AMC Eagle Den Forum

The Shop => Axle / Differential => Topic started by: 4hammond on December 09, 2013, 04:45:05 PM

Title: 85 wagon Limited Slip
Post by: 4hammond on December 09, 2013, 04:45:05 PM
can anyone offer a little help. I would like to add a limited slip to my stock rear axel. Is this possible?
Title: Re: 85 wagon Limited Slip
Post by: IowaEagle on December 09, 2013, 04:52:46 PM
Not offered as they would ruin the viscous coupling in the transfer case.   Maybe the only one that could have been use was behind the NP 128, and then AMC would have had to matched the front differential gearing to that of the rear.
Title: Re: 85 wagon Limited Slip
Post by: Whuntmore on December 09, 2013, 06:54:02 PM
you could though if you changed out to a say, 242 T-case, matched gears and of course had the drive shaft altered.
Title: Re: 85 wagon Limited Slip
Post by: 4hammond on December 10, 2013, 12:39:24 PM
Sounds like it will take some work. I guess we will see how it handles in the snow this year and decide after that.
Title: Re: 85 wagon Limited Slip
Post by: carnuck on December 11, 2013, 06:03:43 PM
Unless you are doing a ton of turning, it shouldn't affect the VC. Having a low range in mine (Tcase from an FSJ) allows me to do that. Trac Loc is pretty innocuous and should be fine. You have to apply the brake slightly with 1 rear tire spinning to get it to engage.
Title: Re: 85 wagon Limited Slip
Post by: AMC of Houston on December 11, 2013, 08:20:33 PM
OK; someone please 'splain to me how a limited slip diff (with the same gears) could affect the VC.   I just can't see it.   I've had limited slip in mine (a genuine AMC 15 unit)  for the last 13 years and loads of miles, and no problems.   Anyone??
Title: Re: 85 wagon Limited Slip
Post by: eaglefreek on December 12, 2013, 01:07:30 AM
Quote from: AMC of Houston on December 11, 2013, 08:20:33 PM
OK; someone please 'splain to me how a limited slip diff (with the same gears) could affect the VC.   I just can't see it.   I've had limited slip in mine (a genuine AMC 15 unit)  for the last 13 years and loads of miles, and no problems.   Anyone??
I was going to ask the same question.
Title: Re: 85 wagon Limited Slip
Post by: carnuck on December 12, 2013, 08:35:50 PM
If you have an '86 (or at least a NP128 case) it's a non-issue. It would only become an issue on really long excessive corners.... ie: Burnouts in a circle.
Title: Re: 85 wagon Limited Slip
Post by: Whuntmore on December 13, 2013, 01:34:28 PM
Ok, but if you swap out the t-case to say, a 242, then it's also a non-issue, right?
Title: Re: 85 wagon Limited Slip
Post by: eaglefreek on December 13, 2013, 10:46:26 PM
Yes, it's a non issue with a 242, but I still don't see how it matters with the 129. The viscous coupler is for front to rear bias, why would it matter if there was a LSD in the rear?
Title: Re: 85 wagon Limited Slip
Post by: IowaEagle on December 14, 2013, 09:58:25 AM
I am not an engineer but there has to be a reason why AMC did not offer it.
Title: Re: 85 wagon Limited Slip
Post by: 1985amceagle on December 14, 2013, 11:52:16 AM
I'm not sure how the 119 is designed, but it might have to do with how it has to drag a wheel on turns
Title: Re: 85 wagon Limited Slip
Post by: eaglefreek on December 14, 2013, 05:51:58 PM
Quote from: IowaEagle on December 14, 2013, 09:58:25 AM
I am not an engineer but there has to be a reason why AMC did not offer it.
I'm pretty sure LSD was an option on a NP229 equipped Grand Wagoneer with the tow package.
Title: Re: 85 wagon Limited Slip
Post by: IowaEagle on December 14, 2013, 06:23:37 PM
Quote from: eaglefreek on December 14, 2013, 05:51:58 PM
Quote from: IowaEagle on December 14, 2013, 09:58:25 AM
I am not an engineer but there has to be a reason why AMC did not offer it.
I'm pretty sure LSD was an option on a NP229 equipped Grand Wagoneer with the tow package.

I found no mention of LSD being offered in the AMC Standard Catalog.
Title: Re: 85 wagon Limited Slip
Post by: eaglefreek on December 15, 2013, 12:09:16 AM
Quote from: IowaEagle on December 14, 2013, 06:23:37 PM
I found no mention of LSD being offered in the AMC Standard Catalog.

I venture over to the FSJ forum quite often and have seen it talked about once and a while. Here's a quote from a thread over there.

"Both of my '90 's have caution stickers in the glove box stating that "this car is equipped with a locking type differential at the rear wheels ....""
http://www.ifsja.org/forums/vb/showthread.php?t=121725
Title: Re: 85 wagon Limited Slip
Post by: 4hammond on December 19, 2013, 04:30:35 PM
So is there an option for my 85 for Limited slip with just some rear axel work or would I have to change transfer case?
Title: Re: 85 wagon Limited Slip
Post by: The Dark Side of Will on April 23, 2014, 10:22:03 AM
Quote from: IowaEagle on December 14, 2013, 09:58:25 AM
I am not an engineer but there has to be a reason why AMC did not offer it.

Because AMC was cheap and poor when they built the Eagles?
Title: Re: 85 wagon Limited Slip
Post by: Draekon on April 23, 2014, 12:25:06 PM
Having LSD in the rear will not hurt the VC in the transfer case.  The VC is strained when the front and rear wheels are spinning at different speeds.  This will happen whether you have 1 rear wheel spinning (in the case of an open diff) or if you have both rear wheels spinning (in the case of LSD).  In fact, having LSD in the rear could help keep the VS in better shape, since it makes it harder to spin the rear wheels.  All of that is assuming loss of traction.  If you are driving in normal conditions, it will make absolutely no difference what type of differential you have in the rear.