Limited slip diff - worth it?

[caz4213]

I've been looking for a Caterham for a few months now and I'm fairly flexible on most things when it comes to the spec, but one thing I've convinced myself the car has got to have is an LSD. Unfortunately, most of the cars currently being advertised - well, the ones in my price range anyway - are all roadsports, none of which seem to have an LSD fitted.

So my question is: does the LSD make that big a difference to the driving experience? And a supplementary question to that would then be how easy / costly would it be to fit an LSD further down the line if I was to buy a non-LSD car? Anyone out there done something similar?

Any info much appreciated.

[DCL]

It depend on how you plan to use the car. If it is 100% road then there's likely to be only few occasion when you might notice it. But on track you'll be frustrated as it spins wheels out of corners.

Not a big deal to get one fitted but budget at least £1300 to do it properly - i.e. diff re-build and LSD fitted by Road & Race.

[JD PH]

DCL said:

It depend on how you plan to use the car. If it is 100% road then there's likely to be only few occasion when you might notice it. But on track you'll be frustrated as it spins wheels out of corners.

Not a big deal to get one fitted but budget at least £1300 to do it properly - i.e. diff re-build and LSD fitted by Road & Race.

What he said! Not that many lower powered sevens get specced with an LSD - primarily because it is an expensive option that many novice drivers (or first time owners) can't feel on their initial test drives (this can make it a hard sell!).

[Andy Bell]

the only thing that would put me off an LSD is if i very occasionally tracked and used it primarily for road use. The diff can get a bit whiny and would be off putting without something to reduce the noise. As DCL said its all about what you want to use it for and how hard you want to drive on track.

Typically you fit the LSD when you move up to supersport which is bump in power to 140bhp/grippier tyres/lightened flywheel and LSD.

[caz4213]

Thanks for the replies gents. I was hoping to use the car for a fair few trackdays a year, with some good weather road use as and when the mood struck. Think I'll have to keep patiently looking for an example with an LSD in my price range. Or if I can find a good value non-LSD car I might have a think about the retrofit option!

[Mostro]

Adverts don't *always* list LSDs when they are present so it's worth asking specifically about an otherwise attractive car.

Original Superlights for example had them as standard, but brief adverts can miss out the LSD as it wasn't an optional extra as such. Don't know your budget but these two have one

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/c...

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/c...

One other note, LSDs can make handling tricky in the wet because you don't get the natural traction control of a spinning inside wheel.

[ghibbett]

If it were me, and I've plenty of RWD experience both with and without LSDs, I would always go for an LSD. More adjustability, predictability and the ability to do doughnuts.

I haven't seen any negatives in that last sentence

[BertBert]

I don't think it's that critical. I race an FF2000 which has an open diff. and yes you can spin up a wheel, but you drive round it to get the best times.

If you are worried about your willy-size come donut time, then maybe it's an issue, but not otherwise.

Bert

[downsman]

I needed to change my diff on a Road sport 125, so I had Phil at Road and race fit one. The car was much more fun at Dunsfold, and there have been several times it has helped when on the road.

Well worth having one if you can afford it

[kenny.R400]

Wish I'd a quid for everytime I'd seen or heard the question "How do I check if my 7 has an LSD"

[Chrisp5782]

kenny.R400 said:

Wish I'd a quid for everytime I'd seen or heard the question "How do I check if my 7 has an LSD"

So Kenny - How do I check to see if my car has an LSD? - I couldn't help myself, sorry.

[caz4213]

ghibbett said:

If it were me, and I've plenty of RWD experience both with and without LSDs, I would always go for an LSD. More adjustability, predictability and the ability to do doughnuts.

I haven't seen any negatives in that last sentence

I can't refute any of that logic, it looks like it must be done!

[ghibbett]

Good man You won't regret it

[Dave211]

ghibbett said:

If it were me, and I've plenty of RWD experience both with and without LSDs, I would always go for an LSD. More adjustability, predictability and the ability to do doughnuts.

I haven't seen any negatives in that last sentence

+1

[k20erham]

Hi, how to check, Jack up the rear handbrake off out of gear,spin one side, if the other side goes backwards no Lsd, if it goes the same way as spun it's Lsd, or you can even just do one side with the other side on the ground, if it's very hard to turn it's an Lsd if it spins easily non Lsd or worn out!! Depends how it's set up

[Smollet]

Dave211 said:

+1

+2

[k20erham]

Hi, how to check, Jack up the rear handbrake off out of gear,spin one side, if the other side goes backwards no Lsd, if it goes the same way as spun it's Lsd, or you can even just do one side with the other side on the ground, if it's very hard to turn it's an Lsd if it spins easily non Lsd or worn out!! Depends how it's set up