Rodan wrote: ( 1993 Buick Roadmaster 88k Mi 5.7L RWD)
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"Mike Roma That sounds normal to me. All the GM limited slips I have owned would allow the RR to spin up from a stop. If I was moving 3-5 mph instead and floor it on gravel, I have two rooster tails.
One good test for a worn out locker or limited slip is to jack up both rear wheels and hand spin one wheel. If the other side spins the same way as the one you are hand turning, the limited slip is functioning. If the wheel turns the opposite direction, the limited slip is worn out or not there.
There is also an 'old' trick that is even in my Jeep owners manuals for locking up both rear wheels from a start, no matter if you have an open diff like I do or a limited slip.
When stuck I used to have a 95 Caprice which I think is pretty much the same car. It had the 5.7L corvette engine but I don't recall if it has Limited Slip. I do know that I often accelerated hard in it and never had a problem with rear wheel spin. You say "recently" this happened, does that mean it wasn't doing this before and nothing has changed (that you know of) and now it's started doing it? I had an 88 Caprice that would easily spin the RR, unlike my 95. About the only thing I can think of is that your LSD went bad, you have a spring that cracked and that corner of the car is no longer holding up it's share of the weight, or the tire is worn out even though it might look ok or maybe the colder whether has made the rubber harder and less sticky. ___________________________________________________
Thanks for the insights, Mike and Ashton. My experience with LSDs is that they are there to prevent single wheelspin. I love Mike's ice trick for non-LSD cars. I used it more than once years ago, but in my current advanced age (71) my taste for adventure has faded and I religiously avoid getting into icy situations.
Yes, the Roadmaster is almost exactly the Caprice under the sheet metal. Buick openly calls the engine a Chevy. My use of the word "recently" was misleading because I have only had the car one month, so everything that happens happens "recently". It may have always had this condition.
This 93 Roadmaster has less features that my former 92 Roadmaster. The 93 has mechanical seat adjustments, a manual outside mirror adjustment, and slide-and-fan-speed temperature control instead of presettable climate conrol. Looking up its specifications reveals that LSD was an extra cost option. So my 93 may not have LSD at all, therefore it may be working normally. Anyway, I will spin the rear tires next time I have it in the air.
Thanks again for the comments.
Rodan.