rear wheel traction....

Ok, I was just wondering what type of rear traction system do our trucks have? I noticed yesterday, as i was stuck in my parking spot because of the ice, that my left tire was on dry blacktop and my right one was on the ice, but only the right one was spinning and the left wasent donig anything. I thought that if one wheel was spinning the truck would send the power to the other one... is this correct? Is their a way for me to get bothe rear wheels to have power all the time for better traction? something like posie im guessing... i dont have too much knowledge about that stuff. but is their anyway to get both of my rear wheels to have traction at all times? or is this a bad idea to have unless im using it for drag racing? just wondering... thanks.

Ok, I was just wondering what type of rear traction system do our trucks have? I noticed yesterday, as i was stuck in my parking spot because of the ice, that my left tire was on dry blacktop and my right one was on the ice, but only the right one was spinning and the left wasent donig anything. I thought that if one wheel was spinning the truck would send the power to the other one... is this correct? Is their a way for me to get bothe rear wheels to have power all the time for better traction? something like posie im guessing... i dont have too much knowledge about that stuff. but is their anyway to get both of my rear wheels to have traction at all times? or is this a bad idea to have unless im using it for drag racing? just wondering... thanks.

Greetings Nigel,

Many trucks in the Chevy line now come with the option of a locking rear differential ($295.00). It operates much like what you refer to as "positraction". It is available on many rear wheel drive and 4x4 configurations. Strangely when I was test driving trucks this summer - mostly all rear wheel drives - most Ford 150 rwds didn't have it and the sales people said it really wasn't neccessary LOL. Quite honestly I love rwd - its predicatable and consistent in the Wisconsin winters of snow and ice we have. But I wouldn't choose rwd without a locking differential - for a new truck. I vividly remember a rwd minivan I had - it was great - except you could get stuck on ice on a flat parking lot or alley. It was rather embarrassing to be having to "rock" the vehicle on ice - no snow - on a flat lot. A locking rear differential helps avoid that problem (as well as sand on roads etc.).

One thing however - if you have a locking differential and you are in slippery conditions - it is a bit different driving - just as driving with positraction used to be just a bit different.

White Lightening

The locking differential is optional, I'm not sure if GM offers a traditional limited slip rear end or not, but either way, your truck has an open rear end. Stuff like that is generally an option.

You can install either type of traction device, but it will cost you a pretty penny. Don't really know about the locker and ring gears/carriers, may need to replace one or both. I don't see why you couldn't pick up a clutch style limited slip unit and just pop it in, but don't know any details.

http://www.traction.eaton.com/prod1.htm

Go there.

GM does offer a limited-slip differential. I, however, from now on will get positraction. I have the limited-slip and while it works, my right rear tires tread is more worn than my left b/c of it. I never understood why the hell trucks dont all come with positraction. It just seems to make more logical sense to me.

junk the rear end you have and go to a junk yard which has thousands of these gm wrecks and get you a factory locker. any thing from 99 up should fit your truck and they are very common. For traction ecxept no substitutes, go with a locker.

I have lockers front and rear on my 2003.

Simple solution during bad weather, since your rear sends power to the wheeel end with the least resistance ie...the one on ice. Push your emergency brake about half way or until you feel it just starting to apply and in essance both wheels have the same amount of resistance and it tricks it into applying power to the other wheel that is not slipping. It also helps if you put the transmission into 2nd gear and slowly apply power, 2nd has less torque and is not as likely to spin. [:)]

Eaton...Eaton...Eaton!!!! I can't express enough how awesome this unit is! I had a factory g80 posi and it would lock sometimes and sometimes it wouldn't. I couldn't get a decent launch because it would come unlocked under the stress. The eaton is an awesome unit and it will stay locked when you need it. It's the best there is, period.

most likely an oem unit would be limited slip.A true locker would be an option if even available. There are several options aftermarket. Eaton and detroit are both very dependable. Almost everything about a stock vehicle is a compromise; Gas mileage and cost versus performance and features. Not sure about uneven tire wear; mine has limited slip and both rear tires wore about same. Could be mechanical issue with rear end or just a typical GM fluke.
You can put a locker or limited slip in and use same ring and pinion unless they are damaged. You can check any of the four wheeling sites for more info about lockers etc... Also as for continuous traction to both rear wheels: great for racing bad idea for daily drive. Truck will be hard to turn corners and have rapid tire wear. If you really wanted that you could just use a spool this a replacement rearend carrier that is the equivilant of the "lincoln lockers" where you weld the spider gears in an open rearend.

I have a stepside 00 chevy rwd, but only one wheel moves the truck, and was thinking of making it positrac but i'm not sure of what to do now. You guys say that continuous traction wears your tires, but you don't say how fast they wear. You say that it's hard to turn, and you also say that limited slip sucks. Is a locking differential same as positraction? Should I go with Eaton or Detroit, which one is better, which one is more affordable. I mean, I have to barely touch the gas pedal or else it'll be skidding all the way to 60 mph. I never put any weight on the truck and it's a stepside so it's always light. I get tickets for spinning the goddamn tire. All I want is to have a fast launch, have damn good traction when it's wet and make good use of the engine.