So, I parked over some snow today in a parking lot and when I started to back out using 2wd, I noticed one of the rear tires was slipping. 4wd got me out but I forgot to look to see in the mirror if the other side (the passenger side) was also spinning or not so I can't confirm if both wheels were spinning but it made me wonder the following:

Does the G80 only work to lock the rear axle when going forward? Or should it work when going forward or backward?

EDIT: I watched this video:

I think I understand it better now that it should work either direction which as I thought about, it must because you can never know which side will be the one that slips.

 

It should work either direction. It may be wearing out.

 

G80 is similar to using Auto 4WD. Requires you to lose traction before it will do anything. I don't understand or like this type of strategy.

 

I'll be watching it. It might have been both wheels were locked but both were on snow with the front tires sunk in so that they couldn't me out in 2wd.

 

That is most probably, what happened. The advantage of the G80 is, that you have nearly no wear, except if it engages. It does so only at speeds below some 30mph (50 km/h) if both axles are turning at this or higher speed it will not lock but at these speeds that's not needed.

I go with Les - I would prefer a limited slip any time.

 

I took the crap-loc G80 out of my 8.5 and installed an Eaton posi. It works well, but if I were to do it again I’d upgrade and install a Truetrac.

 

With all the snow melting, I won't have such an easy time testing the the rear end. When I have a chance, I'll be sure to see if I can see both rotating when locked up or if I can see the marks from both tires from locking up in the mud or snow.

 

It will never lock up until the speed differential between the two axles is fast enough to throw the weights out. Unfortunately this means you have already lost traction. Posi rear end uses clutch discs under spring pressure to keep both axles turning the same speed all the time. Going around corners, traction overcomes spring pressure and the discs slip. Posi can be dangerous if both wheels are on ice and both wheels stay locked together from the spring pressure - probably how the gov-lock came into being. With the gov-lock you may still be stuck, but you have less tendency to fishtail into someone else or spin off into the ditch in a very icy situation. Also posi clutches are know to chatter when going around corners when you use the heavy springs. Not sure how the Truetrac works - never studied it, but it's supposed to be good. I used to have an aftermarket 8.5" Eaton Posi in my S10 racer, but the spider gears disintegrated the second run using a (new) trans brake and even dinged up my ring and pinion. Little did I know that spider gears and trans brakes are definitely not friends when you have serious traction. Now I have new everything, a full spool, and c-clip eliminators.

 

I checked my axle today by gunning it on a dirt road. I could see that both tires left marks.