2006 Ford F350 Special Service Package Supplement 1st Printing - Page 6

Driving LOCKING REAR DIFFERENTIAL General information Your vehicle is equipped with a locking rear differential; vehicles equipped with this differential should be identified by a "Caution" label mounted on the instrument panel. Vehicle handling characteristcs will be different than a conventional differential. Examples of this would be: • When turning a corner, the sound of component disengagement and re-engagement may be audible, and the transfer of driving torque from both wheels to one wheel may be noticeable. • When going from drive (acceleration) to coast (deceleration) in a turn, a "metallic" sound may be heard as torque flow is reversed (inside wheel engaged during acceleration; outside wheel engaged during deceleration). • When negotiating a turn (outside wheel disengaged), the inside wheel under conditions of poor traction may receive excessive torque, which could cause it to break traction momentarily until its speed is equal to the outside wheel. This will result in re-engagement of the outside wheel thus allowing both wheels to be driven. This condition is most noticeable with lightly loaded axles. Use extreme caution when accelerating or decelerating on slippery or unstable surfaces. Vehicles/axles equipped with traction differentials are inherently more sensitive to side-slip than vehicles equipped with conventional differentials. Stability can be retained if side-slip occurs by decelerating (letting off the accelerator). Do not apply the brake. To do so may result in loss of vehicle control. The vehicle's braking capacity is reduced when a turn is made while coasting downhill because the inside wheel is then disconnected from the driveline. Operating in low gear will allow the engine to act as a retarder and will improve braking capacity. 6