Does the 2019 Ranger have a LSD? An Investigation

[RussB]

Ordered new Ranger sport 2wd without lock,they told me it had LSD diff.3 week till delivery found out that it is open diff. told them it had to have LSD they said it haves it. found out it doesn't .told then to cancel order, or I will pay for a LSD diff. but the will have to eat the cost of installing a new LSD diff. they said I could order another Ranger Sport 2wd with locking diff. exact same way I wanted it, so now new one wont be here now until end of May.

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[Floyd]

Ordered new Ranger sport 2wd without lock,they told me it had LSD diff.3 week till delivery found out that it is open diff. told them it had to have LSD they said it haves it. found out it doesn't .told then to cancel order, or I will pay for a LSD diff. but the will have to eat the cost of installing a new LSD diff. they said I could order another Ranger Sport 2wd with locking diff. exact same way I wanted it, so now new one wont be here now until end of May.

I went through the same issues with LS and was told for sure it was standard... and no it wasn't.
I was told the X73 was LS when not engaged ..., then no it isn't.
Final research with the most sources is that Ford SEZ the X73 is NOT LS. Even though the code implies it.

The locker is not a replacement for Limited Slip, nor does it act as LS when not engaged.
Ford's advanced traction control and ABS may do some of this work, but it still ain't it.

My 2001 Ranger, I had to add my own LS, but it was a regular Ford 8.8. Not sure what's available for the Dana.

 

[BOT_ROCKET]

I've been looking into this issue for the front wheels to see if the Ranger has what Toyota calls "auto LSD" which uses the brakes to make the wheels act like there is a limited slip. When one wheel loses traction, the brakes grab that wheel just tight enough so power is sent to the other wheel that does have traction, and both wheels turn at the same speed. It's only available on the TRD Off Road and TRD Pro trims, and it works every bit as good as a traditional LSD. Not as good as a full locker, but still very effective. Using the brakes has been an off-roading trick for a long time. Humvee drivers are trained to step on the brake pedal when traction is an issue because Humvees have open diffs (or at least they did).

I really wish Ford would be more open with this sort of info, though. There is no reason there should be this much confusion over it. I STILL don't know for sure if the Terrain Management system in the Ranger has the brake simulated LSD on all four tires. I know my Taco does, though, and it wasn't hard to find out.

 

[Art S]

I've also seen nothing from Ford regarding a limited slip differential being available in the Ranger. The two options I've see are open and electronic locker.

If your axle code is 71 it’s an open dif. If it’s says 73 it’s a limited Slip dif.

 

[t4thfavor]

There's no LSD in the parts catalog (that axle code is a misprint). Axles exist for Open and Locking diffs only.
Locking
https://parts.ford.com/shop/en/us/shaft-assy-rear-axle-9797291-1
Open
https://parts.ford.com/shop/en/us/shaft-assy-rear-axle-9797167-1


They are relying on brakes for everyone who doesn't have the E-locker, and they work well enough for most everyone.

Of course, that could be a Canada thing, but in the US you get open or E-locker.

 

[Rviator]

Can we clarify the axle codes?
I'm in US with an axle code of 73. I have the e-locker option. As I understand it, it is an open with a manual e-locker.

 

[Kataphrakt]

Here are some pictures and schematics from benchmarking done on a Ranger with the FX4 package (Locking rear diff)

 

[THLONE]

The easy check is jack (with a floor jack with wheels) the left side of truck so the wheel is off the ground. Start truck and put in drive no brakes on, no locker on. Does the truck pull its self with the jack rolling along? Yes, Then the electric brakes are energized on the wheel in the air so that the wheel on the ground can pull push the truck. This would not be the same as the old LS that had clutches in the carrier to move the power path from the spinning wheel to the non spinning wheel. An electric locker works like an AC compressor clutch. The locker locks the side gear in the carrier to connect both axles together. That is my take on the subject. Use at your own risk. Dont try unless you are out in the wide open spaces and are not a cluts.

 

[DHMag]

All I know is I did not get the electronic locking diff, but I can roast both tires in a burnout.

 

[THLONE]

Easy test put one side tire in a slick spot, mud puddle, etc. Try to drive away, if you can drive away then the brake system is creating a electric LS. Ford should create a different name for it so as to eliminate confusion.

 

[BOT_ROCKET]

Most trucks have a system similar to this.

Here's an article that touches on it as well.

https://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/trucks/a20899/how-4x4s-got-so-good/

 

[LM927]

Well, I have a 19 Lariat with FX4 package, sometimes trying to go sideways or trying donuts I forgot to lock the diff and I noticed only one tire was spinning and the car wasn’t really going sideways. A few times I even had a chance to check the road and noticed only one tire had left marks.

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