Do Traction Lock or Traction Control Work in Reverse?

[Ready Freddy]

I caught a bit of grass while backing up my driveway. Much to my surprise, the LR wheel began spinning like a whirling dervish instead of engaging either of the noted traction devices. I let the truck roll back down and out of the grass before attempting reverse again and the LR wheel did was spin uncontrollably due to the remaining mud on the tire.

My truck is equipped with both Traction Lock and Traction Control. So does anyone know if what I experienced was 'normal' or do neither traction devices work in reverse?

 

[crazykid1994]

I don’t know what you mean by traction lock? Traction control is mainly to keep you from spinning out while driving. Ie wet roads. Limited slip would help in that situation though if your vehicle was built with that feature

 

[McBroom]

I caught a bit of grass while backing up my driveway. Much to my surprise, the LR wheel began spinning like a whirling dervish instead of engaging either of the noted traction devices. I let the truck roll back down and out of the grass before attempting reverse again and the LR wheel did was spin uncontrollably due to the remaining mud on the tire.

My truck is equipped with both Traction Lock and Traction Control. So does anyone know if what I experienced was 'normal' or do neither traction devices work in reverse?

4x4?

Blue Mule

 

[kurek]

My truck is equipped with both Traction Lock and Traction Control.

You'll have to expand on this a little more.

All 4th gen 1500 's have "TCS" which is what Jeep/Ram calls their traction control system. This works by both reducing engine power and selectively braking wheels when it detects wheel spin. This is the one you can turn off with a switch, to try to get unstuck or to goof around.

All 1500's 2013+ (I believe including 2wd) also have "BLD" which is what Jeep/Ram calls their low speed traction control system. This one works at low speeds when only one driven wheel is going faster than other driven wheels, it is supposed to firmly brake that wheel to direct power to the other wheel without reducing engine power like "TCS" does. This feature is not disabled when you turn off the "TCS" switch.

Additionally the rear differential on 1500's can optionally be equipped with a clutch based limited slip differential. Unfortunately I've never seen the insides of one of these so I cannot comment on its mechanical behavior. Typically a clutch limited slip has ramped cam plates on either side of the cross pin, these ramped cam plates can be "2 way" which enable equal behavior in forward and reverse, "1.5 way" which have a different cam profile depending on whether they are being driven forward or reverse, or "1 way" which only cam when driven forward. The reason a mechanical limited slip might be made in a 1 way or 1.5 way configuration is to reduce the possibility of unintended lockup during cornering while decelerating - more a concern with sports cars that are going to need traction while going forward on race tracks, it wouldn't be as appropriate on a 4wd truck or utility vehicle which may need to stay mobile in either direction. But I don't know what profile Ram went with so that's just general info.


To help answer the question you asked, my 2015 Ram is 4wd and has TCS and BLD (because they all do) and also is equipped with the OEM limited slip. I believe it has worked for me in both forward and reverse direction. But there have been some times when I really thought it should have stepped in and it just didn't seem like it was doing anything - so I can't even begin to guess what the software needs to see from the wheel sensors before it starts to step in. Other times I've felt like it was working perfectly.

 

[Ready Freddy]

Per requests, more info - 2016 1500 2WD with std. electronic traction control (per the window sticker and build sheet - ECS electronic stability control) and factory optional (OEM name - anti-spin differential) limited-slip. (see attached option list pic).

Both ECS (electronic stability control) and Anti-Spin Differential have worked perfectly when driving forward.

Thanks kurek for the info, still hoping someone can confirm neither the ECS nor OEM anti-spin diff work in reverse (mainly because mine didn't).