Traction Lok is the Ford trade name for its limited slip differential. Posi-Traction is the trade name General Motors thought up. Perhaps you're thinking of the difference between a "locker" style diff and a limited slip. With light cars, lockers can tend to make the car understeer while accelerating out of corners.

As far as clutch-style vs. gear-style limited slip diffs, the big differences are price (clutch-styles are cheaper), maintenance (clutch-styles require more periodic maintenance), and consistency of action (gear-styles don't diminish in performance over time like clutch-styles).

Hope that helps.

Eric

 

Thanks for the clarification.

Is it an easy swap from one to the other using the same pumpkin?

 

Relatively speaking it's easy. you keep track of the shims as they come out. Swap the ring gear over to the new center section and try to reassemble using the same shims in the same place.You need to get preload and ring gear backlash correct so there may be a lot of trial and error.You need a magnetic base dial indicator and some extra shims and then just some time on your back.Good luck

 

Craig

Dumb question...do you need to remove the rear end from the car to change gears?

 

My 3.1 kit was supposed to come with the Tru-Trac set-up. This was the new type of third member being provided last fall. After waiting several months on the backordered rear end FF called and offered the old sytle limited slip rear end which I took advantage of.

From threads on installing the axles there is a major difference in the internal look of the third members. There was some confusion in the posts late last fall as many members had not seen the new Tru-Trac setup.

The original question posted was the difference between the two and which one was the best. That I don't have the answer to. After talking to the FF tech guys they didn't feel there was any major differences so I felt comfortable going with the older style unit.

 

rear end

No

just remove the center section. The nine inch you remove from the front, the 8.8 removes from the back. Buy a book that tells you how to do it or a lot of car mags have done articles on how to rebuild a rear end. If you don't do it right it may cause problems later.


Dwight

 

the trak-loc works pretty well in these cars from my extensive autocross experience. personally, i use a torsen now, as it has no preload and better characteristics for tight turns.

 

My original question should have read Torsen Clutchless vs limited slip instead of traction Lok.

 

The biggest diff is the price...trac lok...215.00 retail torsen 589.00 retail