LSD Equipped Gladiators Better Than Rubicon in Snow ?

[SteveInOrlando]

LSDs are being phased out generally across all vehicles (aide from premium sport car offerings at an additional uncharge - think Porsche and S model Audis, and the sole holdout in the truck world seems to be on vehicles marketed for towing) for costs reasons. The BLD systems are a few line of codes that can be implemented across the lineup with no extra hardware costs, as ABS systems that implement the logic are already there. Consumer choice is also pushing this, as clearly many people in the off road sector want the full locker and the marketing departments play this up.

LSD are going away because the rest of the market has moved on from solid axles!

Modern 4WD/AWD systems do the same thing as an LSD without the need for it to be gear controlled. The vehicles automatically shift torque to the wheel with traction. We are driving vehicles using the same technology that was available when I was a kid in the 1970s. If you want the vehicle to shift torque as needed in our vehicles you need an LSD.

Don't quote what the industry is doing when the industry has left our entire drivetrain in the trash can already!

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[seven30]

LSD are going away because the rest of the market has moved on from solid axles!

Modern 4WD/AWD systems do the same thing as an LSD without the need for it to be gear controlled. The vehicles automatically shift torque to the wheel with traction. We are driving vehicles using the same technology that was available when I was a kid in the 1970s. If you want the vehicle to shift torque as needed in our vehicles you need an LSD.

Don't quote what the industry is doing when the industry has left our entire drivetrain in the trash can already!

My issue with IS is that its generally more fragile compared to solid axles plus IS has more joints to get sloppy too. There are super tough desert runners with IS but they are far from stock. The main complaint against solid axles I have is unsprung weight.
Be interesting to see how well a DeDion 4x4 machine performs.

 

[REDBEAST]

Hi, so far not real impressed with the Rubi in snow conditions. I deal with ice and hardpack and deep snow daily, all on road. I don't really need the locker as I'm a good enough driver in snow not to get into a position where it's needed.

Just not a confident feel driving this rig in snow. I've added weight to the bed and run Blizzaks but I am wondering if the models with an LSD would be better for the type of snow driving I do?

I'm sure the Rubi is great Off-Road but that's not me so feeling like I picked the wrong version here.

I have a 2020 Rubi and I know for a fact it has LSD in rear axle from the factory. I don't know why yours would not. Mine is an LE but that shouldn't make any difference.

 

[NachoRuby]

I have a 2020 Rubi and I know for a fact it has LSD in rear axle from the factory. I don't know why yours would not. Mine is an LE but that shouldn't make any difference.

Rubicons have open differentials that manually lock. We don't have Limited Slips. We do have the brake lock differential, though. This can mimic the effect of a real lsd.

 

[JamesWyatt]

I have a 2020 Rubi and I know for a fact it has LSD in rear axle from the factory. I don't know why yours would not. Mine is an LE but that shouldn't make any difference.

JK/JL/JT Rubicons have always been open diff with lockers. Where do you see it documented that your rear Rubicon axle is also LSD? Only the Power Wagons have LSD + lockers.

 

[Rusty PW]

I have a 2020 Rubi and I know for a fact it has LSD in rear axle from the factory. I don't know why yours would not. Mine is an LE but that shouldn't make any difference.

How do you know?

 

[REDBEAST]

How do you know?

I know by putting the vehicle in neutral by selecting neutral on the 4 low shifter and jacking up the left or right rear wheel leaving the opposite wheel on the ground I cannot move the elevated wheel. If it were an "open" diff you would be able to turn the wheel and watch the drive shaft spin. My vehicle may be an exception. I don't know but that's the way it is.

 

[The Duck of Earl]

LSD are going away because the rest of the market has moved on from solid axles!

Modern 4WD/AWD systems do the same thing as an LSD without the need for it to be gear controlled. The vehicles automatically shift torque to the wheel with traction. We are driving vehicles using the same technology that was available when I was a kid in the 1970s. If you want the vehicle to shift torque as needed in our vehicles you need an LSD.

Don't quote what the industry is doing when the industry has left our entire drivetrain in the trash can already!

Differentials, whether open or limited slip have nothing to do with solid axels. You can still have a LSD in IFS or even independent rear suspension (look at the Torsen front diff in an F150 tremor/raptor or the limited slip rears in the expeditions or Tahoes - if we are just sticking to trucks).

And the act of automatically shifting torque to the wheel with traction IS done through a limited slip diff (or a clutch pack) and nothing else.

The alternative is braking the slipping wheel, which is reactive versus proactive. Some systems are advanced enough to try and 'anticipate' where which wheel would spin based on vehicle yaw, steering angle, etc., and then attempt to proactively brake such slipping wheel, but the results and feel are certainly different than a true mechanical setup.

The solid axel BOF vehicles originally existed for simplicity, stuck around for durability, and now exist primarily for nostalgia with some exception in the Jeep world where the benefits of articulation can't be beat for now (until we get to 4 corner electric motors). Time is limited for sure.

 

[Vincent]

?

 

[seven30]

JK/JL/JT Rubicons have always been open diff with lockers. Where do you see it documented that your rear Rubicon axle is also LSD? Only the Power Wagons have LSD + lockers.

I know my Mojave has locker in rear. I assumed the Rubi has lockers on both ends.

 

[Rusty PW]

My 2013 V8 Grand Cherokee TrailHawks has a electronic limited-slip/locker differential. It could very the amount of lock-up in the rear diff. It did this by putting pressure on the clutch pack.

 

[Rusty PW]

I know my Mojave has locker in rear. I assumed the Rubi has lockers on both ends.

Rubi's have it in both diff's.

 

[dcmdon]

That would be me. If it wasn't for the rust cancer. Think I would still have my PW.

Its depressing and sad that FCA still CHOOSES to build vehicles that they know will rust.

I've owned multiple European cars that were over 20 years old and none of them ever developed so much as a bubble.

We just sold our 2002 Volvo and the body was flawless after 20 winters in New England.
I am hoping to keep my Jeep for a long time. I guess the strong resale value will protect me if it starts to rust.

 

[DailyMoparGuy]

I’m genuinely curious about this Rubi phenomenon

 

[JamesWyatt]

I know by putting the vehicle in neutral by selecting neutral on the 4 low shifter and jacking up the left or right rear wheel leaving the opposite wheel on the ground I cannot move the elevated wheel. If it were an "open" diff you would be able to turn the wheel and watch the drive shaft spin. My vehicle may be an exception. I don't know but that's the way it is.

If the Rubi/Mojave have rear LSD in addition to the lockers, it would be the biggest Jeep Easter Egg EVER.

I've read that to test for LSD rear you have to jack up both rear tires and spin one of them – if the other tire spins the same way, it's LSD – if it spins the opposite way, it's open diff.

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