Keaton stated, everything you need to know perfectly, including the video (if you watched it), see the quotes below.

The Locking differential just refers to the CAD Central axle disconnect or similar systems; which is similar in concept to the old locking hub systems; which is to keep the front axle from spinning and killing MPG when in 2wd. Even back then, those with the locking hubs have open diffs.

The open diff is in 99% of all cars, trucks since 1900's. It is the way they work, complaining to the dealer or corporate manufacture just shows you don't know how the internals work. Only a few vehicles come stock with electric lockers which is an open diff when not activated.

SO ALL IN ALL YOUR TRUCK WAS WORKING AS IT WAS DESIGNED TO. Any make, Ford, Chevy, Dodge, Toyota 4wd systems would have done the same thing. (With the few exceptions of those who have lockers less than 0.00001% of vechles).

 

+1 for what Crazy4x4RT and jkeaton stated. Most new trucks have an option of a Limited Slip Differential, or LSD (some are called "trac-lock" or "posi-trac" or some other name, depending on their manufacturer and how they're designed), but its definitely optional and has nothing to do with "heavy duty" or not. Only a few special trims, like a few high end Jeep models for example, come with the option of a locking differential from the factory.

 

Couldn't watch the vid, I am in the boonies with dial up. Well I guess I could if I let it load for a day or three ....

Must be the electric lockers the 4X4 repair shop was talking about for $2000

Even my old Grand Cherokees had true 4X4 as I could walk them through anything ....

I'm going to let the race car guy look at it and see about Posi carriers and talk to him about that vs electric lockers because this is completely worthless to me as is now.

Thanks again to everyone for all the info and help !

 

When I ordered it they never gave me a LSD or posi option, only gear ratios .... I would have ordered posi ... I wonder if all 2011 Dakotas have open differentials .....

Either way it seems pretty stupid to me to have this set up in a 4X4 even if it was a base model, but then again I'm old....

Well, I gotta run and yell at some kids to get off my lawn .....

Thanks Again Everyone !

 

The 2011 Dakota had an option for 'Rear Antispin Differential', which required 3.92 gears.

And the transfer case will have 4 modes:

• Neutral
• 2WD
• 4WD High, locked
• 4WD Low, locked

Corporate 9.25 LD rear axle ---> LD=Light Duty

 

MAYBE.... Just MAYBE Give some assistance on his problem..... You never know.

 

Ok...So just to clear this up....
4X4 Dose not mean = 4Wheel Drive....
It really means 4 Tire X 4 Rims X 2 wheelED drive.....4X4X2

What a crock.....

 

Worse than a crock as the only tire that gets power is the one with no traction.

if you have no traction at all on any wheel you get power to all 4 wheels, I just went out and tested this idea in some very shallow mud, I could fling mud with all 4 wheels at once if all 4 wheels had no traction, but as soon as one bites then all power goes to the other wheel that's still spinning with no traction.

So with all 4 wheels on dry pavement an open carrier must split power 50/50 (just a guess)

BUT if you have traction in both left wheels and no traction on both right wheels then only the right wheels get power (not a guess as this led me to need a tow which started this thread)

It's worthless as a 4X4

 

That figures ...... The day I went in to order this truck the "salesman" did not even know you could order one, he thought I was nuts and that you had to pick from what they had already built. I ended up sitting down with the sales manager to order this BUT he never mentioned the anti spin was only with the 3.92 when we went through gear ratios. He entered everything on his screen so I never saw the "option sheet"

It used to be you went in and sat down and were handed papers and you got to read every option and check off every option you wanted.

I was afraid that is what LD meant after getting the service manager to print out everything they had on my VIN, I was really hoping for "locking differential" but after what I went through I was afraid it was what you just confirmed that it means.

Thank You

 

ok...Now I'm Laughing....
So you did get all the 4 wheel drives options ?????
Sometimes, When I feel like it, ok I'm in, Potentially in 4 wheel drive, Should I or shouldn't I, And the well known.... G.D. Son of a &*^^&$$%$(*&^%#@*), Light on the dash "revlimit met" and yes the ABS is working.

Yep sound like you got them all... WoooHooo