LSD Questions

[Phippy]

Hello,

I have been researching information in regards to a mechanical LSD. I seem to be getting conflicting information and its starting to becime very confusing!

I am wanting to install a mechanical LSD in my fiesta. My research led me to believe a mechanical LSD is better then a clutch based LSD.

My understanding was, an LSD would not only assist in acceleration, but would help in icy conditions, as i expierence in northern Alberta.

However, i was told that, an LSD would greatly have a negative effect in cornering in cold and icy weather. This goes against my research.

So im turning to you all to help me with this. Im feeling like maybe i dont know what i read or i dont understand how this works. And now im very confused.

 

[foodtruck]

> I am wanting to install a mechanical LSD in my fiesta. My research led me to believe a mechanical LSD is better then a clutch based LSD.

Clutch based LSD is also mechanical, you probably mean torque biasing one based on helical gears? The reason torque biasing is preferred for our cars (MFactory, Quaife, Wavetrac) is because there's no wearable clutches inside and so you don't have to go through pain of taking out the transmission again to replace them once they wear out. The catch is torque biasing stops working when one of the wheels completely loses traction. One exception is Wavetrac that has some clutch material in addition to helical gears (and I think MFactory was making something like that as well?), but the differential will continue working even if that material wears off.

> My understanding was, an LSD would not only assist in acceleration, but would help in icy conditions, as i expierence in northern Alberta.

It will assist in accelerating in icy conditions. What other kind of improvement were you looking for? I would say outside of purely accelerating, the biggest advantage in icy conditions are studded tires.

> However, i was told that, an LSD would greatly have a negative effect in cornering in cold and icy weather. This goes against my research.

I ... haven't heard that one before. Maybe someone else can chime in. I have Quaife installed and I haven't experienced any negative effects like that.

 

[atlantaM3]

the 'negative' effects are largely related to RWD drive cars that have overly aggressive decel config in their diff - it can cause them to not want to turn as easily. This is where you see '1.5 diff', and such comments, where the accel and decel profiles of the diff are dfferent.