Daryl,

When living in Alaska - and particularly out on Kodiak Island - we often
joked about the fine and fancy multi-wheel drives seen out in the scrub
and the brush - STUCK. It was a standing joke about one wheel drive
being good for a $300 hole off road. The limited slip units were good to
get you further back into a $600 hole. And four-wheel drive - it would
get you all the way out to some pretty good $900 holes and a few $1200
holes.

The prices were the cost for an adequately equipped Wrecker to come out
and haul you, your rig, and sometimes Sweet Thang, out of the bush.

Truth was, the old-timers and Sourdoughs knew how to manage. It was the
newbies - the Cheechakos in the country with more money than sense that
got into trouble. with their fine and fancy rigs. And out in the back
country in the days when I was there - being stuck way out back usually
meant that sooner or later - while you waited for the wrecker - you
probably were going to have a Kodiak grizzly bear over for dinner. It
was uncanny how they could smell food! If they wanted your fish - or
whatever other kind of food there was - you gave freely. After all, it
was their turf, and your were trespassing. That was your toll for being
there.

John Rodgers
88 GL Driver

atransaxle wrote:
> As far as the Torque Biasing Diff (TBD) LSD goes..Its a seamless always
> there unit that doesn't change anything but traction..no mileage hit or
> anything relating to tire wear..Just keeps you going much further than
> you
> would with the stock "right wheel drive"..
> Sent From Syncro de Mayo WiFi.
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Troy" <colorworks@GCI.NET>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Friday, May 01, 2009 8:20 PM
> Subject: limited slip differential question
>
>
>> Regarding limited-slip differentials in 4 speed manual trannies in 2wd
>> Vanagons, what are the impacts on fuel economy and tire wear?
>>
>> Thanks in advance,
>>
>> Warren in Santa Fe
>> 88 Westy
>>
>> I'm certainly no expert on limited slip differentials; I'm the one
>> who was
>> posting a question to begin with. My understanding though is that
>> they are
>> open until needed. Going around a turn for example will engage them.
>> Generally, it's going to have very little effect on the van's fuel
>> economy.  Again, it engages only when you need it.
>>
>> Troy
>
>