This morning on my way to work, I stopped for gas. Since there were a couple SUV's in the way I had to stop as I was entering the driveway to the gas station.

I'm sitting there, front wheels on the driveway, steering wheel cranked over to the right, rear wheels still out on the street. Once I had a clear path to the pump I pressed the accelerator to proceed. However, the engine just reved and I went nowhere.

I hit the gas again and still I'm going nowhere, but I can now here the right rear wheel spinning. I then shifted into reverse, rolled the car back a little bit, eased off the steering a tad and drove up the driveway to the pump.

This happened once before, only it was while trying to turn left into a steep driveway. Similar situation – I was at a stop, front wheels on the driveway, rear wheels on the street. When I tried to turn left up the driveway the car wouldn't move and just spun the left rear wheel. Since the driveway was so steep, and I value my air dam, I just parked on the street.

Does this sound like the limited slip in my 9-bolt is going bad? When turning the limited slip is supposed to disengage, but I was also under the impression that if one wheel lost traction, then it should engage to supply power to both wheels.

 

I dont think i really wanna know how your getting wheels up off the ground while your driving. With a posi if you have 1 wheel off the ground the wheel on the ground should be getting power.

 

No abuse or erratic driving taking place. It's not like I'm taking driveways at 90mph. This is from a dead stop. The inside wheel is breaking traction and for some reason the limited-slip isn't locking up when this happens.

I'm wondering if it's due to the Red Line synthetic gear oil I'm running. It's possible that it's too slippery for the cone style limited-slip the 9 bolt uses.

Hopefully, that's all it is and the posi isn't shot. It's possible too, that what I experienced is not unheard of with a limited-slip differential.

 

Since many people throw around (and misuse) the term "posi" or "posi-traction" I thought I'd post this description.

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Positractions & Limited Slips:
Transmits equal torque to both wheels when driving straight ahead. However when one wheel spins due to loss of traction, a patch of ice, mud, too much throttle, etc., the unit automatically provides more torque to the wheel that has traction. Recommended for daily driving, works well in ice, rain, mud and snow. However, in situations where absolute lockup is needed, a limited slip is not the best choice due to the fact that limited slips do slip in some situations.

Positraction is a type of limited slip and is a term that is used very loosely as another name or description for limited slip differentials. A positraction is not more aggressive than a limited slip or vice versa. The name "positraction" was used by General Motors for their limited slip differential and the name has been associated with limited slips for many years.
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Our cars use a "limited-slip". That means in most situations both wheels will receive equal torque, BUT in some situations one wheel can spin loose. Hence the name "limited" slip. It's not a zero-slip or no-slip. For that, you'd need to go to a spool which truely locks both wheels together.

 

Hehe alright gotcha no wheels of the ground just slippage. Did you add the posi additive when you put the fluid in? If not id add it. It can cause weird things to happen if you dont.

 

Sounds like your limited slip 9 bolt needs to be shimmed, here's a the tech article on it https://www.thirdgen.org/newdesign/t...tservice.shtml

 

Okay, I've done some reading in the GM Helm manual and it appears the rear end is fine.

Here's a quick synopsis of what the manual has to say:
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Limited Slip Rear Axle (Cone Type)
The clutch energizing force comes from the thrust of the side gears. Consequently, a free spinning wheel may not have enough resistance to drive torque to apply the clucth cones. If this occurs, apply the parking brake a few notches which will provide enough resistance to energize the clutch cones.

Under certain conditions where one wheel is on a very slippery surface and the other is on dry pavement, wheel spin can occur if over acceleration is attempted. Continued spinning may cause audible noise, such as a whirring sound, due to the cones lacking sufficiant lubricant. This does not necesarily indicate failure of the unit.

During regular operation (straight ahead driving) when both wheels rotate at equal speeds, there is an approximately equal driving force delivered to each wheel. When cornering, the inside wheel delivers extra driving force causing slippage in both clutch cones.
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