# Poor man's 4X4, limited slip differential

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/poor-mans-4x4-limited-slip-differential/69246>\
**Category:** General Discussion\
**Created:** [November 6, 2011, 1:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/poor-mans-4x4-limited-slip-differential/69246 "2011-11-06T13:47:49Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![dagosa](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/dagosa/32/9837_2.png) [@dagosa](https://community.cartalk.com/u/dagosa)\
**Post date:** [November 18, 2011, 1:23pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/poor-mans-4x4-limited-slip-differential/69246/21 "2011-11-18T13:23:19Z")

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I agree Mark…Mechanical limited slips are unforgiving when both rear wheels get power and still loose traction. With a normal open diff. you have less traction with only one wheel driven, but the un powered wheel still helps you track around a corner in rwd. The “newer” abs electronic versions use the braking to shift power as needed to the wheel with the best traction with power adjusted as need in a corner to minimize kicking out.

I believe they give up total some output as the braking does turn some of the energy into heat…so they aren’t as good for max acceleration as mechanical or the best, a locker for off road. But, for the average guy, they are better then fooling around with a mechanical limited slip. If I wanted one that badly, I would be tempted to just wait till I could afford a newer car/truck with the electronic or mechanical with stability control and get the best of both worlds or best, awd /4wd with traction control you can maintain for off and on road.

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