So if one wheel was lifted off the ground, the locker would lock the two tires together so 100% of the torque would go to the wheel still on the ground. Unfortunately automatic lockers are not as intelligent as their advertisements make them out to be. I have a Powertrax locker and they tend to be quick to lock up even when you don't want them to mainly because of such a light rearend. In an automatic transmission and a heaver vehicle, auto lockers probably work much better. I don't recommend them for small trucks like Rangers. They probably would work quite well for BroncoIIs and Explorers.

Does that help?

[plowboy34]

no traction lock you get a one wheel burn out..... traction lock you will get both wheels to burn out....

[glenn201]

yes this did help a lot this forum has been a lot of help with this build thanks for all the help guys

[cgrey8]

I also forgot to mention that high-bias limited slip rearends can act a lot like lockers and spools in the rain. Heavy bias limited slip setups with a light rearend might chatter the inside tire just due to having more clutch strength than the inside tire has traction on the ground. Stock limited slip rearends don't generally have this problem and are probably the best compromise for frequently/daily driven vehicles with light rearends. But for all-out racing, there's no beating a locker. They guarantee you never have to worry about 1 wheel spinning up faster than the other. They both spin at the same speed or they don't spin at all. It's amazing how much better control you get with a locker, even in a spin, when both wheels are forced to spin at the same speed.