To Hydratrack, or not to Hydrotrack? That is the Question!!!
Discussion
Dear All,
I have just spent hours doing my head in regarding the debate on Hydratrack. I have recently purchased a late 2001 Speed 6, and it is away as I write having Gaz Golds fitted. I will use my car for quick B road driving, and track days. My car is not fitted with a Hydratrack LSD, but I have read that the standard diff is a LSD. I seek clarification.
Jonny.
I have just spent hours doing my head in regarding the debate on Hydratrack. I have recently purchased a late 2001 Speed 6, and it is away as I write having Gaz Golds fitted. I will use my car for quick B road driving, and track days. My car is not fitted with a Hydratrack LSD, but I have read that the standard diff is a LSD. I seek clarification.
Jonny.
I have Hydratrack ('04 3.6)and it gives excellent traction right up to the point where it all goes a bit Pete Tong which in my experience is at track day speeds. I was told yesterday by a well known independant that all Tuscans were H.track but this obviously isn't the case. Interesting to get a back to back comparison
by someone who knows a bit more what they're talking about.
by someone who knows a bit more what they're talking about.The standard V8S LSD isn't Hydratrak but is a viscous diff that works on similar principles. Unlike a 'proper' LSD it only transfers torque based on the difference between inner and outer wheel speeds, which means in slow corners you have to smoke the inside wheel before it will do anything. The result is cr@p handling and poor traction. It's an uneasy compromise between an open diff and a proper friction plate LSD. Given a choice, I would suggest you go for a friction plate LSD every time.
I just had a 4.1 hydratrack Diff and gearbox mods fitted seems to to make the car very fast have only used it in the wet sofar on the track seems ok not, very fast on the road
took it to elvington yesterday and could not go on the track was 104db at 4500rpm ( limit 98 ) i have standard cans and exhaust pipe and 400 cell cats
took it to elvington yesterday and could not go on the track was 104db at 4500rpm ( limit 98 ) i have standard cans and exhaust pipe and 400 cell cats
Edited by neiltvr on Sunday 21st September 16:43
GreenV8S said:
The standard V8S LSD isn't Hydratrak but is a viscous diff that works on similar principles. Unlike a 'proper' LSD it only transfers torque based on the difference between inner and outer wheel speeds, which means in slow corners you have to smoke the inside wheel before it will do anything. The result is cr@p handling and poor traction. It's an uneasy compromise between an open diff and a proper friction plate LSD. Given a choice, I would suggest you go for a friction plate LSD every time.
He's dead right you know, unless you never push limits of traction out of roundabouts etc - which would miss half the fun of a TVR! Hope you're keeping well Pete!
I have a cerb speed 6 and it has a hydratrack rear diff and to be honest, i think its fantastic, i do alot of fast road driving and its pretty easy to get yourself out of trouble, if the back end steps out of line, just a small release of the throttle and it pulls itself back into shape almost immediately <1 sec easily.
Also i have heard that the hydratrack diff (because the engine isnt as powerful in my car as the 4.2/4.5) is set up so the car will accelerate harder and will max out at around 200mph, dont know how true this is, but had my car up to 160-170 and it was still pulling like it was doing at 110 and only at 5000 RPM.
Hope this aids your decission.
Also i have heard that the hydratrack diff (because the engine isnt as powerful in my car as the 4.2/4.5) is set up so the car will accelerate harder and will max out at around 200mph, dont know how true this is, but had my car up to 160-170 and it was still pulling like it was doing at 110 and only at 5000 RPM.
Hope this aids your decission.
Edited by WorAl on Tuesday 23 September 08:22
Edited by WorAl on Tuesday 23 September 08:23
WorAl said:
I have a cerb speed 6 and it has a hydratrack rear diff and to be honest, i think its fantastic, i do alot of fast road driving and its pretty easy to get yourself out of trouble, if the back end steps out of line, just a small release of the throttle and it pulls itself back into shape almost immediately <1 sec easily.
OK for road driving, but question was asked for track aswell.On a track, they don't lock up nearly enough at hairpins so one wheel spins a lot, but they do lock up more at higher speed which is ok but can catch you out as the tail steps out a lot more than at lower speed.
Had an S6 Cerbera myself few years back, glad you're enjoying it.
tail slide said:
WorAl said:
I have a cerb speed 6 and it has a hydratrack rear diff and to be honest, i think its fantastic, i do alot of fast road driving and its pretty easy to get yourself out of trouble, if the back end steps out of line, just a small release of the throttle and it pulls itself back into shape almost immediately <1 sec easily.
OK for road driving, but question was asked for track aswell.On a track, they don't lock up nearly enough at hairpins so one wheel spins a lot, but they do lock up more at higher speed which is ok but can catch you out as the tail steps out a lot more than at lower speed.
Had an S6 Cerbera myself few years back, glad you're enjoying it.
).Im loving the car mate, dont know why i didnt do it earlier, was looking for one early last year but was put off by the costs involved, but bit the bullet this year and got myself a 'minter' according to the garage that checked it over.
If you want 'fun' I would expect you want traction, and predictable handling, under all conditions. A friction plate LSD is in my opinion better in both respects than a viscous diff. Viscous diffs are fine for people who want to avoid the car sliding, and fine for situations where you don't actually need a limited slip diff. On some cars in some situations even an open diff is OK and won't spin up individual wheels.
They are better than the standard hydratrack diff a low speed, although if you do buy a new one you can also lower the gearing.
I think the Tuscan is geared to 185mph, which is a pretty hairy speed to get to, so if you drop it to say 160mph, it will give a lot more useable power on the road and on the track.
I think the Tuscan is geared to 185mph, which is a pretty hairy speed to get to, so if you drop it to say 160mph, it will give a lot more useable power on the road and on the track.
rralston said:
They are better than the standard hydratrack diff a low speed, although if you do buy a new one you can also lower the gearing.
I think the Tuscan is geared to 185mph, which is a pretty hairy speed to get to, so if you drop it to say 160mph, it will give a lot more useable power on the road and on the track.
I have just had this done 4.1 and the acceleration is realy good I think the Tuscan is geared to 185mph, which is a pretty hairy speed to get to, so if you drop it to say 160mph, it will give a lot more useable power on the road and on the track.
What Exactly have you had done Neil, and to What? Are you talking about a new Hydratrack diff, any Hydratrack diff, or a new friction diff, and, if so, where can I purchase one? 
Thanks, but sometimes I can be a little slow on the uptake.
Anyway, I think that the front end needs sorting too, as it is VERY jittery on uneven surfaces, even with the new Gaz Golds, but I have not had time to play with the settings yet.
I would be very reluctant to drive it at over 150MPH at the moment anyway, and that would have to be on a flat surface.
Thanks, but sometimes I can be a little slow on the uptake.
Anyway, I think that the front end needs sorting too, as it is VERY jittery on uneven surfaces, even with the new Gaz Golds, but I have not had time to play with the settings yet.
I would be very reluctant to drive it at over 150MPH at the moment anyway, and that would have to be on a flat surface.
Jonny7 said:
What Exactly have you had done Neil, and to What? Are you talking about a new Hydratrack diff, any Hydratrack diff, or a new friction diff, and, if so, where can I purchase one?
Thanks, but sometimes I can be a little slow on the uptake.
Anyway, I think that the front end needs sorting too, as it is VERY jittery on uneven surfaces, even with the new Gaz Golds, but I have not had time to play with the settings yet.
I would be very reluctant to drive it at over 150MPH at the moment anyway, and that would have to be on a flat surface.
had a hydratrack diff fitted 4 to 1 its what they use in the racing tuscans i am told plus a differant gear ratio in the gear box had work done at trackvroad.co.uk Thanks, but sometimes I can be a little slow on the uptake.
Anyway, I think that the front end needs sorting too, as it is VERY jittery on uneven surfaces, even with the new Gaz Golds, but I have not had time to play with the settings yet.
I would be very reluctant to drive it at over 150MPH at the moment anyway, and that would have to be on a flat surface.
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