Retro-fitting an LSD
Discussion
I have decided that I can feel the absence of an LSD on my 987 Cayman S. I may be imagining it, for course, given that it is not often that I could do with more traction/grip on exiting corners or accelerating hard in the wet.
Does anyone know how much an OPC would rape me to reto-fit an LSD. It strikes me that it cannot be too hard, but I know almost fck all about it (other than that it doesnt seem to me that much would have to be removed in order to add the part). I think LSDs were available as an option at the time my 987 was manufactured (2010), so a retro-fit should not be a problem as regards the ECU (even assuming it has any effect on PSM etc).
Does anyone know how much an OPC would rape me to reto-fit an LSD. It strikes me that it cannot be too hard, but I know almost fck all about it (other than that it doesnt seem to me that much would have to be removed in order to add the part). I think LSDs were available as an option at the time my 987 was manufactured (2010), so a retro-fit should not be a problem as regards the ECU (even assuming it has any effect on PSM etc).
ORD said:
I have decided that I can feel the absence of an LSD on my 987 Cayman S. I may be imagining it, for course, given that it is not often that I could do with more traction/grip on exiting corners or accelerating hard in the wet.
Does anyone know how much an OPC would rape me to reto-fit an LSD. It strikes me that it cannot be too hard, but I know almost fck all about it (other than that it doesnt seem to me that much would have to be removed in order to add the part). I think LSDs were available as an option at the time my 987 was manufactured (2010), so a retro-fit should not be a problem as regards the ECU (even assuming it has any effect on PSM etc).
Just as a guide I fitted a Quaife LSD on my previous 2010 987, cost was circa £1400 at an Indy. The benefit was immediate, especially on twisty wet roads. On the track, low gears, tight turns and chicanes, the benefit was lot more noticeable. Well worth the expense. Does anyone know how much an OPC would rape me to reto-fit an LSD. It strikes me that it cannot be too hard, but I know almost fck all about it (other than that it doesnt seem to me that much would have to be removed in order to add the part). I think LSDs were available as an option at the time my 987 was manufactured (2010), so a retro-fit should not be a problem as regards the ECU (even assuming it has any effect on PSM etc).
Thanks, guys. I expected that the answer might be about £1-2k.
I know what MrD and V8 are getting at re tyres and geo. But I doubt that my Goodyears are sufficiently worse than MPSS that it would make as substantial a difference as getting an LSD. I may be wrong, of course!
Interesting that you say it's not massively different, though, Mr D. I had been working from the premise that, as Red argues, it makes a pretty big difference. If not, why was everyone so upset that Porsche only recently started offering an LSD on the Cayman (the theory being that not letting it have one kept it slower than the base 911).
I know what MrD and V8 are getting at re tyres and geo. But I doubt that my Goodyears are sufficiently worse than MPSS that it would make as substantial a difference as getting an LSD. I may be wrong, of course!
Interesting that you say it's not massively different, though, Mr D. I had been working from the premise that, as Red argues, it makes a pretty big difference. If not, why was everyone so upset that Porsche only recently started offering an LSD on the Cayman (the theory being that not letting it have one kept it slower than the base 911).
ORD said:
Thanks, guys. I expected that the answer might be about £1-2k.
I know what MrD and V8 are getting at re tyres and geo. But I doubt that my Goodyears are sufficiently worse than MPSS that it would make as substantial a difference as getting an LSD. I may be wrong, of course!
Interesting that you say it's not massively different, though, Mr D. I had been working from the premise that, as Red argues, it makes a pretty big difference. If not, why was everyone so upset that Porsche only recently started offering an LSD on the Cayman (the theory being that not letting it have one kept it slower than the base 911).
Are you finding you are having traction issues and always spinning a inside rear then ?I know what MrD and V8 are getting at re tyres and geo. But I doubt that my Goodyears are sufficiently worse than MPSS that it would make as substantial a difference as getting an LSD. I may be wrong, of course!
Interesting that you say it's not massively different, though, Mr D. I had been working from the premise that, as Red argues, it makes a pretty big difference. If not, why was everyone so upset that Porsche only recently started offering an LSD on the Cayman (the theory being that not letting it have one kept it slower than the base 911).
I never had traction issues in my gen 1. And a LSD on tight round about does actually push a bit.
And porsche ones are made of chocolate.
Cayman also suffer wheel hop and imo a LSD makes that worse as well.
I would stick to mpss and a geo. And try and stop the rears spinning in the 1st place.
To the op,
An lsd will make a huge difference if you drive the car hard and know what you're doing. If you want to see what a joyous thing a good lsd is, go and get a drive in a bmw m3. I had an m3 csl and a v8 m3 and the lsd's made the cars, more so than the engines. I've had 7 porsches, all with lsds, including a boxster. Recently the lsd on a gt3rs has started to fail and the difference is immediately noticeable. I wouldn't spec a new porsche without one. Go get one fitted and once you feel the rear axle come alive you'll wish you'd bought one earlier.
An lsd will make a huge difference if you drive the car hard and know what you're doing. If you want to see what a joyous thing a good lsd is, go and get a drive in a bmw m3. I had an m3 csl and a v8 m3 and the lsd's made the cars, more so than the engines. I've had 7 porsches, all with lsds, including a boxster. Recently the lsd on a gt3rs has started to fail and the difference is immediately noticeable. I wouldn't spec a new porsche without one. Go get one fitted and once you feel the rear axle come alive you'll wish you'd bought one earlier.
just my throw in....
Arent the quaife units torque biasing? If so then they can only lock under acceleration and with both wheels on the road/under traction. Braking stability is one of the major benefits of an LSD and certainly something that would be nice in the cay/box but you dont get it with this type. They are also useful when you lift a wheel and again it cannot lock in this situation.
mr demon, both cars had/have PSM right? i assume your lack of noticing the LSD is a result of PSM doing the job on both cars similarly and a reflection of the quality of the LSD in the cayman R. Its a zero preload diff with almost no locking abilities at all and tiny plates. Its existence is really only to allow LSD to be listed on the spec sheet, it doesnt do anything (and its purposefully that way).
To the OP, the type of gearbox in your car limits the LSD options available to you. Had you had the earlier 996 type gearbox you could have fitted a GT3 type LSD which would have opened up a huge list of possibilities for you. Im not sure how a good working LSD and PSM will coexist though. PSM is never truly off even when it is switched off.
edit to add, the gearbox in your car is apparently a derivative of the audi tt fwd gearbox. this might open up some options for diffs. may be an avenue worth looking down if you still want to look into it.
Arent the quaife units torque biasing? If so then they can only lock under acceleration and with both wheels on the road/under traction. Braking stability is one of the major benefits of an LSD and certainly something that would be nice in the cay/box but you dont get it with this type. They are also useful when you lift a wheel and again it cannot lock in this situation.
mr demon, both cars had/have PSM right? i assume your lack of noticing the LSD is a result of PSM doing the job on both cars similarly and a reflection of the quality of the LSD in the cayman R. Its a zero preload diff with almost no locking abilities at all and tiny plates. Its existence is really only to allow LSD to be listed on the spec sheet, it doesnt do anything (and its purposefully that way).
To the OP, the type of gearbox in your car limits the LSD options available to you. Had you had the earlier 996 type gearbox you could have fitted a GT3 type LSD which would have opened up a huge list of possibilities for you. Im not sure how a good working LSD and PSM will coexist though. PSM is never truly off even when it is switched off.
edit to add, the gearbox in your car is apparently a derivative of the audi tt fwd gearbox. this might open up some options for diffs. may be an avenue worth looking down if you still want to look into it.
Edited by fioran0 on Thursday 30th January 12:05
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