There is no way to have LSD on a Rubi?

[Badweissenbier]

Limited slip aka posi trac aka tru lock. Is just the mechanical version of what we have today with traction control aka bld.
A good traction control system more than handles and spinning of a wheel. That’s why it’s not needed on the Rubi. The lockers are just there for crawling at which point bld is disabled.

I’ve had several open diff vehicles with traction control and never had problems going where I want in slippery conditions.

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[DesertsJL]

I’ve had Jeeps since 1998. All models and all axle versions. Current Jeep is a JLUR.

That said, my favorite is to have high-bias limited slip differentials front and rear. Lockers are just harsh whereas limited slips are not. I’ve yet to find a scenario where good limited slips couldn’t get me through that I needed lockers for. With limited slips I don’t have to think about when to lock in or out, nor do I have to deal with the harshness and steering strain.

 

[coupedncal]

Reviving this old thread to see if adding an LSD on a Rubicon is now any more viable today. This thread is from 2018.

 

[2nd 392]

Reviving this old thread to see if adding an LSD on a Rubicon is now any more viable today. This thread is from 2018.

You are paying for lockers when you buy a Rubi. Get a Willys if you want LSD and save money

 

[mark203]

Quoting from a 2002 Motortrend article about the new 2003 TJ Rubicon https://www.motortrend.com/how-to/77698-2003-jeep-wrangler-rubicon/:

To recap: The Rubicon’s upgrades include front and rear Dana 44 axles in place of the Dana 30/35 front/rear axles used in other versions of the Wrangler, except when the optional Dana 44 rear is specified. Inside these Dana 44s, you’ll find front and rear locking 4.10:1 differentials built by Tochigi Fuji Sanjyo, chosen, according to Jeep engineer Jim Repp, “because they were the only ones we couldn’t break.” These lockers, which can be actuated at speeds up to 10 mph, require 5 psi to make them work. A dash-mounted switch locks the rear axle and toggles the front axle locker on and off. About that rear diff: When it isn’t locked, it’s limited-slip.

(emphasis added by me)

If you pick up this (really great-but-long) instructional video at the 39:25 mark he is talking about a locker that also has a Torsen type limited slip.

This video shows another teardown, specifically of a 2006 TJ Rubicon rear diff - again, it is a torsen / helical LSD with a pneumatic locking mechanism as well:



SO... it is POSSIBLE to build, and apparently Jeep has had them in the past, but it isn't something we have available today.

 

[Steph1]

Unfortunately no, hence why the 4H auto available on the Rubi doesnt perform quite as well as a Sahara in a winter storm.

If it did, I would have traded for a Rubi with that option last spring. But I chose to keep the Sahara and modify it to my liking.

 

[MACHZ]

I had a 08 Sahara with LSD and 33" Duratracs and it was great in the snow. I then bought a 14 Rubi with 33" Duratracs and BLD and it wasn't great in the snow. I don't do any off-roading that requires the lockers so I ordered a 22 Sahara again and will mod as needed.

 

[aldo98229]

Reviving this old thread to see if adding an LSD on a Rubicon is now any more viable today. This thread is from 2018.

Why would you want to buy a Rubicon to swap out the lockers?

That’s like buying a Tesla to put a V6 in it... ?

 

[stumblinhorse]

I don’t understand the “I need LSD in a Rubicon“ Crowd. I absolutely can’t stand LSD on packed snow and ice. It causes inconsistent sideways slides. The clutches put different Amounts of torque to the wheels which will and does slide you sideways. BLD is trying to mask the effect of LSD but then people posts “why is my rear brakes wearing out before my front brakes?”. Because your LSD is making your BLD work hard to keep you straight on slick roads. I 100% agree that LSD is needed for a rear Wheel/non-4wd, it will get you moving sometimes when an open diff won’t do. But on a 4x4, open diff is so much better and predictable, especially when teamed with lockers for off road situations.

 

[aldo98229]

Just like I don’t understand the “lockers rule in snow” crowd.

I’ve owned both, lockers and LSD: on anything less than 6-8 inches, you need to have your senses 100% sharp in the Rubicon or you end up in the ditch. By contrast, the LSD is 100 times more forgiving.

Lockers are great in deep snow, or if you are driving 1-2 miles at a time. If you are driving 10+ miles on snow covered roads, LSD is the way to go.

If the surface underneath the snow is icy, you just need to slow down, no matter if you have lockers, LSD or open diffs.

 

[stumblinhorse]

Just like I don’t understand the “lockers rule in snow” crowd.

I’ve owned both, lockers and LSD: on anything less than 6-8 inches, you need to have your senses 100% sharp in the Rubicon or you end up in the ditch. By contrast, the LSD is 100 times more forgiving.

Lockers are great in deep snow, or if you are driving 1-2 miles at a time. If you are driving 10+ miles, LSD is the way to go.

I have never turned lockers on in snow. So don’t understand it either. open diff rear wheel drive rule in snow….

 

[aldo98229]

I have never turned lockers on in snow. So don’t understand it either. open diff rear wheel drive rule in snow….

Perhaps you should give it a try... ! ?

 

[aldo98229]

Lockers are clearly more effective in extreme conditions.

But IMO, in 90% of situations, the act of engaging a locker makes the driver aware of it in a way the automatic operation of LSD does not.

What I mean to say is this: if you engage your lockers to get through a tough spot, you are likely to marvel at your lockers for helping you get through. If you get through a tough spot without having to press any buttons, you are likely to think you are just a marvelous driver and completely forget the LSD was there to help you out.

So, from that standpoint, I’d say most people overestimate the help they got from lockers, and underestimate the help they get from LSD.

 

[AcesandEights]

This seems to be a misunderstanding of the point of those things included with the Rubicon and other models. There may be places that a LSD excel, but not in the most extreme situations, and the Rubicon is the most extreme version of the Wrangler. Why doesn't the Rubicon come with more street/highway-oriented tires, since that's where it's used most often? Why doesn't it come with IFS since that rides nicer? Why doesn't the Rubicon come with all-wheel-drive, since most people will find that more helpful in rain and light snow? Why doesn't the Rubicon come with a CVT like the Subarus I see at Trader Joe's?

Open, to limited slip to locker. That's the "direction" from easy to moderate to difficult terrain. Buy a Rubicon for the most aggressive off road package, trims with a LSD for less difficult terrain, and open diffs for least aggressive terrain.

 

[Sean L]

So, from a psychological standpoint, I’d say most people are likely to overestimate the help they got from lockers, and underestimate the help they get from LSD.

This definitely! Although I am aware of when the BLD is working the front brakes by the sound and steering feel, I get no such indication from the rear when the LSD is working its invisible magic. A few times I've seen where both rear tires have dug in and pushed, but I still wouldn't know if the LSD was in use or if there was no slip between the rear wheels.

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