What LSD to get?

[Alex M]

I've been looking at ways to improve the way my MGB behaves, and have already fitted uprated front dampers, telescopic rear dampers, 3/4" anti-roll bar and wider wheels + tires.

Lately, I've been looking at limited slip diff's.
There are a few options around, for example Quaife and Phantom Grip. I'm especially interested in the difference between those (except for the fact that the Quaife is a lot more expensive).
Could somebody please explain how these will affect the handling, and I'd also like to know if the Phantom Grip would be a good choice (there are some other things to do during this winter, and I'd really like to keep the amount spent a bit down this year)

Thanks,

Alex

Hope you all don't mind I posted this here instead of for instance the MG subforum, but I think this might interest owners of other classics as well...

[Alpineandy]

These guys also do one:
www.racecar.co.uk/gripper/
Having said that, I'm told that the quaife is for the road and the gripper is so 'tight' that it's only good for the track.

[IOLAIRE]

Alpineandy said:

These guys also do one: www.racecar.co.uk/gripper/ Having said that, I'm told that the quaife is for the road and the gripper is so 'tight' that it's only good for the track.

Andy's got a good point here Alex, you have to be very careful about choosing a limi-slip diff. If it over controls the differential effect it can actually be quite dangerous.
How it works is, as you're cornering, the outside wheel has to turn faster than the inside to cope with the varying radii of the curve, that's what a differential in your axle does.
The problem begins when you are going at a speed that tends to make the inside wheel of the car lift off the road surface and start to spin, so you lose power to the tarmac and are in danger of the car sliding.
A limited slip diff, using a serious of clutch plates on each output shaft, controls the amount of potential slip at the inside wheel thereby transmitting more drive to the outside wheel which in turn helps to keep the axle flat and the car in line.
I cannot emphasise the difference it makes to a car like yours with a live axle, it can transform the handling, particularly in the wet.
But get a good one.

[docevi1]

if you head to www.mgcars.org.uk/ & into the bulletin board you can ask there, however, if you register and search in the archive you'll find hundreds of entries by people asking and discussing the same as yourself.

It truly is a very handy site!

[Alex M]

Docevi1,

Thanks for the link, I've already been a member there for 3 years
Browsing the archives however didn't reveal any useful info, but I'll post this question there too.