carymccarr
Full Access Members
What is it?
Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.
What is it?

Is there friction plates that are pushed together? I see the actuator ring, but what does it push against? That would explain why TFL had drive mode and rear locking problems.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Yes, it's a big change from the F-150. It's actually an electronically controlled, hydraulically actuated limited slip differential with locking mode. Take a close look at the parts drawing linked below and look for the hydraulic pump mechanism:
https://parts.ford.com/shop/en/us/transmission/powertrain-engine-parts/differential-assy-6513577-1
Here's the F-150:
https://parts.ford.com/shop/en/us/transmission/powertrain-engine-parts/differential-assy-6518391-1
At the cost of complexity and price, the idea is to give you the best of all possible worlds. The hydraulic pump design lets the vehicle control the amount of slip within the differential. As opposed to a normal limited slip differential which is mechanically fixed (wheels spin independent until one is going faster than the other by some fixed ratio). And you still get a locking mode, which you don't get in a traditional limited slip. But of course, with a traditional e-locker, there is no limited slip mode. The rear drive shafts are locked or they spin independently with no maximum speed difference between the two.
Andre does not understand how 4x4 systems actually work, let alone the nuances of one as complex as the one in the Expedition. It has a soccer mommy mode (just spin the drive mode dial). But it also has manual control functions for those who take the time to learn about the systems and how/when to use them. Andre just got in and mashed some buttons and the results while disappointing should not have been unexpected. Which is exactly how came to snap the driveshaft in an F-150...TFL issues were that it disables when you turn the Truck off. Andre turned Truck off and got out, then got back in and forgot to Turn it back on. He got blasted for it too!!!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
https://patents.google.com/patent/US20170089439A1/enI am very interested in how this works still. I have a Can-Am SxS. In the past the front diff was called a Visco Lock. Nicknamed the Crisco lock. You would need to spin the tire for multiple times before it engages. You would be stuck or rolled over before it did it’s job. They changed it to a Smart Lock that has drive modes. It works by the actuator pushing plates together. Different pressures make different drive modes. It claims to have a full lock at the max pressure. People running large tires and big HP have walked through this locking mechanism since there is no actual pins locking the two together. Apparently it gets worse the more you slip it. Would this be the case on the Expy? I would rather have a open diff with pin locks. But I only use the full lock to pull the boat out of the water so I’m not worried about breaking it.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Andre does not understand how 4x4 systems actually work, let alone the nuances of one as complex as the one in the Expedition. It has a soccer mommy mode (just spin the drive mode dial). But it also has manual control functions for those who take the time to learn about the systems and how/when to use them. Andre just got in and mashed some buttons and the results while disappointing should not have been unexpected. Which is exactly how came to snap the driveshaft in an F-150...
Truth! Their videos still give more real world info than most others.
My wife will just spin the dial to where I tell her, but yes, I will use the buttons and adjust appropriately.
Left on its own the system does a pretty decent job.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro
The 2H, 4A, 4L, and Lock Buttons around the Mode selector...
For example, Normal defaults to 2H, but you can turn on 4A, and the opposite is true for Sport. It defaults to 4A, but you can switch back to 2H, and turn off TC to get a little wheel spin.
Hmmm. I have HD/max trailering package on my Navi and there are no buttons that I’ve seen.