...the first came to me in a wave of pure, white light as I attempted to claw my way out of a section of trail that drops into a small creek, soaks in the current for about two yards , then hooks severely to the left and rises very steeply (it's off camber and a bit rutted, too) out: a low clank rang from my front axle, and the formerly freespinning left front wheel slowed and I felt the Monty crawl forward. Coooool. I have an LSD! I'd been wondering about that. I got out of this crap after about 15 minutes of self spotting (I was alone. Wheeling w/ others is too sensible. Why do it?) and airing down- a challenge, thanks to the muddy, vertical edge preventing easy access to my passenger side rubber.
The other lesson was a little more subtle- it involved learning to trust my vehicle and experience when I weightlessly rock from side to side, two wheels are airborne and my nose is pointed at the sky. I'm glad I got out - If I'd bothered to look, I'm sure my knuckles would have been a little paler than usual. I'll launch some pics when my new lense gets here in a couple of days.

Am I reading this right? FRONT LSD? Are you sure? Did you put it in... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

PHIL

That was my first thought. PHIL beat me to it.

Yes, front. I didn't put it in and I very seriously doubt the previous owner did.
I've only had the vehicle for about four months and have made almost no mods. I guess it's possible that I Have an open diff, but after what I saw I really doubt it. Anyone care to dispute this? The best part is that I can sell my LSD to help finance a locker for the front. How much real difference is there in traction between a front locker and a front LSD?

If I was you, I wouldn't go putting up a "For Sale" ad for that "front LSD" just yet. I'm pretty sure that you'll find out that it's an open diff. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/coolg.gif" alt="" />

Ok....but how do you explain the way the driver side front tire was behaving? It was floating about an inch or three above ground. I gassed it and the tire spun freely until I heard a clank, after which it slowed WAY down, I felt the vehicle regain a little traction and I started to move forward. This happened within the span of about 8 seconds. I couldn't sell it if I wanted to , though, 'cause ARB has been a little slow w/ the promised locker.

Jack up the front of the vehicle so that both tires are off the ground. Put it in 4WD, then spin one tire and see what the other tire does. This will tell you if you have LSD or open diff.
Then let us know.

ActivTrac... does this mean AWD with a Center Diff? If so maybe the "Clank" was the center diff adjusting more bias to the rear?

There is NO factory LSD in the front. If it does have it, someone installed it after they purchased it. I'm betting on open diff. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

88

It's all really simple. You don't have front LSD. The fact that you front wheel is in the air doesn't mean that it has to spin fiercely. With center diff locked, front and rear drive shafts must rotate at the same speed. Until rear axle looses traction front wheel without one will not spin. It will rote with the same speed as rear even in the air. If you have locker engaged in the rear, both rear wheels must loose traction before front starts spinning. What you observed is normal behavior when rear axle momentarily lost traction and then gained it back.